with Matt“ Duck Man” Austin

Netball is the largest competitive sport for females in Australia. Over 1.2 million women and children participate across the country, and there are now also men’ s teams competing. The Hawkesbury has been fortunate to produce two outstanding netballers: former Australian Diamonds captain Liz Ellis and rising star Matilda McDonell.

Affectionately known as Tilly by her GIANTS teammates, Matilda is one of the most exciting and passionate players in the game today. The 185cm-tall goalkeeper began her netball journey at just six years old with Londonderry Netball Club in the Hawkesbury Netball

Association, playing up in the Under-8s. She followed her brother into many sports but took to netball“ like a duck to water.”

Tilly’ s mother placed great emphasis on education, and Tilly attended St Paul’ s Grammar School at Cranebrook— a school known for producing professional athletes, including Australian Test Cricket captain Pat Cummins and Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medallist Paige Leonhardt. Tilly is currently completing a Bachelor of Law / Psychological Science at UNSW and is in her final year.

Matilda was first contracted to GIANTS Netball ahead of the 2019 season, having already represented NSW and Australia at underage levels. She was an influential figure in the second-tier Australian Netball League and Netball NSW Premier League competitions before making her mark in Super Netball.

Inspired after watching her first NSW Swifts match as an Under-11 player, Tilly is now in her seventh Super Netball season at just 24 years old. She said the increasing professionalism in Super Netball and women’ s sport generally is“ super exciting”, with netball setting the benchmark. As part of her mentoring role at the GIANTS, she works closely

with Olivia Harris from Penrith. Tilly is focused on preparing for the future, wisely noting that she does not want to“ put all her eggs in one basket.”

Tilly described Super Netball as the world’ s best competition, attracting players from across the globe. Her personal and team goal for this season is to reach and win the Grand Final. The 63-cap goalkeeper said there is an exciting blend of youth and experience within the GIANTS squad, particularly in their strong defensive line-up, which will ensure the team brings its A-game every match.

On the subject of league expansion, Tilly said she would welcome it, but stressed the importance of maintaining a good balance to ensure player and competition quality is not diluted. Among her mentors, she counts Jo Harten, Jamie-Lee Price, Maddie Hay, and Gina Crampton, and she credits head coach Julie Fitzgerald as a major inspiration.

Tilly has met Liz Ellis on several occasions and admires how much the former Green Hills Netball Club member and 122-Test Australian Diamonds player continues to do for the game’ s future.

Away from the netball court, Tilly enjoys spending time with friends, going for walks, swimming, and using the sauna. She describes herself as a bit“ goofy and loud” and treasures the close, almost family-like bond within the GIANTS squad.

Tilly is taking her career in her stride, looking forward to what the future holds. She hopes to travel— with Japan high on her list— and still harbours a dream of making the Australian Diamonds squad.

The future certainly looks bright for Matilda McDonell.

with Matt“ Duck Man” Austin

It has been quite a journey for the Penrith Emus out in Sydney’ s west. Celebrating their 60th year in 2025, the club originally began as the Nepean Rugby Club, donning the traditional brown and yellow hoops.

Over time, the Emus moved their home ground to Andrews Road in Penrith, now known as Nepean Rugby Park. Rising through the ranks of NSW Suburban Rugby, the Emus were promoted to the prestigious NSW Premier Rugby Shute Shield competition in 1995, where they competed until their omission in 2018.

Their journey continued in Canberra, competing in the John I Dent Cup until 2023. In 2024, the Emus underwent a major club rebuild and Executive

Committee restructure, with former Penrith RSL Junior Rugby Club and Penrith District Junior Rugby Club President, Adam Fletcher, stepping in to lead the club into a new era.

Under his direction, the Emus have been admitted back into the NSW Suburban Rugby competition for 2025, where they will proudly contest the Meldrum Cup in Sydney’ s hotly contested Division 6— a competition for clubs fielding a single team, ideal for the Emus’ re-entry into‘ Subbies’ rugby.

The Emus will face strong competition, taking on clubs including Merrylands, 2023 Meldrum Cup champions Georges River Drop Bears, Blacktown Rugby Club( last year’ s champions), Manly Savers, North Cronulla Sea Lice, Sydney Harbour Oysters, Oatley, and Burraneer

Hammerheads.

Initially, former Blue Mountains Rugby Club coach Daine Walker was announced as Head Coach, bringing experience from winning the Blunt Cup in 2018. However, due to other commitments, John Wickenden— another

former Blue Mountains player and coach— has taken the reins, supported by highly experienced assistant coach Adam Caruana, who previously coached at Penrith before further honing his skills at Blue Mountains.

The Emus have assembled a competitive squad, blending youth and experience, and showed promising form in trial matches, narrowly losing to Epping— the 2023 Second Grade Stockdale Cup champions— by just 10 – 5.

Last weekend, the Emus made their Division 6 debut at home against a highly-fancied Merrylands side, which had competed in Division 3 the previous year. Despite Merrylands’ strength,

including two-time Sixth Division Player of the Year Luke Schofield, the Emus were undeterred.

In front of a passionate home crowd of over 500 supporters, the Emus’ new fullback, Leuelu Junior Tino, scored their first try and added the conversion to give the Emus an early 7 – 6 lead, sending the crowd into raptures.

Although injuries took their toll and the Emus ultimately fell 20 – 7, the match showcased a promising new era. With strong foundations, talented recruits such as prop Ben Rosenstrauss, and a rejuvenated spirit, the future looks bright for the Penrith Emus as they take flight once again in Subbies rugby.