Down to business: Lara Dunkley

By Stephanie Smarrelli 
 

The last season of Suncorp Super Netball is definitely one the Queensland Firebirds will want to forget.  

They parted ways with head coach Bec Bulley midseason, then caretaker coach Lauren Brown stepped down, leaving Katie Walker to take over with help from former coach Roselee Jencke for the rest of the year.  

It was a turbulent time for the club, especially since they missed finals for the sixth season in a row. But senior player Lara Dunkley is staying positive, saying things can only get better from here. 

“What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,” Dunkley said reflecting on the year. 

“As a group we're really determined for the next year.”  

The 29-year-old confessed the revolving door of coaches shook the playing group.  
 
"Inconsistency in anything you do can rattle a group,” she said. 

“We had a lot of changes in coaching and as a group we stuck together which makes us stronger heading into 2025.”  

In the final rounds of the season, the Firebirds found their spark again, with big wins over the finals-bound West Coast Fever and their rivals, the New South Wales Swifts. 

"Knowing the season wasn’t over kept us going,” Dunkley said. 

“We could have easily given up, it was super tough there were different emotions across the club, but we knew we were a professional team and needed to get the job done. 

"We came together stronger than ever, and it was a pretty amazing game against Fever and then with the Swifts. I'll remember those games forever.”  

Looking back on the season, Dunkley is proud of how the team continued to challenge themselves every week. 

"We stood up strong no matter what we were having to go through,” she said. 

“Being quite a young team, what's positive is everyone still wants to learn and be better every day, every training session, every game.  

“Everyone's growth mindset has been good, it's only the beginning for this team we've learned a lot of lessons in 2024 to bring to 2025 not just as players but as people.”  

There were a few players who really stepped up for the Firebirds in 2024, but Dunkley singled out one young gun, praising her for grabbing the opportunity with both hands. 

“There was a moment in the season, it would have been the Fever game, we had lost our coaches and had to really step up,” she said. 

“Coming up against Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard is a challenge and a half, but for Isabelle Shearer as someone who hadn’t been on the court much, she really stepped up and hopefully that gives her confidence for next year. 

“We fully back Izzy, she stepped up when she had the opportunity.” 

On the court, the Firebirds are focused on improving one key area for 2025. 

 "When you win the ball, you need to cherish the ball,” Dunkley said. 

“We get intercepts and then let the ball go, we need to make the most of the moments we get to score.  

“That’s a goal for us to have our turnover conversion higher than the year before.” 

The Firebirds had the second-worst turnover conversion rate in the league in 2024, and while that’s crucial for scoring, Dunkley feels the team’s lack of SSN Finals appearances since 2018 can also be traced back to another key factor. 

“Experience,” she said. 

"Teams with experience go through it all together. We've gone through a not-so-great patch these last few years and having everyone on board is what I'm super excited about. 

“As a team we've experienced a full rollercoaster at the Firebirds and it's really exciting to have some international talent coming into the group, it expands our knowledge of the game on a whole new level having experience and an international taste of things, will uplift this group.” 

As the team gears up for the 2025 season, Dunkley praised another teammate who’s really stepped up as a leader of the club. 

“Everyone lives super busy lives but it's about making the most of time off the court, as well as on the court,” Dunkley said.  

“Tippah (Dwan) has really bought in a strong culture, coming from a premiership team with the Thunderbirds, she’s leading the culture in our team. The Thunderbirds obviously do a really good job of building team culture.  

“Tippah's making sure we're having our regular catch ups and doing things away from netball to make us closer as a group and that's something we've needed to work on and we're continuing to do."  

After the rollercoaster ride of the 2024 season, the Firebirds have brought in a new head coach, New Zealand’s Kiri Wills, and Dunkley’s confident she is the right person to steer the ship. 

'We’re a few weeks in and she's made an incredible impact straight away,” she said. 

“She really values everyone as a human, she wants us to be the best players we can be and to really enjoy ourselves. 

“I'm excited, she's already teaching us some Kiwi tricks, her knowledge of the game and experience in the leadership space to create a culture club is an asset.  

“She wants the best for everyone, we're all in it together and she's really driving that.” 

Speaking of international experience, Dunkley is looking forward to the arrival of new teammates Mary Cholhok and Imogen Allison. 

“Both Mary and Imogen are going to provide so much talent throughout the court,” she said. 

“Imogen is a really hard-at it midcourter, she’s going to really uplift our midcourt. 

“Having Mary under the post, is exciting, what’s going to be good for us is nobody really knows her game over here, we want to keep our secret safe before the season starts. She’s 201cm tall, she’s going to be the tallest goal shooter in the league and can move even out in the middle of the court. 

“To be on their team is going to be a really exciting time for us all.” 
 
While Cholhok and Allison have stolen the spotlight in recruitment news, there’s another new Firebird Dunkley’s especially excited to team up with on the court.  
 
“Ash Barnett, she brings a lot of youth, hunger and eagerness to the Firebirds,” Dunkley said.  

“It’s exciting to have Ash on board, she’s a Victorian so I have known her for awhile, she really wanted it. 

“When you give girls who really want it an opportunity, you get the best out of them. She's putting in the effort and already showing us great things. 

“She's one of those defenders who goes hard at everything, she’s going to be a nightmare to train on for an attacking player but she’s going to bring her best and challenge everyone.”  

With the squad all set and training in full swing, the Firebirds’ goal is clear; end the finals drought and lift the trophy at the end of the season.  
 
But before that can happen, there’s still plenty the team needs to get right. 

"The team is focused on really nailing pre-season,” Dunkley said. 

“We've got a lot of hard work to do, we have a full squad, we've got our training partners and it's about really pushing each other, taking no shortcuts and doing everything right to trust the process and have the best opportunity at finals. 

“To win the Grand Final is the ultimate goal and would be a dream come true, but it's about nailing the the smaller things first to allow us the opportunity and knowing once we get there, we've done all the work and everything it takes.  

Kiri is driving that day in day out; we have standards we're really holding each other to account with and that's going to hold us in good stead moving forward.” 

For Dunkley, premiership success is a goal that was reignited earlier this year, after watching her younger brother Josh claim his second AFL premiership.  
 
“Josh winning the premiership was amazing, it's such a long journey to get there, it's not just that game, it's the whole season and his whole career to date,” she said. 

“It starts when you're young and you want it badly, you give everything and make so many sacrifices, it was amazing to see him win.  

“There were five of us Firebirds at the game, Tippah, Emily, Macy, Ruby and I were all there and it makes you even more hungry seeing a Grand Final and people be successful makes you want it much more.” 

Touching on what’s inspired her, Dunkley also acknowledged the impact one of her former teammates has had on her development. 

"Ravi (Kim Ravaillion, has taught me so much not just as a player but a person,” she said. 

“Everyone knows her to be the workhorse she is, she gives 110 per cent to everything she does and seeing her move away from Adam and live up here, really give it a red-hot crack and try to do her best at this club was incredible.  

"I can't thank her enough for everything she's done and having little Georgie around brought joy to the Firebirds and me as a person. 

“She said: ‘It's not retiring, it's graduating.’ She's got some things she is working towards we'll have to watch this space with Rav.” 

When she has time away from the netball court, Dunkley spends time pursuing another one of her passions. 

“I do a bit of relief teaching in schools around the area, I love being Miss Dunkley for the day,” she said. 

“I have a real passion for the younger generation outside of teaching, I do a lot of coaching the next generation, I want them to love netball. 

"I love being a role model in their life, whether that's teaching them how to count, write, or play netball, being a role model for the younger ones means a lot to me and is a super fulfilling job I can have outside of my netball career.”