Charlie Bell has experienced the inner sanctums of the Queensland Firebirds, Sunshine Coast Lightning, as well as New Zealand’s Mainland Tactix and Stars franchises, yet there is no place like home for the 25-year-old, 197cm-tall shooter.
As a foundation player in the inaugural Ipswich Jets squad from 2019-2021, there was only one team she would agree to line up for when returning to Australia from Christchurch earlier this month.
“The season was incredible,” Bell said of the Tactix’s third-place finish in the 2026 ANZ Premiership.
“I felt like I came into a team with a bunch of girls who may have spent a bit more time on the bench in previous years. They took the opportunity they had with both hands and made something of it.
"I just absolutely loved the culture, group, management and coaching staff. It was an amazing experience, and even though towards the end we did not finish it off in crucial moments, the season was incredible.”
Bell was in the thick of taking on New Zealand’s best when ICare Group Australia Jets co-captain Steph O’Brien called.
“Steph asked me my thoughts on coming back, which I laughed off because I knew I’d need the break after the season,” Bell said.
“When Megs (coach Megan Lynch) eventually called, she completely understood and wanted me to feel fresh. Because it was the Jets, I had to do it. It’s a full-circle moment to go from starting there to then going on to under-17s, under-19s, playing in SSN teams, being an SSN training partner, and the ANZ Premiership.
"It feels cool to come back, especially to play with Steph, who was my coach for a State Age team, so we’ve known each other for a very long time now.”
Bell almost managed a full game in last week’s 12-point loss to the Kedron-Wavell Cougars, her first of the 2026 HART Premier Netball League Sapphire season and the Jets’ only defeat so far.
“I haven’t been to a gym in five weeks so I was feeling the rough-and-tumble, but generally enjoyed coming back and playing, especially with Rylee Burns, who I played under-17 and under-19 competitions with,” she said.
“Having Lily Gribble down the other end for us was cool as well because we’ve played for Queensland together too. It’s also been great to meet the young guns and fresh faces in the team.”
Bell hasn’t had the chance to do her homework on the opposition, so she was surprised to find herself lining up against her Tactix teammate and new Cougars recruit Ash Barnett.
“Ash didn’t tell me she was playing, even though I was flatting with her as a teammate in New Zealand,” Bell laughed.
“Rylee told me at the last minute Ash had been asked to play. It was fun to play against her, rather than with her, and we were having a dig at each other.”
Currently second on the ladder, the Jets have a short turnaround this week for the competition’s first Wednesday night fixtures, a Round 9 clash with the Carina Leagues Club Tigers at Nissan Arena.
“I know Katie Walker very well, as she was our coach for Queensland Sapphires, and I have so much love and respect for her,” Bell said.
“I’m really excited to play for fun. I put pressure on myself in big games, and this season in New Zealand I felt that for the first time as we went into finals.
"I’ve learnt a lot about myself in those crucial moments, so I’m keen to share that with this team while having fun. Megs even offered me the chance to play GA, and I’m up for something new so who knows, you may see a six-foot-five baby giraffe running out the front.”
Netball Queensland's NetballQ TV, the home of community netball in Queensland, is delivering live and free coverage of the state’s most exciting grassroots and pathways competitions, including the HART Premier Netball League Sapphire and Ruby Series. Click here to access NetballQ TV.
