No-one was probably more shocked to get the news Capricorn Claws young gun Kaylee Acton was wanted by the Sunshine Coast Thunder than the athlete herself.
The Rockhampton Grammar School Year 12 student was called into the Thunder’s HART Premier Netball League Sapphire Division team in June with several Thunder players unavailable due to the Super Netball Reserves Finals in Melbourne.
“It was very out of the blue,” Kaylee said.
“Talking to Anna (Capricorn Claws Head Coach Anna Young) about it and her telling me that you’ve been asked to play – not just for Ruby but for Sapphire – I was gobsmacked.
“I was kind of scared at first because I was like ‘oh I’m not good enough’.”
That fear was unfounded however as the Queensland Firebirds Futures Academy (QFFA) regional athlete not only made the trip to the Sunshine Coast – she would end up leading the scoring for the Thunder in their clash with the Carina Leagues Club Tigers, scoring 23 points including three Super Shots.
It’s an experience the teenager won’t forget anytime soon.
“It was amazing,” Kaylee said.
“I didn't really mind if I got benched or I played, but being able to play under all that pressure I feel like it just opened my eyes a bit more that I actually really want to go down and play those girls.
“As a regional athlete, we don't really get that opportunity. So taking it and being able to see that I'm not actually that far away from them is pretty cool.”
The opportunity with the Thunder is the latest step Kaylee’s journey that has been super-charged since joining the QFFA regional intake last year.
“The state titles, the first year I went and I was 15, I didn't feel like I belonged there because I was probably a lot weaker than all of them,” said Kaylee, who grew up on her parent’s cattle property in Biloela before moving for school to Rockhampton.
“As I've been into the QFFA, it's giving me time to get strength and actually believe in myself that I can go up against those southern girls.
“When I trialled for the Ruby North team I felt so much stronger on court, especially doing the gym work and the court sessions. I just felt so much stronger and so much more able to do the stuff I wanted to do on court, and I could sustain it for a long time.
“I can see the improvements.”
Having shown what she can do in her HPNL Sapphire Division cameo, Kaylee’s focus is now on finishing the Ruby North season strong with the Claws after making it a goal of hers to represent her region in the inaugural Ruby North season.
“When it first came out I said to my mum that I really want to get to this team,” she said.
“I didn’t even care if I didn’t even get into the team – like I wanted to be a training partner just so that I could at least train under Anna and just be constantly pushed to improve myself.
“It’s just constant pressure. I feel like back in Rocky sometimes it’ll come off and on but here (in Ruby North) it’s constant pressure and it just helps you build more.”
