Mia hasn’t had the usual trajectory to the national stage, spending a couple years as a State Team training partner due to an ACL injury and changing positions in recent years.
She has also only recently moved up to Perth to study nursing, after originally living in the South West, and chasing opportunities as a regional athlete.
“I used to be a defender, then I did my ACL whilst I was meant to be learning the centre bib,” she said
“It was hard learning from the sidelines, especially not being able to get out on court and physically do it, but having my first year at GIG WANL for the Jets really helped last year.”
Despite the hurdles, Mia has a netball role model in her sister and West Coast Fever Reserves player Jess.
“She definitely inspires me. We sometimes do-little trainings together, mum loves it,” she said.
“I love playing against her, it’s a bit of friendly competition now.”
With NNC fast approaching, Mia is most excited to spend time with her teammates making memories.
“I’m also excited to get a chance to play against the other States because I've learnt a lot in the training environment so far,” she said.
“I’m bottom age of the 19s so I have another year next year, so I just want to keep working toward opportunities.”
When setbacks have gotten in her way in recent years, Mia has continued to push through, something she credits to the help of those around her.
“I feel like what pushed me to keep going was the support, my family especially, they were great and I had a really great rehab experience, so I'd just tell other people going through that to keep pushing,” she said.
View the NNC Fixtures here.
You can watch the Netball National Championships next week on KommunityTV.
