Vixens captain impressed by Sexton’s development; praises world cup win

MELBOURNE Vixens captain Kate Moloney says it has been exciting to see Bendigo’s Charlotte Sexton fast-track her development with the Suncorp Super Netball premiers in 2025.

In Bendigo last week with the Australian Diamonds, who beat South Africa in the opening match of their three-game series at Red Energy Arena last Saturday night, Moloney could not have been more lavish in her praise of the first-year Vixens training partner.

Her glowing assessment followed Australia’s Netball World Youth Cup win in Gibraltar, where goal keeper Sexton was a key member of the championship team.

The youth cup win was Australia’s first since 2009.

“It was so exciting to have Charlotte in as a training partner this year,” said Moloney, the Diamonds’ vice-captain.

“Not only did she do an amazing job at the Vixens, she’s just won the world youth cup as well, which was an amazing opportunity for Australia in that under-21 level.

“We hadn’t won the title for a such a long time. I love seeing that from our Aussie girls.

“But Charlotte’s a local (Bendigo) girl and I know that one day she hopes to play for the Diamonds as well.

“She’s going in the right direction at the moment.”

Few would be happier to see Sexton – a dual best and fairest winner with Bendigo’s Victorian Netball League team, the Strikers – eventually make the step up to the full-time Vixens roster than Moloney.

“I hope so – that’s what you want to see, the Netball Victoria pathways really working,” she said.

“We bring girls in with the hope of one day playing for the Vixens and then hopefully one day playing for the Diamonds.

“Charlotte is just a prime example of where our pathways at our state level are working, and they are bringing girls through to that Diamonds environment as well.”

Australia ended its world youth cup drought with a 63-48 win over New Zealand.

Full of praise for Bendigo’s strong and vibrant netball culture, Moloney had more kind words for Sexton’s VNL club.

“It’s so exciting to think there is a Victorian Netball League team (here); that’s a massive step in the right direction in a community that loves its sport,” she said.

“They (the Strikers) did such an amazing job in the Victorian netball League as well.

“They will continue to grow in that space, but the more we can get netball out into the regions and the more we can grow our sport, the better it is going to be.”

In just their second season in the state’s premier netball competition, the Strikers reached the VNL championship semi-finals and the first week of 23-and-under finals.

The championship team’s inaugural best and fairest, Sexton has won the top award in both seasons. More sport from page 23.