The next step in Harriet Gall’s fledgling netball career is a giant one.
Shepparton Swans’ young starlet has been rewarded for her standout showing at the National Netball Championships, selected in the Australian 17-and-under pathway squad among the best age-grade talents in the country.
The promising goaler shone for Victoria at the championships, helping her state to a fourth placing in Darwin.
Now in her second season of A-grade netball with the Swans, she said the experience in the Northern Territory gave her a taste of what the big stage was all about.
“It was super fun, it was really good to develop my netball and play against the other good players in Australia,” she said.
“Now I’ll see what happens with the Australian pathway squad, I’m not really sure yet.”
Though she remains humble when speaking about her latest achievement, Gall affirmed she was “really excited” when she received confirmation she’d be joining the 36-strong list for training camps later in the year.
Funnily enough, the news of her inclusion came not long before she was set to suit up for her first A-grade game of the 2023 Goulburn Valley League season, but did it faze her?
Absolutely not.
Gall was electric in goal attack for the Swans, twisting, turning and shooting her side to victory over Mansfield at Princess Park to aid the hosts along to their first four points of the campaign.
Swans A-grade coach Courtney Simpson waxed lyrical about her shining star, stating the entire Swans community is backing Gall on her journey.
“It was so lovely to have her back; this was her first game with this group, so I’m super proud of her and I think she did a fantastic job,” Simpson said.
“We’re incredibly proud of Harriet, what she’s doing and what she’s managed to do over the last week is incredible.
“Harriet is the type of kid who does an enormous amount of work, she’s incredibly resilient.
“We’re talking the Australian netball academy, not Victorian; this is a big deal.”
By gaining passage into the pathway squad, Gall will participate in week-long camps cropping up throughout the year.
She’ll join her fellow athletes in technical and tactical skill development, while also tapping in to the best netball minds in the country, including former Australian Diamonds players and Suncorp Super Netball coaches and players.
With Gall among the next crop of future superstars, Netball Australia's executive general manager of performance Stacey West congratulated the group on its selection.
“Every year our pathway events and Australian squad selections show the importance of netball’s pathway opportunities,” West said.
"So many of our past and current Origin Australian Diamond athletes have competed in the National Netball Championships, and subsequently been selected in 17-and-under and 19-and-under Australian squads.
“We congratulate those who have been selected in the 2023-24 squads and look forward to seeing their development not only this year, but in the years ahead.”