THE Australian Netball Championships. The tournament that many aspiring netballers aim to showcase their athleticism in.

When watching the seven day event, there were names people threw around for tournament MVP. Many notable names such as Sophie Fawns, Lucy Austin and Jordan Cransberg.

It was Emily Andrew who took home the award.

“It was like a blur walking up there, it was so unexpected, especially for a team that finished fifth,” she told Rookie Me Central.

“I thought I had no chance as well as I thought I did perform. I thought there was really no chance of me getting it.”

Andrew was talking to fellow Vic Fury teammate Zara Walters when her name was called out. Not really paying attention to her surroundings, but Walters nudged her, making Andews’ heart drop realising what was happening.

As she walked up to the podium, that’s when she knew she was going to be something in Australian netball.

The 20-year-old is climbing up the Netball Victoria ranks rapidly claiming many accolades along the way. It was only last year when the tall, young goaler received a call letting her know she was about to step into the big league.

“Di [Honey] and Simone [McKinnis] called me and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is not really happening’,” she said.

“Definitely was not expected coming straight out of year 12. You definitely have to make sacrifices, but that’s what you sign up for.

“They completely understand that and they want to help me work towards my dreams and everything.”

When brought up into the Vixens environment as a training partner, it was one of the main wake up calls that Andrew could take her netball professionally. She sat on the Vixens bench twice during the 2023 season as a temporary replacement player.

“That was probably one of the main moments where I was like, I’m being seen as someone who has potential to progress into a position in Vixens in the future,” she said.

“I think along the way, it’s just accumulated that feeling of, ‘Oh, I could really make a career out of this to myself’.”

It wasn’t all glitz and glamour though as Andrew was diagnosed with chronic fatigue following her year 12 exams. This was paired with her first year with the Southern Saints in the Championship division straight from under 19s.

“I had chronic fatigue coming off of year 12 and then taking a step up with a lot of different things,” she said.

“That first year was definitely tricky. I did have to take a little bit of a step back in terms of training because my body just wasn’t coping with the chronic fatigue and so many different commitments going on.”

Andrew’s confidence was knocked, not believing she could make the most of her opportunities. But now she’s had time to adapt to her environment, Andrew has matured along with her game style to thrive in all areas of life.

“Leading into this year, I feel like I really flourished and my health is really good and I feel a lot more confident playing out on the court,” she said.

Family is everything to Andrew, coming from a sporty background. Her mum, dad, and  younger brothers Richie and Ben are all held together through sport, going to each other’s games and trainings.

When Andrew was younger, she’d get upset with herself constantly wanting to do everything at 100 percent. Even though she believed she wasn’t good at netball to start with, she quickly found her footing and started to excel at all levels.

“I remember crying in my backyard when I didn’t make my first rep team and all my friends did,” she said.

“Pretty devastated little 13-year-old Emily, but now to look where I’ve moved to and reflect back on all those years where I wasn’t.”

She gives credit of her growth to Steph Norton who coached her all throughout her rep days at Waverly District Netball Association. Norton got Andrew into VNL, acting as a second mum.

She helped Andrew climb up the Netball Victoria pathway and now gives credit to Honey and McKinnis for her senior growth. They helped Andrew develop as a player and a person, she can’t thank them enough.

The beginning of Andrew’s netball career started at Waverly, slowly making her way through the rep system, then went on to get identified in Zone Academies — now Talent Academy.

State was calling, wearing the navy dress at an Under 15s, 17s, and 19s level. She vice-captained the Under 17s team in 2020 alongside long time friend Walters.

Thanks to her outstanding performance at nationals in 2022, Andrew was named in the Under 19 Australia squad. Her dominant performance in the tournament won Victoria a bronze medal as she continued to add achievements to her collection. She is now in the Australian Under 21 squad.

At 18-years-old, she was picked up as a training partner by the Vixens while signed with the Ariels. The Southern Saints were drawing her in, getting promoted to the League Championship Division and making a strong impact straight away. She’s heading into her third season with the Saints.

Not sure if the Ariels was the right place anymore, Andrew decided to change clubs to challenge herself and be in a different environment.

“I definitely was looking to make this step from Under 19s to Championship,” she said.

“I felt like it was just time for me to branch out and explore some new coaching styles, play with some different people.”

A source of freedom though is her studies at Monash University studying design and business.

“I feel like a lot of the girls are in the medical or sports industry, but I’m up on the completely different end,” Andrew said.

As well as uni, Andrew works at Netball Victoria and the Melbourne Vixens completing their branding and design programmes. She hopes to move into a role in the future combining design and sport.

Her livelihood at Parkville would be expected to feel repetitive, but it’s now turned into a second home.

“I love it. There’s not a better place to be,” she said.

“It’s such an amazing facility and everything that I’ve got there, really.”

Current eyes on the prize is a position in the Vixens squad being the eleventh player on the roster as a rookie. Now the Collective Player Agreement (CPA) is signed, the goal is getting closer and closer.

“The next goal definitely would be to make a spot in the team with Vixens. I feel like a rookie contract would be a really good bridging step towards making the team,” she said.

“That’s what I’ve hopefully got my sights on for next season and then the following season fingers crossed I can land a contract somewhere.”