By Sophie Taylor
Ash Ervin’s journey to the big leagues has been nothing short of remarkable.
In 2022, Ervin was a Suncorp Super Netball training partner.
In 2024, the rangy goal keeper, now a full-time player with the Sunshine Coast Lightning, earned her maiden Origin Australian Diamonds squad selection.
“It feels like such a long, tumultuous thing that happened,” Ervin says, of her climb up the pathways.
“In retrospect, it was actually quite a quick incline into SSN and even the Diamonds too.”
Starting her netball journey in Netball Queensland’s Ruby Series feeder, Ervin spent a year at each level before progressing again and again in impressive form.
“I've been very fortunate in that sense, but it's also been difficult to navigate how to step into the next level after not being in the last one for so long,” she said.
Such a steep incline is both a blessing and a curse, with Ervin having little time to process each stage of her journey and the changes that came from it.
“If it's an opportunity that can't be passed by and it's something that requires a lot of change, you can either take it by the horns, or you can leave it where it is,” Ervin said.
Ervin had a breakout season in 2024.“Even though it's really scary, you’ve got to try and use your resources around you.
“It's definitely a difficult thing to navigate, even though I've been through a lot of teams, it's all been pretty close to home.”
Ervin reflects that all the change has helped shape her into the person she is now, which is more comfortable in herself and her role within a team.
“When I look back on my early days of netball, I was super awkward and I didn't always fit in, and sometimes I would confuse that with not belonging somewhere,” she said.
“I really had to learn how to grow my social skills and create friendships so I did feel like I belonged and that was really important for me because if I stayed that way, I might not have been able to progress the way I did.”
She says the notion of safety has been a really important factor in her development as a player.
“Feeling comfortable and feeling safe is really important to how you play,” Ervin said.
“It really does correlate.
“I've really tried to stay true to myself and authentic and I think it's paid off because, in the team I'm in now, I can be really genuine and the people around me get behind me and that's so much better than trying to be someone I'm not.”
Asked about her ‘north star’ in terms of advice, Ervin says one family member’s words stand out to her.
“The first thing that comes to mind is something my dad has always said,” she admitted.
“He always says to me: ‘Your brain is your strongest tool’.
“Many people think the physical side of sport is the most important, but everything you bring personally and mentally is so important for sport.
“You can't be a great player if you don't nurture that mental side of your life, and for me that means balancing my life.
Ervin made her first Origin Diamonds squad in 2024.“If I didn’t have that, I would go crazy.”
She touched on the importance of mental toughness.
“If you don't try and grow that mental toughness, you won't be able to last in the really important moments in sport,” Ervin said.
Ervin also credits Queensland pathways coach Katie Walker for imparting mental toughness on her from a young age.
“She’s someone that definitely stands out to me when I think of a mentor because she's so mentally tough and gave me a lot of insight as to how to be a mentally tough player and a mentally tough person,” Ervin said.
“You don't have to feel good to play good and you don't have to turn up on a day and feel absolutely perfect to play your best game… you've done the work and you know how to show up.”
An important lesson for a young player, which shows in Ervin’s body language on court and her never-say-die attitude.
Ervin touched on the importance of having people in her corner, setting the tone and believing in her abilities.
“Maybe I'm a bit lucky in this sense, but I know pretty instinctively who has my best interests at heart,” Ervin said.
“It's about understanding who genuinely wants the best for you and will show that in their actions.
“They won't just say what they want you to hear, they'll really bring you along with them and show you what you need to learn.”
HCF wants to inspire netball fans to feel strong and be their healthiest self. That's why we're sitting down with your favourite Super Netball players to talk about overcoming injury, navigating change, resilience and relationship building.
To see more articles and videos or get more information on women’s health topics, visit the HCF Strong Women Health Hub.
