YOU would think breaking into powerhouse Wentworth’s A Grade netball side would be an extremely tough task.
But Lola McInerney’s ascent has been remarkably swift as she has gone from being a rising star in the Roos’ ranks to this week’s Mildura Golf Resort SFNL Netballer of the Week in the space of less than a year.
The rise has also seen her change positions, but the former defender has taken that comfortably in her stride as well.
“We have a very strong line-up in defence with Christie (Becker), Coutrney (Wakefield) and Nat (Vercher). So, I give the team other options to put me wherever they want and maybe get more court time,” the newly-minted goal attack said on the brink of her 18th birthday.
“I like the situation in defence with the fighting for position and the intercepts, but I also like it when you are shooting, the pressure and keeping your team in games.”
Wentworth, smarting from a shock grand final loss last season after running through the year undefeated, are taking no prisoners in their bid to get the title they won in 2022 and ’23 back.
“A bit of redemption, maybe,” she said of the team’s 2025 quest.
“We’ve retained most of the team from last year and now we are just trying to improve each week.
“You can’t underestimate any of the teams. You never know what’s going to happen.
“Teams are going to get better as the year progresses and it’s up to us to just keep pushing on and look ahead to see what we can do to get better.
“I’m not the coach, I’m just the junior on the team but I could add to my game by helping a bit more on the transitions, but they always give me advice and anything we can improve on, we do it together,” she said of the red, white and blue crew’s attitude.
Off the court, McInerney is tossing up various options as she contemplates her future.
“I will probably go to uni next year with something but I’m not sure just yet. I like sports science, media, music and all the subjects I am doing cover that,” she said.
“I might also take a gap year, but then I might have too much fun and not want to come back,” she said with a laugh.
But Wentworth will always hold a special place in her heart.
“This has been my club for like forever and I don’t want to leave here but I am also excited about the future. If I go to Adelaide to study, something might come up in one of the leagues there, but I’m not banking on that. We’ll just see what happens.”
Lola McInerney is the Mildura Golf Resort SFNL Netballer of the Week for round five. She receives a $150 voucher for the Mildura Golf Resort.
