Growing up, Addison Whalley’s start at the Townsville City Netball Association courts was typical of so many netballers as she gradually found her position on the court.
“I started as a defender when I was seven years old,” the 17-year-old said.
“Then I got moved into a shooter because I was a lot taller than the other girls.”
It was a practical switch that made sense - a tall athlete, a steady target, a reliable presence in the circle.
Heading down to last year’s State Titles in Brisbane with a North Queensland selection, Whalley’s expectations of her own netball ambitions were about to take a serious jump.
Making the initial selection in the Queensland 17 and Under squad was shock enough.
Throughout her career Whalley had played goal-shooter and goal attack equally, but state selectors were quick to emphasise they wanted her to focus on the GA position.
It was a challenge that only compounded the complexity of working her way through to the selection of the final 12 to represent the state at this year’s National Netball Championships in Melbourne.
“It was a pretty big shock when they call my name out,” Whalley said, whose only initial goal last year was securing a spot in the QFFA program.
“It was a very big change for me coming into this team to play GA most of the time.”
Focusing on goal attack while also navigating the selection process didn’t disrupt Whalley however, who has stepped up to meet the challenge of finding herself getting ready to represent her state on the national stage – a progression she acknowledges has taken her out of the comfort zone she has sometimes found herself in back home in Townsville.
“Down here, everyone’s the next level up,” she said.
“I feel like I have to push myself so much harder.”
That “push harder” mindset is now defining her 2026 - a year that looks big on paper and even bigger in real life.
As well as her upcoming NNC commitments with the State 17 and Under team, she’s also about to begin her debut HART Premier Netball League Ruby North campaign with North Queensland United where she’ll be one of the youngest players in the team.
Alongside all of it, she’s juggling Year 12 at Kirwan State High School - a balancing act that asks as much of her organisation and resilience as her netball does.
“It’s been a challenge, trying to balance both netball and my studies,” she admitted.
The difference now is that Whalley isn’t trying to carry that load alone. As part of the QFFA regional program in Townsville, she’s receiving support that’s helping her meet the demands of reframed netball ambitions - from the conditioning work that underpins a goal attack’s engine, to the repetition required to stay accurate and composed when fatigue sets in.
“When I go, it helps me with my fitness and my shooting,” she said.
“I get a lot of shooting time to practice my accuracy but definitely, mostly sessions have conditioning in it.”
“They support me so much … it’s really good.”
In many ways, that’s the story of Whalley’s past few months: a young athlete being asked to step up quickly but being held up by a pathway built to keep regional talent progressing without losing connection to home.
The debut Ruby North campaign adds another layer, another chance to keep translating training into performance and another opportunity to make sure the State Team environment doesn’t feel like an occasional big stage but a standard she’s preparing for every week.
What’s most striking, though, is how the unexpected nature of her State Team selection has shifted her internal compass.
Before the goal was simply to get further in netball.
Now, the appetite is different.
“Before I made the State Team, it was like, ‘Okay, I just want to get further netball,’” she said. “But now I’m like, ‘Wow.’ Like, I really want to push hard.”
There’s still plenty to learn - about fitness, about managing a packed calendar, about handling the pressure that comes with wearing the maroon dress.
But Whalley is embracing the reality that this year is not just busy; it’s formative. And as Melbourne approaches, the excitement is starting to outweigh the disbelief.
“I’m actually really excited,” she said. “With this bunch of girls, it’s so good. To finally compete at Nationals will be crazy.”
The 2026 National Netball Championships are being held from April 9-15 where Queensland’s next generation of netball talent will face off against counterparts from every state and territory. Click here for more information on the event while the tournament will be broadcast live by Kommunity TV.
