By Amanda Myler
When Sophie Westover said goodbye to family and friends in Adelaide to relocate to the Gold Coast, she was little prepared for the opportunities that awaited her.
One HART Premier Netball League Sapphire Division campaign later, and the 24-year-old Bond University Bull Sharks captain rates the move as one of the best decisions she has ever made.
"In terms of my netball career, but also personally and professionally," Westover said.
"I'm getting opportunities I never thought were possible in Adelaide, and I’m trying to grab them all with both hands."
This includes not only this year’s Bull Sharks captaincy, but a maiden place in the 2025 Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts Super Netball Reserves squad alongside fellow Bull Sharks teammate Kaylin Van Greunen.
Injury forced Van Greunen to the Bull Sharks bench for their opening round 31-point victory over the Carina Leagues Club Tigers at Nissan Arena last weekend, which featured former Queensland Firebird Mia Stower sinking 14 Super Shots, and Firebirds training partner Kirra Tappenden hitting eight two-pointers of her own.
The pair will need to maintain their accuracy and volume when the Bull Sharks meet the Gold Coast Titans in a highly anticipated local derby this Sunday, 4pm at Carrara Indoor Sport Stadium.
"It’s going to be a cracker of a game against the Titans," Westover said.
"There’s such a strong rivalry between the two teams on the Gold Coast, and the atmosphere and morale is always great. Our preparation will just focus on us and our game plan, making sure we execute our respective roles and then hopefully the results take care of themselves."
The Titans are flying after an opening round victory which saw them come from 11 points down in the final quarter to upset defending premiers, and 2024 grand final opponents, TAE Aerospace Jets 56-52.
Yet a stealth combination of experience, maturity and ambition means the Bull Sharks appear almost unflappable in 2025, regardless of the team they are facing.
"I would be lying if I didn’t say this season’s goal was to be the last standing team at the end of the year with that trophy in our hands," Westover said.
"Last year we had a completely new team, and focused on building the foundations for our side which saw us make the finals for the first time. This year we hope to raise the bar to a completely new level, which I know the girls are definitely capable of."
As for personal aims, Westover believes only the sky is her limit.
"My childhood dream has been to play for and represent Australia, but I’m taking each experience and year as it comes," she said.
"I am trying to focus on what I can control, and that's my effort, preparation and performance, always looking for opportunities to better myself. I am very lucky that I’ve got such supportive coaches in Bec (Rebecca Stower) and Gav (Gavin Clarke), who work so closely with Bolts Reserves coach Jenny (Brazel), who have helped me get to where I am today with netball. I’m very grateful and appreciative for this support and the opportunities."
KommunityTV is your home to watch Queensland’s top talents LIVE and exclusive. Two matches each round from the top-flight Sapphire division are being exclusively live streamed on News Corp Australia mastheads, including The Courier-Mail and Gold Coast Bulletin.
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For the full HPNL Sapphire draw, click HERE.
