FLYING to another state to represent your state to win a title. Getting to wear the navy blue dress of Victoria.

Charli Hoey went half way through the tournament dominating the competition, until a leg injury caused a strenuous amount of harm. Hoey was diagnosed with bone bruising during the tournament which ended her nationals campaign for the year.

Now all healed up Hoey was heading up to Canberra for a camp at the AIS. However, that bone bruising had now turned into a stress fracture. This was all the worst possible timing for Hoey as she was also named a reserve in the Australia’s inaugural Commonwealth Youth Games team.

Even though her injury has now been healed for a while, Hoey can’t forget how painful it was not only physically, but emotionally and how much of a toll it takes on her now.

“I sometimes just think about it when I play, but I’ve got to get that out of my head and just focus on the moment,” Hoey told Rookie me Central.

In what should be a breathtaking moment in any netballers career, it was a bittersweet feeling for Hoey to be named in the Aus under 19s squad but unable to participate in the camp at the AIS.

Instead of running up and down the court and building connections with others talent around Australia, Hoey had to sit in the corner and observe due to her injury.

“I was just disappointed I couldn’t help the team,” she said. “I was just standing there sometimes and I couldn’t do anything.”

Hoey is quite unique though as she was identified by the VIS  just from her performance at Nationals which is rare because they also look at performance in the Aus squad.

This year she was named in the Victorian under 19s state tam as a bottom ager while also being named as vice-captain.

“Making the state team this year as a bottom ager,” Hoey said. “That really made me happy and especially because of how last year ended with state.”

It was time to get back to business. Hoey had healed and was ready to get back into form for the next VNL season.

After a breakout year in her maiden VNL campaign, Hoey made her league debut in the competitions Division One, winning a premiership in the process. It was a big shock to the defender how much of a jump it is from country footy netball to the elite.

“It’s a whole different competition and the way you need to train and is more serious,” Hoey said.

“I needed to mature a bit and adapt to new coaching and playing conditions that I was put in.

“It was very quiet at the start, just finding my way and meeting new people. At the end of the year, because we won the premiership that year, it was just a great time and I’m so glad I was able to be a part of the team.”

Hoey kicked off her senior netball campaign at the Geelong West Giants and currently plays in their A-Grade side. A few years ago after some exposure to the senior level, Hoey thought why not give the Geelong Flyers a go, the Cougars development team.

Low and behold, she got in.

After a year with the Flyers, current Under 23s coach Mel Savage scouted Hoey and asked her to trial for the Cougars. She was successful in her selection, but she didn’t make the Under 19s team. Hoey went straight into the Division One side as a 16-year-old.

This year, Hoey played in the Cougars inaugural Under 23s team and was crowned their best and fairest while also being named in the VNL Team of the Year.

To go alongside all these achievements, it has been a tough time for Hoey to execute her aspirations for high level netball while balancing an everyday life.

“I find it very hard seeing my friends from my old school,” she said.

“Making time for them along with netball commitments, you can’t change what time your training is. You just have to go with the flow, but I’ve gotten used to it.

“I found it quite stressful at the start, especially being in year 12 this year, school has been a lot and keeping up with homework and trying to do well as well.”

Hoey’s school, Geelong Grammar, is more than familiar with elite athletes, so they have helped the youngster pursue her netball dreams. The netball scholarship holder’s major goal is to become a Melbourne Vixen and join the ranks of Geelong Grammar alumni to play with the Vixens such as Tayla Honey, Emily Mannix and Zara Walters.