Meet the SA netballer 'daring to dream'

By Stephanie Smarrelli
 

At just 18 years of age, Tabitha Packer is taking the netball world by storm.

She already has a number of impressive accolades to her name including being named MVP at last year's National Netball Championships. She also represented the Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures at the Australian Netball Championships and donned the green and gold at last year's Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.

So heading into this month's NNC's in Frankston, Packer is eager to continue forging her path in the netball world but also to reconnect with her team.

“I'm looking forward to getting to play with the girls, spending time together and getting to know everyone,” she said.

“I'm also excited to see the girls from other states who I've gotten to know over the years, especially the ones I went away with to Trinidad, I'm very excited to see them and play against them.”

Last year, Packer was a key member of the South Australian side that went through nationals undefeated to claim the 2023 title. But despite that success, the teenager is remaining level-headed knowing that winning one year doesn't necessarily mean you'll be successful in the next.

“I've learned a lot of discipline and know that we're not going to win every game like we did last year because that expectation isn't realistic,” she said.

It's been a rapid rise through the ranks for Packer who reflected on the first time she was selected to play nationals in 2022, saying her call up came as a surprise.

“I was shocked, it's pretty cool knowing that other people notice your hard work and to get rewarded for it,” she said.

Having already achieved so much in the sport, Packer said her fondest netball memory was representing Australia last year at the Commonwealth Youth Games where she was part of the Australian team which returned home with a gold medal in the Fast5 event.

“I felt so proud,” she said.

“We worked so hard all year and that work at home, in the club, training on weekends, it felt worth it"

Reflecting on the tournament Packer expressed how much she enjoyed the experience.

“It was the most amazing experience, we developed so much, and being Fast5 it was fun because we had never played that before,” Packer said.

“It was cool getting to play with all the girls from other states and seeing the different ways the other countries play. It was a very professional experience to have with all the other sports there too.”

Packer was also thrilled to play in the Thunderbirds Futures team at last year's Australian Netball Championships, where she got to learn from some of netball's best including superstar youngsters Lucy Austin and Lauren Frew

“It's nice being the younger one looking up to them and knowing that if you make mistakes it's okay because there's a lot of growth to get to where they are,” she said.

A WD and GD throughout her netball journey, Packer's biggest challenge has been adding a new string to her bow, picking up the C bib.

“My positional switch has been the biggest challenge; I've been made aware that I'm not tall enough to play only defence,” she said.

“The movement between positions on court and not really being certain of where I fit has been a lot. I am still training as a defender as well  because I can do all of them and although I'm not as tall I've been told I bring speed and skill to the goal defence position.

“I'm hoping I don't end up entirely in the midcourt but I'm not sure exactly where I'll end up.”

Packer's resilience stems from her father Seb who she looks up to.

“My dad played footy, and he had a bad injury which meant that he could not do it anymore. Netball is such a big part of my life, and he helps me put everything into perspective,” she said.

“If things don't go the way that I want them to he reminds me there's so much more to life.  He's happy, he works hard for our family it's really cool that he's been able to have a really great life despite things not going how he imagined."

Looking to the future, Packer is daring to dream but will take everything one step at a time

“I want to play SSN and for the Origin Diamonds one day, but I'll take it one step at a time,” she said.

“I don't want to get too ahead of myself just improve year by year.”