Swifts and Diamonds great Susan Pettitt knew the road to success was a long one – literally and figuratively.
The club centurion and Premiership champion started out her netball career making the long trek from Bega to the old Anne Clark Centre in Lidcombe to vie for State Team honours before eventually cracking the Swifts and Australian national side.
While the opportunities for regional athletes have risen tenfold since Pettitt started her journey, many of the sacrifices remain the same when they look to make it at the highest level. Just ask Sophie Fawns.
Like Pettitt was, Fawns is a classy attacker who uses her smarts as much as her physical capabilities. Hailing from Wagga Wagga, she knows a thing or two about travelling to Sydney to give herself the best chance of becoming an elite netballer.
A member of the QBE Swifts Academy and a regular trainee with the Swifts senior side, Fawns is just one of a host of up-and-coming stars taking part in the 2021 Netball NSW Premier League.
The miles she covers on the road aren’t ideal, but Fawns is wise beyond her years and takes a pragmatic approach.
“Being a regional athlete has its advantages in a sense that my trainings are quite flexible with my schedule,” she says. “I do three gym sessions a week and two court sessions, moving into three with State training.
“Travelling to Sydney is probably the most difficult aspect of living regionally, and juggling that with my gym sessions and home netball commitments.”
Fawns, who is also a member of the NSW 19/U State Team, played her inaugural Premier League season with newcomers South Coast Blaze in 2020 but this year made the move west to Panthers.
The Penrith side didn’t enjoy much success last season but the arrival of Fawns - who has already played numerous pre-season games with the Swifts alongside the likes of Sam Wallace, Helen Housby and Sophie Garbin - is a real boost.
“I decided to move to Panthers this year as there were different opportunities available to me,” Fawns adds.
“My time at Panthers is going really well! I haven’t been able to go to many trainings living regionally, but everyone at the club is very supportive.
“For the training sessions that I’ve been at, we’ve been doing lots of culture sessions but also doing sessions that apply outside of the court to help us improve as athletes.
“We have set goals as a team for this year to help us work harder and look to improve ourselves each game no matter the outcome.
“We have also set ourselves some values to live on and off the court.”
The Premier League offers a local, elite platform for players, coaches, officials and administrators, providing bridging opportunities to the Australian Netball Championships and, subsequently, Suncorp Super Netball.
Fawns’ time with the Swifts gave her an insight into what it takes to reach the highest level. Now she’s looking to bring that knowledge to good use with the Panthers, while at the same time elevate her own game to new heights.
“Travelling with the Swifts to Tassie to play Collingwood in pre-season was a super fun experience and definitely something I’ll never forget,” she says.
“To play against and with international superstars is a motivating factor to want to do better and want to play at that level. I loved every minute that I got to spend with the Swifts team, from players to coaches and the support staff.
“The biggest eye-opener for me was how fast the game is. On TV they make it look so easy but to actually play is quite challenging.
“Everyone is just as fast and strong, and it becomes a very mental and strategic game more than going through motions.”
Thanks to her time in the Premier League, Swifts Academy and the senior Swifts setup, Fawns is quickly learning that elite netball is as much about mental preparation as it is physical.
With 18 rounds of Origin Premier League action and a potential Final Series ahead of her, the girl from Wagga Wagga is ready to take her game to new heights.
