QBE Swifts Academy product Grace Whyte has earned her first Suncorp Super Netball contract after being named as the NSW Swifts’ eleventh player for the 2024 season.
The additional player is a new initiative introduced by Netball Australia which offers SSN clubs the opportunity to sign an extra athlete who can be brought into the match day squad for tactical purposes, not just in the case of injury or illness to a member of the main rostered squad of 10.
Hailing from Tumut in the Riverina region of NSW, 19-year-old Whyte is a specialist attacker and who was part of the undefeated NSW 19U side which claimed gold at the 2024 National Netball Championships in Victoria and was recently named the Australian 19U squad.
She entered the QBE Swifts Academy in 2022 before being elevated to Training Partner status one year later.
Swifts head coach Briony Akle said this was an important step for Whyte in her netball journey.
“Firstly, I would like to congratulate Grace and everyone who has played a role in her development to this point,” she said.
“Grace is a wonderful young woman who has fantastic ability on court and her attitude off the court is top notch too. Her family and everyone in the NSW State Team and QBE Swifts Academy programs should be very proud after hearing this news.
“When Grace played for us in pre-season she was fearless in her approach and while she is still very much an athlete in development, we were very impressed with what we saw.
“What the eleventh player initiative allows us to do is enhance the exposure we can give to our Training Partner and pathway athletes who could be called on at any time. Over the last few years injury has forced us dig deep into our programs, and thankfully everyone has hit the ground running.
“That’s a testament to the pathways and it’s important that we make use of this additional player initiative because it’s an extension of them.”
Whyte said it was a dream come true when she received the call from Akle.
“I have always dreamed of being a Swift and while I know this doesn’t guarantee me any court time, it takes me a step closer and for that I am very grateful,” she said.
“Being part of the Swifts environment as a Training Partner is something I never take for granted and I love being challenged and learning every day, especially from Samantha Wallace-Joseph, Helen Housby and Sophie Fawns, who are all so well established at SSN level.
“What excites me most is getting the opportunity to continue my development by seeing even more of what it takes to become a Super Netball champion.
“I really want to thank my family, especially my Mum, as well as all the coaches who have helped me along the way from my junior days in Tumut to NSW State Teams as well as the Swifts Academy.”
GRACE WHYTE BIO
- Date of birth: 12/04/2005
- Height: 181cm
- Positions: GA, GS
- Association: Tumut Netball Association
- Netball NSW Premier League team: ERNA Hawks
- State Team selections: NSW 17U, NSW 19U
- National Selections: Australia 17U, Australia 19U
- Academy: QBE Swifts Academy
