Wagga netball sensation Alison Miller is quickly getting used to the ups and downs of professional sports after a roller coaster season.
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Miller, 21, shot to prominence in 2016 off the back of a successful under 21s national titles campaign with NSW and has been a staple in the NSW Waratahs ever since.
The 190cm goal shooter also got a pre-season taste of Super Netball earlier this year as a NSW Swifts training partner, marking Miller’s career highlight to date.
“I got the chance to do some pre-season games with Swifts which was really great,” Miller said.
“I’ve been mainly playing with Waratahs and we don’t really get paid for that, so it’s busy trying to juggle everything like work and studying when you also train during the day and in afternoons.
“I’m trying to break into Suncorp (Super Netball) now.”
It’s a far cry from the girl who only began taking netball seriously in 2014 and the game itself has come in leaps and bounds during Miller’s blossoming career.
“I think netball’s becoming more and more popular now – we’re getting paid more and it’s becoming more professional as well, not just netball but girls sport in general too.”
Speaking at Wagga High School’s annual sports presentation day, Miller was happy to share her anecdotes on a journey launched by inter-school games in the Tracey Gunston Shield and Wagga Netball silverware.
“I absolutely loved playing the Tracey Gunston (Shield) – it was such an honour to be a part of … and it helped me learn lots of the basics and help me mature as a player,” Miller said.
“There were plenty of highlights in Wagga, like winning the division two title a few years back and also with New Kids back in the day.
“I remember we were all in under 16s but played in opens and did really well.”
The former Mater Dei Catholic College product has enjoyed a meteoric rise since being named in the Australian under 17 development squad during her final year at school.
I think netball’s becoming more and more popular now – we’re getting paid more and it’s becoming more professional as well.
- Alison Miller
Miller was also involved with the Southern Sports Academy through high school and credited much of her junior success to the program.
Now renown as one of the most accurate goal shooters currently playing in Australia, Miller played a key role in NSW Waratah’s Australian National League 2018 campaign, helping the side to a bronze medal.
If that wasn’t enough on her plate, she’s also juggling this with her university commitments in Sydney.
“I’m studying at ACU at the moment doing early childcare and primary school teaching, which I absolutely love,” Miller said.
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