When you’re a Year 12 student with a host of netball commitments, it’s fair to say you need a pretty wise head on your shoulders. That’s what Charli Fidler has.
The Manly Warringah Sapphires player, who balances time in the Origin Energy Premier League, NSW State Team and GIANTS Netball Academy environments, makes the best of the situation.
"Sport is the best way to be social,” she says. “You have lots of teams therefore lots of opportunities to be with lots of different people.
“We find time at training, travelling to training and at the games to catch up and just be normal and talk all things not netball!
“It is hard to find downtime over the three programs all running, which is why I feel so lucky that many of my closest friends are netballers too.
“I am in year 12 this year, so not only was the school workload high, the netball load was even higher.”
It might sound like a manic schedule, especially for someone so young, but Fidler is keen on embracing the challenges ahead.
“It really is a matter of scheduling and prioritising,” she adds. “My diary is always full and to be honest I really like it that way.”
Pathway sport comes with highs and lows, and Fidler – like fellow her NSW State Team athletes – was left hugely disappointed by the cancellation of the National Netball Championships in Tasmania for the second year in a row because of COVID-19 outbreaks.
Fidler was selected in both 2020 and 2021 and take some solace in the fact she earned selection in the first place.
“I feel very fortunate to have been selected in the NSW state team this year and last year,” she says.
“It is a very intense process, and once you make the team, you are even more determined to learn as much as you can from the coaching team and then play and ultimately win.
“The training schedule is tough but also amazing – the group bonds, you set goals and as a playing group look to ensure you come together as a team and give your very best.
“In both years I felt we had an amazing team, we had each other’s back, and we all wanted to get on that court and play. We had fantastic preparation and we were ready to win.”
In the Premier League Fidler has made the step up to the Sapphires’ Opens team and is loving the pace of the game.
“Opens is a challenge… every game is different, and it is so fast. I love it – the speed, the physicality and the game intensity.
“This is my second year playing in the Opens team for the Sapphires – which is really amazing. Manly gives wonderful opportunities to its players and I feel very lucky to represent this franchise.
“Both Gin and Mel are great coaches to work with. They are great communicators, and really help manage all the different schedules.
“We have had some great games this season, and while the year started a bit slow for us, we are definitely building on our connections.”
A proud moment for Fidler was getting presented her State Team uniform by both the NSW Swifts and GIANTS, and she is really enjoying her time in the latter’s Academy.
“Again, it is the opportunity to be with like-minded people (at GIANTS),” she says.
“The girls all love sport, and having a variety of ages means we learn a lot from the more experienced girls.
“GIANTS have created a great culture – one where we train hard but also where we grow as players and as people.
“I hope that I can continue to be part of the GIANTS family – and one day be given the opportunity to play in the orange dress.”
