By Henry Milic
Kaurna netballer Aaleya Turner has sparked an inspirational comeback in 2024, returning to the sport she loves after two years sidelined with an Achillies injury.
In just a few short months back on court, Turner has received two big selection nods, making a name for herself in South Australian netball.
In April, the 19-year-old was named in Netball Australia’s inaugural Black Swans First Nations netball invitational team, set to compete at this year’s Pacific Netball Series.
Less than a month later, she earned her spot in the Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures Squad for the inaugural Super Netball Reserves.
“I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of the reserves team because I have always looked up to the Thunderbirds and it’s really exciting,” Turner said.
“I can’t wait to put on the pink dress, it’s probably one of the first teams I have made in a while since being injured and I’m so excited to get out there.”
SN Reserves will run over five weeks from June 1 to July 7 and was designed to feature athletes on the cusp of Suncorp Super Netball, including training partners and state league players.
Road to recovery
For Turner, the journey back to netball has not been an easy one.
“I first injured my right Achilles at Nationals in 2022 and then eight months later after going through rehab, in my first training back I ruptured my left one.” Turner said.
“I think being out of the game made me realise how much netball impacts my life.
“I went from going to training every day, then not being able to play during that time, it made me realise how much I really enjoyed playing the game.”
Turner credited the Matrics Netball Club and her South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) teammates for supporting her both on and off the court.
“Just before I did my Achillies, I had signed with Matrics and hadn’t even played any games or anything, but the Matrics coaches and girls were really supportive in my rehab and included me in everything,” Turner said.
“I also had a really good rehab because I got to interact with the SASI girls by doing gym five days a week.”
Many rehab sessions later, Aaleya returned to the netball court in The Hospital Research Foundation Group Premier League at the start of 2024 and has since made her debut in the league division for Matrics.
“It was an awesome experience to finally make my debut for the league team,” Turner said.
“I’ve always wanted to play league at Matrics, especially two years ago when I first started, and after having all these setbacks, it made the opportunity all the more rewarding when I got there.”
Nunga to the elite
Turner first began playing netball in Old Noarlunga, following in the footsteps of her older sister and cousins, but it wasn’t until she competed in the Nunga Netball Carnival that she found her competitive spirit.
“I have been a part of the Nunga SA Carnival since I was eight, because my cousins did it and my auntie was one of the coaches,” Turner said.
“I first represented South Australia in the State Nunga team when we went to Queensland and the coaches where Kelly Wilson and Vanessa Dempsey, who I’m still close to, to this day.”
“I think playing against First Nations netballers was really tough because they are actually very good netballers and I competed against many athletic and skilled players which was really hard but a good challenge.”
“I think it was a really good opportunity to bond with the other girls from all around SA, which was really exciting, and each team came together and celebrated our culture.”
Turner will put her experience into practice this June as she competes in the Pacific Netball Series with the inaugural First Nations national team.
She is one of 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander netballers selected from across the country to compete.
“It’s an awesome opportunity because it’s not very often that you get to play with other First Nations netballers, especially interstate ones,” Turner said.
“I know some of the girls through the U17 and U19 pathways, so it is a great chance to play with them and just enjoy the experience.”
Connecting netball to country
Off the court, Turner has been making a difference by educating people around First Nations cultures.
At the first two Adelaide Thunderbirds home games at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Turner has delivered the Welcome to Country alongside her older sister Nasyah.
“We do the Welcome to Country, but we also add a little snippet of our Kaurna culture with the spectators, something valuable to add to the whole Thunderbirds experience,” Turner said.
“So, we welcome them in country and then we translate it, and we just share a bit of our culture with them, which has been very good.
“It’s a really awesome experience that I get to do with my sister.”
This weekend, both the Adelaide Thunderbirds and all eight clubs in the Premier League competition will celebrate First Nations Round.
“I think First Nations Round is always a good opportunity to educate people within the community around First Nations culture, especially those who don’t know much about it,” Turner said.
“It’s also nice to stop and remember that we are all coming together each week to play netball on Kaurna Land and it’s great that all the teams embrace the round by wearing the special dress that includes artwork from different First Nations artists.”
Stepping up
Back on court, Turner now turns her focus to the Pacific Netball Series and hopes to play in her first ever game in pink for the Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures.
Beyond this year, the talented centre/wing defence has aspirations of one day representing her country and donning the green and gold.
“I’m definitely looking forward to playing for the First Nations National team at the Pacific series, which I hope to perform well at and really enjoy the tournament whilst competing with all the other talented First Nations girls.”
“Having been selected in the Thunderbirds Futures Squad, I hope to be selected for the teams each week and then eventually I really hope to be contracted to an SSN team or training partner.”
“Hopefully one day, a goal of mine would be to play for the Australian Diamonds.”
