Sandhurst goal shooter named BFNL’s Rising Star

A YEAR filled with accolades has only served to make fast-emerging Sandhurst goal shooter Claire McGee humbler and determined to work even harder on her netball craft.

The 17-year-old landed another big honour by being named the BFNL’s Rising Star winner for 2025.

It followed a big season in maroon and blue, highlighted by her stunning A-grade debut against fellow powerhouse Kangaroo Flat, and some impressive achievements away from the BFNL.

McGee was crowned best and fairest of the Bendigo Strikers VNL Reserves/development team. She also won a place in the top 50 athletes considered for selection in the Victorian team for next year’s 19-and-under national championships.

It was the second year in a row she made the top 50, after advancing as far as the top 25 last year.

Despite some lofty achievements, McGee has managed to keep her feet firmly grounded, admitting to being ‘a bit surprised’ and ‘humbled’ to win the Rising Star.

“It was a good list of nominees and finalists, so never did I give much thought to coming out on top,” she said.

“But it’s a real thrill and honour to win it, even though it is a surprise.”

A talent-laden group of finalists included Castlemaine’s Olivia Henderson, Eaglehawk’s Eden Clifford, Gisborne’s Emily Miles, Golden Square’s Charli Hamilton and Strathfieldsaye’s Lainey Mortlock, all of whom, like McGee, appeared at either A-grade or A-reserve level in 2025.

Her status as a Strikers 23-and-under training partner led to her making her debut and lone 23-and-under VNL appearance against Gippsland Stars during the season.

While looking comfortable at the level, it was another debut that would turn plenty more heads – her first A-grade appearance for Sandhurst under lights at Dower Park in early July.

Taking to the court late in the opening quarter with the Dragons trailing by 15 goals, McGee proceeded to show just why she is considered one of the top goal shooting prospects in her age group in the state with a composed and mature beyond her years performance.

While the double-figure margin at quarter-time was a bridge too far, she was instrumental in ensuring the final three quarters of the match were an even affair.

There was no ignoring the declaration on Betty Thompson Medal night of ‘two votes, Sandhurst … Claire McGee’, or the loud cheers that followed.

 

It’s a moment the 17-year-old will cherish forever.

“Other than the end score, I was alright with the game,” McGee said.

“I didn’t actually know when I got there (to Dower Park) that (four-time premiership shooter) Bec Smith wasn’t playing, so I was expecting maybe 30 seconds on court.

“That probably helped, as I went in not nervous because I didn’t know I’d be playing.

“And then we were 12 or 15 goals down when I came on near the end of the first quarter, so there wasn’t a lot of pressure on me.

“I was happy just to stay on until the end and get the experience under the belt.”

While she has not played A-grade since, it’s only a matter of how soon she will she be able to nail down a regular spot in the line-up.

McGee continued to be a heavy factor in the Dragons’ climb into last Saturday’s A-reserve grand final, where they were beaten by Kangaroo Flat.

The loss came 12 months after the young sharpshooter dominated grand final day, winning 17-and-under and B-reserve premierships with the Dragons, and claiming the best on court medal in the B-reserve triumph.

“It was pretty good. Neve (Pinner) and I, who was also in the B-res game with me, we often talk about it,” she said.

“It couldn’t have gone any better.”

McGee, who will make the step up to a permanent Strikers 23-and-under player in 2026 after recently being contracted, will be aiming to make every post a winner at VNL level, while doing her utmost to preserve Sandhurst’s reputation as a BFNL powerhouse.

“I’ll be off to uni in Melbourne, but the plan is to go for another premiership up here,” said McGee, who is targeting a bio-medicine degree.

“I’ll have Bendigo Strikers games, training on Sundays and Saturdays with Sandhurst, so a bit to juggle.

“But I’m sure it will work out well.”

McGee praised the support and influence of her Sandhurst coach Tamara Gilchrist for having the belief in her to play A-grade; Strikers 23-and-under coach Carol Cathcart; her parents; and Strikers club-mate Shae Clifford.

“Shae has taken me to every single training as a fellow Castlemanian,” she said about this year’s Betty Thompson medallist.

“I’m basically about two houses away.

“I spend a lot of time in the car with her and am so lucky to learn so much from her on the way.”

McGee is the sixth winner of the Rising Star award from Sandhurst since its inception in 2008.

She follows in the footsteps of some big names in Maddison Exell (2008), Abby Gilmore (2009), Chloe Watson (2011), Shae Clifford (2022) and Charlotte Sexton (2023).