The Barooga product and current Shepparton, Bendigo Strikers and Melbourne Vixens Reserves’ starlet is busting ceilings like no tomorrow, and yet her latest achievement might be the most expected yet.
Seventeen-year-old O’Dwyer has earned selection to Netball Victoria’s 19-and-under squad for a second consecutive year, surviving the cut from 50 players to 25.
In doing so, she joins the other successful athletes in gaining access to Netball Victora’s high-performance program, Elevate.
A statement released by Netball Victoria confirmed the state’s 17-and-under and 19-and-under squads had been trimmed with an eye on the 2026 National Netball Championships.
“Over the last two weeks, the top 50 in each age group have trialled and been reduced to squads of 25, who have now been invited to take part in Netball Victoria’s high performance program, Elevate,” it read.
“The Elevate program provides athletes with targeted physical preparation before they’re again narrowed down to the teams of 12 set to compete at the National Netball Championships next year. The Victorian state teams will be announced in December.
“Since its inception, the Elevate program has seen significant improvement in athletes’ strength and conditioning ahead of selection, creating a more competitive and prepared field for Netball Victoria’s state selectors to choose from.”
This latest accolade is another gleaming development in O’Dwyer’s breakout year.
In 2025 alone, the teen sensation secured a Super Netball Reserves contract, was named in Australia’s 19-and-under team and won silver at the National Netball Championships.
Yet there’s still time for her to add more silverware to the mantle.
Alongside her state and VNL commitments, O’Dwyer has been a midcourt linchpin for Shepparton during its fairytale Goulburn Valley League campaign.
She has featured in 13 of the Bears’ 17 unbeaten games and, with Kim Borger’s side steaming into finals as a firm premiership favourite, O’Dwyer may have a maiden senior flag to add to her collection in a month’s time.
In other news, a former Shepparton netball mentor has joined the coaching ranks at Bendigo Strikers.
Fiona Boyer, who started her netball journey in the Goulburn Valley, but has relocated to Albury, was announced as the Strikers’ 23-and-under head coach for next season.
She’ll lead the likes of Elsie Boyer (Tatura), Asha Gray (Mooroopna), Abby Larkin (Moama) and O’Dwyer, who all featured for the Strikers during the 2025 VNL campaign.
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