Maggie Taumaoe’s performances for Victoria at last month’s School Sport Australia 15-and-under Netball Championship earned her national selection. 34608 Picture: Stewart ChambersBy Marc McGowan
IT’S been a year of firsts for Cranbourne North netballer Maggie Taumaoe.
The modest teenager made her state debut late last month in the School Sport Australia 15-and-under Netball Championship in Canberra.
Victoria won all nine of its matches, with 15-year-old Taumaoe playing a pivotal role at both goalkeeper and goalshooter.
Fellow Lyndhurst Secondary College student Tayla Shannon, 14, also impressed; racking up 90 goals over the carnival.
But there was more good news to come for Taumaoe.
She received the shock of her life when national officials selected her alongside four of her Victorian team-mates in the Australian Merit Team at the end of the tournament.
“I did all right, but when they called my name it was overwhelming,” Taumaoe said.
“I was surprised because I didn’t think I’d be good enough to make it. All the other girls are talented as well.”
The selection earned her a spot for the annual international competition in South Australia next year.
And Taumaoe is confident the national team will come together well.
“We got along with the other girls from the other states, so it will be a good thing,” she said.
“The Victorian girls all got along – we didn’t have our own groups – and we bonded well and our communicating on court was good.
“It was good just celebrating with the girls and knowing all the hard work had paid off.”
The national championships also introduced Taumaoe to the professionalism required at the elite level.
She often had to play two games in a day during the week-long carnival and recovery included hot and cold showers and ice baths.
Victorian coach Lisa Gillard also gave Taumaoe and her team-mates report cards on their strengths and weaknesses after each day’s play.
“I just need to improve moving my feet around the goalshooter and my player and also just keeping tight with my player and not letting her get to the space,” Taumaoe said.
“They said my strengths were reading the game, getting intercepts and rebounds.”
Taumaoe now returns to playing for her local club side Northvale and representative team Waverley City.
She is also a Central East Academy member.
Taumaoe is keen to put her head down and keep working hard ahead of the international tournament.
“I’ll just train hard, keep my fitness work up and hopefully keep improving,” she said.
“Fitness is the main key and I go to the gym three nights a week and train twice a week with the academy.”
