By Stephanie Smarrelli
Signing a full-time contract is a dream come true for many netballers. But only a select few get to put pen to paper.
And for these five athletes, that dream has become a reality.
So who are the fresh faces ready to make an impact in 2025? And will they earn some regular game time?
Kayla Graham – Adelaide Thunderbirds
South Aussie product Kayla Graham has signed with the Adelaide Thunderbirds for 2025.
The 20-year-old is joining the reigning champs after spending 2023 and 2024 with them as a training partner.
A versatile player, Graham is able to take on the GA and WA roles, adding even more depth to the Thunderbirds’ winning lineup.
Earlier this year she made her SSN debut as an injury replacement player slotting four goals in her limited time on court.
Graham has also been a star in Netball South Australia’s Premier League competition for Contax Netball Club where she was named joint Rookie of the Year for the League division in 2022 and was named in the Team of the Year in 2023. This year, she led her team to a premiership and was named as MVP of the match.
Graham debuted for the Thunderbirds earlier this year.She’s represented South Australia at the National Netball Championships and was part of the Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures in 2023 and 2024. Plus, she was selected in Australia’s 21U squad ahead of the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup and travelled to Fiji for The Rising Stars: Fiji 21/U Tour.
Graham will join a stacked attacking end at the Thunderbirds where she’ll join Origin Diamond Georgie Horjus, Jamaican superstar Romelda Aiken-George and shooting duo Lucy Austin and Lauren Frew in the goal circle.
Ashlee Barnett – Queensland Firebirds
Defender Ashlee Barnett caught the Firebirds’ attention with an impressive Super Netball Reserves campaign, it was the second year in a row she donned the Firebirds Futures purple.
As captain of the Futures team, she was a standout throughout 2024 and was named as the side’s MVP.
Originally from Melbourne, the 21-year-old has been playing with the ACU Brisbane North Cougars in the HART Sapphire Series for a few seasons, the same team that’s produced Firebirds teammates Macy Gardner and Ruby Bakewell-Doran.
With a dogged defensive style thriving in a physical contest and the ability to switch between goal defence and goal keeper, Barnett is sure to bring some fresh energy to the Firebirds defensive end.
Ruth Aryang – West Coast Fever
Ruth Aryang has been a dominant force in the West Australian pathway moving her way up to play for the Fremantle Sharks in the Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball League (WANL) and the West Coast Fever Reserves.
The defender has made her mark in the Fever environment.
As the sister of Origin Diamond Sunday Aryang, 20-year-old Ruth is making her own name in the Fever squad. She joined the extended roster for the first time in 2022 after winning the fairest and best player award in the WANL in 2021.
Her journey hit a rough patch with a serious knee injury in 2022, but after a solid recovery, she bounced back as the Fever’s eleventh player in 2024 and hasn’t looked back since.
She made her SSN debut in Round 5, playing two games for the Fever. All her hard work has paid off with her first full-time contract locked and loaded for next year.
The twenty-year-old's inclusion in the Fever squad will have the opposition on edge needing to be extra vigilant to outsmart not only one Aryang but two.
We spoke with Aryang earlier this year about life in the Fever camp, read here.
Sharni Lambden – NSW Swifts
It’s been a long time coming for Sharni Lambden.
At 26 she’s spent years as a training partner for the Collingwood Magpies and Melbourne Vixens, waiting for her moment.
She featured in state and national teams throughout her burgeoning career and despite making her SSN debut as a Temporary Replacement Player for the Vixens in 2022 she hasn’t been able to break through with an SSN contract until now.
Having been in the system since she was 18, she decided to take a step back from training partner life this year, but it was then that opportunity came knocking.
Lambden has been waiting in the wings for her opportunity.
The versatile player, who can role between WD, GD and C, was called up by the Vixens midseason to fill an injury void and it paid dividends for Lambden. She played two full matches catching the attention of the NSW Swifts who she came up against in Round 11 finishing with two gains following a strong outing in Round 10 against Origin Diamonds captain Liz Watson.
Having waited so long for this opportunity, expect Lambden to come out firing for the Swifts with nothing to lose.
Hear from Lambden herself about her journey here.
Lily Graham – Melbourne Vixens
You might be confused to see Graham on this list...while she was named as a permanent fixture of the Vixens roster for season 2024 she was only there as a Permanent Replacement Player... now she’s officially a member of their contracted 10.
Graham was named as a training partner with the side before stepping up to replace Mwai Kumwenda who gave birth earlier this year.
The teenager rose through the ranks quickly having only made her debut for the Victorian Fury at last year’s Australian Netball Championships. She’s played in the Victorian Netball League since 2021 and been a representative of Victorian state teams in 17/U and 19/U levels.
With six appearances for the Vixens in 2024, the 19-year-old proved her worth time and time again, including a clutch performance in Round 13 against the Fever, where she slotted six Super Shots. Her work ethic and ability to absorb pressure show she’s ready to be one of the world’s best
Her versatility and speed in the Vixens attack will give coach Simone McKinnis plenty to work with in the goal circle for 2025.
