By Matt Fotia
NSW Swifts signing Sharni Lambden had thought about giving up on her netball dream more than once.
After almost eight years in the SSN landscape, the 26-year-old was resigned to fluttering away in the fringes of the professional netball scene, like so many other talented netballers whose careers came along at the wrong time.
“There have been points in my netball life where I felt like I was plateauing with the lack of opportunity,” Lambden said.
“A lot of it is about getting your timing right because there are only 80 list spots in Australia.
“I’ve been in these programs since I was 18 and I’m 26 now, so it’s been a long process and there have been times where I wanted to give up, but it’s always been my dream.
“I’ve showed a lot of resilience to keep coming back and there were lots of happy tears when I finally signed the contract.”
Like many other athletes who dominated their age group, Lambden was routinely selected in state and national squads as she climbed her way through the elite netball pathway.
And like many other athletes who dominated their age group, she was lulled into thinking she would keep going along a similar trajectory when she entered the open age groups as well.
But she quickly learned, growth isn’t always linear.
“Eighteen-year-old me definitely thought, ‘I’m in the program, I’ll get a contract’,” Lambden explained.
“Over the years I realised how much hard work had to be put in, because nothing in elite sport gets handed to you.”
Without a full-time contract, training partner life beckoned.
Lambden began her six-year journey as a quasi-professional athlete with Collingwood, and trained almost full-time with the star-studded squad, before moving to crosstown rivals the Vixens a few years later.
Lambden was initially involved in Collingwood's program, before moving to the Vixens.The life of a training partner is unenviable, as (mostly) young athletes attempt to commit full-time to their sporting dreams, all while juggling a full-time education and some form of employment, with little reward.
Lambden was fortunate enough to have employment through her father, which allowed her much more flexibility than others in her situation, but still found it difficult to find the perfect balance.
“I was with Collingwood when they were first up and running and was pretty much a full-time athlete,” Lambden said.
“It was extremely difficult to juggle training partner life when you’re doing all the work but more or less unable to play.
“I give credit to all those girls who have done and continue to do it, because it is so hard.
“Contracted players admit training partners have it the hardest, and it makes it a lot more rewarding when you do get your opportunity to come up and play.”
Ahead of the 2024 season Lambden decide to step away from training partner life and concentrate on her own personal development.
Her focus shifted to getting full-time employment, growing her career off court, and enjoying the game she’d loved since she was a little girl.
“I’d turned 26 and realised I couldn’t just keep being a training partner,” Lambden said.
“I took a step back, got a full-time job working at a special education school, concentrated on playing VNL and just loving the game.”
As is often the case, a change in perspective led to some career best netball for Lambden, and on this occasion she managed to get her timing right, hitting form just as the Vixens were in the midst of a minor injury crisis.
“The step back helped my netball a lot,” Lambden stated.
“I’d been in the same position for seven years and just thought ‘you know what, let’s change it.’
“Maybe I needed to take a step back and figure out my identity outside of netball.
“I played a lot better (for Casey Demons in the VNL) with more freedom, enjoyed being with the girls, was playing my best netball and was lucky enough to get an opportunity with the Vixens.
“It just fell perfectly.”
Lambden was called up as an Injury Replacement Player this season by the Vixens.Lambden’s first SSN appearance in 2024 was a three-minute stint late in the Vixens round nine victory against the Mavericks, coming on to replace Rudi Ellis who rolled her ankle in the last quarter.
Ellis was unable to recover in time for the Vixens next match, and with Kate Eddy still on the sidelines, Lambden was given the full 60 minutes in wing defence against the Sunshine Coast in round 10 and followed up with another full game against her now teammates, the NSW Swifts in round 11.
Lambden also featured in the Vixens round 12 loss to the Thunderbirds.
The feisty defensive midcourter did more than hold her own in those two full games, finishing with three gains and three deflections against the Lightning, before following up with two gains and two deflections against the Swifts.
Lambden played on some more than handy players during her four-game stint, going head-to-head with Diamonds captain Liz Watson in round 10, before taking on star Swifts duo Paige Hadley and Maddy Proud a week later.
“Playing against some of the best midcourters in the world, I was fairly nervous,” Lambden explained.
“To play a full 60 minutes was unreal. You have to take those kinds of opportunities with two hands.
“I don’t really remember most of it, it was such a blur, the game happens so quickly at SSN level.”
Lambden won’t just be leaving the Vixens when she sets off for Sydney.
She’ll also be departing her VNL club the Casey Demons, a place she has called home for almost her entire netball career.
“I love my Casey Demons family,” Lambden said.
“They’ve pushed me to be my best and all the people there are so supportive.
“It’ll be sad to leave the club where I grew up. Casey Demons is my home, I love the club, and I love the people.”
Lambden performed well in her four games this season, up against the likes of Liz Watson and Paige Hadley.Exciting times await of course, with Lambden joining a Swifts side desperate to atone for their poor 2024 campaign and supercharged by the signing of Kiwi superstar Grace Nweke.
Lambden expects most of her court time to come in wing defence, as a point of difference to fellow Victorian Allie Smith, but is ready and able to play anywhere coach Briony Akle needs her too.
“Providing versatility and playing three different positions was pretty much the conversation we had, and I guess will be my role,” Lambden explained.
“It’s a different coach, a different environment, and a massive club.
“I really believe this will be an awesome change for me and my netball.
“I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
