The 2023 season of Super Netball is just around the corner and alongside the household names such as Geva Mentor, Kim Ravaillion and Jhaniele Fowler there's young guns across the competition who are looking to make their mark.
ESPN takes a look at 10 of the competition's rising stars ahead of the 2023 season and what they can bring to their respective Super Netball Teams.
Lucy Austin (Adelaide Thunderbirds)
Thunderbirds fans got a few glimpses of Lucy Austin at Super Netball level last season, when she came into the game day ten to make her debut against the Melbourne Vixens early last year, as well as featuring in the Thunderbirds win against the Magpies.
Austin was rewarded with her strong 2022 form with a contract in the Thunderbirds ten and from what fans have seen in Adelaide's pre-season hit-out, she'll quickly become a key staple in that Thunderbirds goal circle.
Being able to complete an apprenticeship of sorts alongside England Rose Elenaor Cardwell as well as working with new Thunderbirds assistant Tracey Neville may just be what takes her game to the next level. With the combination of Austin and Cardwell working wonders across the practice matches and Team Girls Cup.
Austin is a strong holding shooter but can also create a bit of a moving circle for the Thunderbirds, having developed strong combinations with fellow Thunderbirds shooters. The 21-year-old also has the ability to go for those longer range shots, including supershots which adds another dimension to her game.
Nyah Allen (Collingwood Magpies)
Although Nyah Allen will be missing the first half of the 2023 season due to injury, once fit she'll become a strong option for the Magpies in their goal circle. After a strong campaign with the North East Blaze in the VNL, which led her to receiving the MVP for her division.
Allen proved to be versatile for the Blaze, being able to play across both goal shooter and goal attack creating a moving circle with her fellow goalers, which is something fans could see at the Magpies if Nicole Richardson opts for a moving circle.
Her game smarts and movement out the front will bring a different dimension to the Magpies shooting end with both Sophie Garbin and Allen offering something different in that goal attack position.
Allen also isn't afraid to take the long range shots, as many have seen over her 16 games at Super Netball level. Allen's able to stay cool, calm and collected when going to take a shot, which is an asset that will come in handy in close matches.
Matisse Letherbarrow (Giants Netball)
Whilst Letherbarrow has been a part of the Giants squad since 2021 when she came into the squad as a replacement player for then injured Kiera Austin, she hasn't gotten that much court time since. But 2023 could potentially be her breakout season. Letherbarrow's fine form across the Australian National Championships, Team Girls Cup and from glimpses across her past two Super Netball seasons, she proves to be a strong prospect for the Giants not for just 2023 but for many years into the future. Whilst Jo Harten remains under an injury cloud, Julie Fitzgerald will be able to manage Hartens game time and not worry about the standard dropping.
Her combination with fellow goaler Sophie Dwyer will be lethal as it continues to grow and develop over the years at Super Netball level, with the prospect of the two being one of the best Super Netball shooting partnerships over the next four seasons.
Ashleigh Ervin (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
Ashleigh Ervin signed with the Sunshine Coast Lightning before Christmas after being named the replacement for the now retired Kate Walsh. The Queensland pathway product is an exciting prospect for the Lightning, not just for 2023 but for many years to come as well.
Standing at 192 cm, Ervin provides a bit more height in the Lightning defensive circle, as well as having a long reach and vertical jump which allows her to get the ball back for the Lightning. At the age of 19-years-old, Ervin's glass ceiling is incredibly high with the Queenslander not quite at the peak of her powers.
Ervin is a versatile option, being able to play at both GK and GD which gives the Sunshine Coast that little bit more versatility, with new coach Belinda Reynolds able to switch up the defensive circle.
Especially with the loss of Lightning vice captain Tara Hinchliffe who's been ruled out of the season with an ACL injury.
Lightning Captain Steph Wood said that she's been impressed with Ervin and how she's adapted to the Lightning environment.
"I have been very, very impressed with her," Wood told ESPN.
"She is no fuss, goes about her business and I think she is going to be an absolute superstar. She's only 19 years old, super athletic, can run out at goal defence and I think she's very exciting."
Tayla Williams (Adelaide Thunderbirds)
After a strong backend to the 2022 season, Tayla Williams will be another young gun to watch going into the 2023 season.
Her combination with Georgie Horjus out in wing attack and Williams in the centre, injects that element of speed into the Thunderbirds attack line, with the pair able to lift the speed and intensity up a notch.
Williams is a versatile midcourt option for the Thunderbirds, being able to play all three midcourt positions but arguably is strongest in the centre.
Being able to play both that element of attack, especially in the second phase while also being able to play that defensive centre roles will make her a key part of the Thunderbirds midcourt, not just for 2023 but at just 22-years-old Willams will be a key part of the future.
Sophie Fawns (NSW Swifts)
Bursting onto the scene in 2022 was 19-year-old goaler Sophie Fawns who came into the Swifts line up as a replacement player for the injured Sam Wallace. Now in 2023, Fawns is here to stay after being offered a contract in the Swifts 10.
From performances across the Team Girls Cup and that extra level of confidence after having a season under her belt, Fawns is set to take her game to the next level. Her combinations with both Helen Housby and Romelda Aiken-George are strong after a big pre-season which will provide Swifts coach that element of flexibility when it comes to her shooting end.
The compsore from Fawns when she turns and goes to post is next level for someone so young. Fawns is able to sink those long shots with ease and then add her pairing with Housby who is well known for her long shot, it will cause headaches for opposition defenders especially in super shot periods.
Charlie Bell (Sunshine Coast Lighting)
Charlie Bell signed with the Sunshine Coast Lightning late last year as a replacement player for the injured Reilly Batcheldor. The signing caps off a strong 2022 for the young shooter, through a strong Sapphire Series with the Brisbane North Cougars and a string of dominant performances at the Australian Netball Championships for the Queensland Sapphires.
Bell oozes confidence in the goal circle, which fans will see with the way she commands the ball from her teammates, which shows the trust she has in both her own game as well as the trust in her teammates to feed the ball in with pinpoint precision.
Bell brings something different to the Lightning goal circle, with both Steph Wood and Cara Koenen creating somewhat of a moving circle, Bell brings back that holding shooter type circle that the Lightning haven't really seen since Peace Proscovia and Caitlin Bassett were in Lightning colours.
Wood said she was looking forward to seeing Bell at a Super Netball level, especially after only two pre-seasons in a Super Netball environment.
"She's got height, she's quite athletic, she can actually run really well and she's a threat under the post, which I think is a nice addition to us," Wood told ESPN.
"We've got Cara [Koenen] who's probably a little bit more of a mover but the addition there if we want to push Cara out to goal attack and Charlie back at goal shooter, I think that's also a really good option for us.
"I think we saw what she can do at Team Girls Cup and that's with her only having had a preseason with the Firebirds and then she's come here, I think she's definitely a star of the future."
Remi Kamo (Queensland Firebirds)
One of three new additions to the Queensland Firebirds this year, Remi Kamo joins the Firebirds after being a part of the strong three-peat of premierships at the Brisbane North Cougars. With Netball fans getting a first glimpse of Kamo at the Team Girls Cup in late February as well as the Australian National Championships late last year .
Kamo has a great read on the ball and of the play, which she's able to get herself in the right place at the right time to come up with a tip or an intercept. Her footwork and the way she positions herself up against her defender allows her to put herself in the best position to come up with a turnover.
Having had previous experience playing alongside fellow Firebirds defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran at the Brisbane North Cougars, the pair are set to take their partnership to Super Netball level when they pull on the Purple dress together come round one.
Mia Stower (Queensland Firebirds)
This'll be Mia Stower's second year as a fully contracted player for the Firebirds and with Gretel Bueta having announced her pregnancy, it's a chance for her to step up and take her game to the next level.
Stower has great movement around the court and has the game smarts to be able to be at the right place at the right time for her side. With Bueta out of the Firebirds side this season, Stowers' playmaker ability will be a real asset to the Firebirds this season.
Stower also has the confidence to back herself in to take those long range shots, which will come in handy across the Super Shot Period.
Last season there wasn't too much of both Donnell Wallam and Stower on the court at the same time, with the Firebirds opting for that moving circle with Stower at GS but after a strong pre-season of developing that combination, it looks to be a promising connection for new coach Bec Bulley.
Bulley said that she's excited about what she can bring to the Firebirds on court this season, with the potential to make 2023 her year.
"We have someone like Mia Stower who has been watching Gretel [Bueta], learning from Gretel, even playing with Gretel for the last three years and i'm so excited forher to get this opportunity to play SSN consistently," Bulley told ESPN
"She's an amazing long range shooter, she's so smart like she's got great game sense. When she has the ball in hand, you really trust that she's going to deliver it to where it needs to go.
"Really excited for her and looking forward to seeing how she goes this season."
Annie Miller (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
Coming into her second year with the Sunshine Coast Lightning, Miller will be looking to take her game to the next level to help the Lightning rise up the ladder in 2023.
With the loss of Maddie Hinchliffe to Collingwood, Lightning don't have the midcourt depth that it did in previous seasons. It will provide Miller with more opportunities on the court and as shown during the later stages of 2022, she'll be a real asset in the Lightning midcourt this season.
Miller has the flexibility to play both attacking midcourt positions and is especially strong in the second phase, with her speed allowing her to hit the circle edge with ease. Miller's vision on circle edge allows her to site her goalers and feed the ball into the Lightning goalers with pinpoint precision.