Distinct Bendigo flavour in Mavs reserves squad

A FRESH-look Melbourne Mavericks Super Netball Reserves squad for 2026 includes two Bendigo Strikers players and one of the stars of the BFNL netball competition.

The Mavs – runners-up to West Coast Fever in 2025 – have unveiled a 10-player squad for next year’s competition, with the support of six training partners.

It is highlighted by the selections of dual Strikers VNL championship best and fairest Charlotte Sexton and fellow defender Charli Hoey, from VNL club Hawks.

The pair was recently named as Mavericks training partners for 2026, with Sexton making the move across from Melbourne Vixens, where she was a training partner during the club’s 2025 premiership run.

Sexton, who hails from BFNL club Sandhurst, is coming off a successful run with the Australian 21-and-under team that recently won gold at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.

The squad includes six members of this year’s inaugural Mavs reserves team, including Strikers goaler Teal Hocking.

The 21-year-old was a key in the Mavs rise to grand finalists with her precision shooting and playmaking ability in the circle.

Originally from Rochester, Hocking capped a stunning first season in the BFNL by being a part of Kangaroo Flat’s drought-breaking A-grade premiership team.

Among the fresh faces in the squad, Gisborne’s Claudia Mawson has made the move across from the Vixens reserves squad.

The silky goal attack and long-serving Victorian state representative boasts a pair of BFNL premierships with Gisborne and was best on court in the Bulldogs’ stirring one-goal grand final win over Sandhurst in 2023.

A former Strikers 23-and-under player, Mackenzie O’Dwyer has retained her spot in the squad.

O’Dwyer, who turns 18 next month, will play her VNL netball with North East Blaze next season.

Highlighting the strength of the Mavs reserves program, the team’s inaugural captain and player of the year Sacha McDonald, was rewarded with her first-ever Suncorp Super Netball contract for the 2026 season.

Mavs assistant coach and head of pathways Nicole Richardson said it would be a great experience for these athletes to train alongside the Mavs’ SSN team, gaining invaluable experience in the club’s high-performance environment.

“It’s fantastic to see so many up-and-coming athletes from the Victorian pathway keen to be part of the Mavs environment,” she said.

“We pride ourselves on doing things a bit differently, and this squad reflects that approach.

“The depth of talent here is exciting, and we can’t wait to see them develop and push for opportunities at the elite level.”