BALLARAT league netball powerhouse Sunbury has pulled off the biggest signing of the off-season so far, welcoming Melbourne Mavericks SSN training partner Ruby Shannon to the fold.<\/p>\n
Shannon joins the Lions fresh from playing a pivotal role in the Australian 21-and-under team’s success at the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar in September.<\/p>\n
The versatile and silky midcourter spent 2025 as a training partner with Super Netball premier Melbourne Vixens, but will ply her trade next season with their crosstown rival.<\/p>\n
Shannon’s signing continues a fruitful off-season for the Lions, runners-up to Darley this season.<\/p>\n
Following the departure of powerhouse goaler Rebecca Hicks, who will line up with Hampden league premier Koroit in 2026, the Lions have announced the arrival of young, former Geelong Cougars VNL goal shooter Charlize Bellette and the return of 2024 premiership player Lani Fauonuku after a season with Melton.<\/p>\n
Fauonuku, who will line up with City West Falcons’ 23-and-under VNL team, was recently named as a training partner with the Mavericks SNN Reserves team.<\/p>\n
Shannon, the winner of the Western Warriors’ championship best and fairest this season, will now join her VNL coach Kim Bailey at Sunbury.<\/p>\n
While she will miss chunks of the season with her Mavericks SNN Reserves commitments, Shannon will be a ready-made replacement at the business end of the season for dual league best and fairest winner Simona De Filippo, who will play for Goulburn Valley league club Tatura.<\/p>\n
Bailey hailed her mix of pace, tenacity and skill mastery as having a positive impact on the team’s on and off-court connections.<\/p>\n
“Like Charlize and Lani and also Caitlin Hill, who will play full-time with us next year, Ruby is pretty tall, so our attack line is going to be pretty tall,” she said.<\/p>\n
“She’s not long back from touring with the Aussie 21-and-under team and will continue to play at Warriors.<\/p>\n
“It will be great getting her after the SSN Reserves are finished.”<\/p>\n
From Melbourne, Shannon previously played local netball just down the road from Sunbury with Riddell Bombers in the Riddell District league in 2024.<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old has spent the past two years as a member of the national 21-and-under squad, highlighted by the win in Gibraltar.<\/p>\n
She represented Victorian Fury in 2024’s inaugural SN Reserves competition and was honoured with VNL19-and-Under Team of the Year selection while playing with her former club North East Blaze.<\/p>\n
Shannon’s inclusion, along with the signings of Bellette Fauonuku, will ensure the Lions remain among the favourites for next year’s premiership.<\/p>\n
They finished last season as minor season premiers, but fell 51-46 on grand final day to Darley.<\/p>\n
The Devils have so far announced the re-signing of five of their premiership lineup \u2013 goal shooter Olivia Cawthray, midcourters Lucy Taylor and Jaimee Smith and defenders Anna Lawley and Matilda Elliot, who was best on court in the grand final win.<\/p>\n
In a massive boost to their premiership defence, class midcourter Montana Holmes, who played for the Mavericks SN Reserves team this season and played a sprinkling of games for the Devils, has committed to the club.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BALLARAT league netball powerhouse Sunbury has pulled off the biggest signing of the off-season so far, welcoming Melbourne Mavericks SSN training partner Ruby Shannon to the fold. Shannon joins the Lions fresh from playing a pivotal role in the Australian 21-and-under team’s success at the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar in September. The versatile […]<\/p>\n