Mother-of-two Veve and Australian Diamonds defender Bakewell-Doran will be joined in the leadership group by experienced midcourter Lara Dunkley, who has been named vice-captain for the fourth-straight season.
“I couldn’t be prouder to have this special group of women leading our playing group for the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season,” Head Coach Kiri Wills said.
“The process to appoint our new leaders following the retirement of a club icon such as Kim Ravaillion has been exhaustive and featured input from the playing group and staff.
“In Ruby and Hulita I think we have two leaders who will complement each other fantastically on and off court.
“Ruby is a tremendous competitor and someone who demands the best of herself and her teammates.
“Hulita has proven her leadership qualities at international level with Tonga and bleeds purple, she’s all about the team and the club.
“With the experience and passion of Lara aiding both, I’m confident we’ve found a winning combination for the Firebirds.
“Our leadership group is supported by a group of players who are committed to our team values and we couldn’t be more excited about the journey ahead.
A premiership winner with the Firebirds in 2016, Veve made a successful return to being a full-time contracted SSN player last year appearing in all 14 games and ending the season as the winner of the Players' Player and Members' Player of the Year awards.
The Beenleigh Netball Association product also captained Tonga at their Netball World Cup debut in South Africa in 2023 and has represented her country 38 times.
“It definitely means the world to me,” Veve said.
“Looking back at 2016 when I first part of this club I just think on how far I’ve come. It’s been a bit of a rocky journey for me but to be here right now – I didn’t think I’d get a contract for this season or last season – so to be here and be captain with Rubes and Larzy, it’s just super exciting and we’re going to do great things this year.”
Bakewell-Doran is stepping into a leadership role at the Firebirds for the first time ahead of what will be her fourth season as a full-time player with the club.
Her appointment as Firebirds co-captain comes after she led Australia to victory at the Fast5 competition in New Zealand last November.
Australian Diamond No.188, Bakewell-Doran grew up playing for Valleys Netball Club and the defender is a fan favourite with the Queensland netball community.
“It’s a bit of a pinch-me moment. I was just stoked to get a spot at the Firebirds let alone work my way up to this position,” she said.
“I feel so privileged and I know that I have some very big shoes to fill. This club has some incredible captains and I’m just glad that I get to do it alongside two of the most incredibly strong women that I know.”
After moving from Victoria to Queensland in 2020 as a replacement player, Dunkley has made herself a home in Brisbane including being joined by her AFL-playing brothers Kyle and Josh in 2023.
The 29-year-old has been vice-captain of the Firebirds since 2022 and stepped up to lead the team on court last year multiple times when Ravaillion was sidelined with injury.
“It means the absolute world to know that the girls have full faith in what you're doing,” Dunkley said.
“It's a privilege leading this club. I bleed purple, and I love coming here every single day.
“To stand alongside H and Rubes, it's just an absolute honour.
“We've got a group of leaders within this whole team, so I just can't wait to get started.”
Veve and Bakewell-Doran will start their leadership duties this weekend with the Firebirds travelling to Adelaide for the 2025 Suncorp Team Girls Cup starting on Friday.
The Firebirds start their tournament against the West Coast Fever on Friday at 3.30pm AEDT with matches against the Melbourne Vixens and NSW Swifts on Saturday before finals on Sunday.
Watch every match of the Suncorp Team Girls Cup live on Kayo Sports and Foxtel plus, for the first time, now on Binge.
