Determined to go one better

Lucy Denton looking to lead South Australia to national title

Having spent her formative years as a netballer at the Millicent Netball Club, Lucy Denton is no stranger to success. She has a trophy cabinet full of premiership medals from 13 & Under through to A Grade and there is also best on court medallions and association best and fairest trophies

But Lucy (pictured right at Garville’s season launch & below with silver medal from 2022 national championships) is an athlete on a mission as part of South Australia’s 19 & Under State netball team competing at the national championships in Darwin this week after the same team, of which Lucy has been vice captain for the 2022 and this year’s campaign, fell just short of gold last year.

“We are so hungry to win it this year being so close and not being able to finish the week last year with a gold medal did hurt and I look back at that week and that game taking away so many learnings,” Lucy said.

“Lucky for a few of us from last year’s team we are able to have another crack at it again which we are all so excited and ready for.” And being part of the leadership team again means Lucy has been looking to lead the way for the 2023 campaign.

“I have tried to lead the way by giving 100% all the time on and off the court,” Lucy said.

It is a work ethic learnt from one of the best – her mother Donna Denton – and while Lucy is grateful for the grounding she was able to gain from her mother, she has also enjoyed hearing new voices as she looks to make her mark at the elite level.

“Obviously everyone that knows me knows how much my mum has had an impact on my netball so far and I’m so grateful for her and what she has taught me,” she said.

“It was an easy transition from being coached by mum to then being coached by the Garville coaches. They were very welcoming and made me feel at home.”

Lucy’s 19 & Under State coach Amanda Shattock has had a huge influence on Lucy through her State representative career over the past five years.

“She is definitely one of those coaches that brings out the best in people,” she said. “The other person that has had an influence on my netball is Jenny Borlase. She was my SASI coach when I

first moved to Adelaide and was someone that believed in me as a player from the get go and seen something in me as a player that I didn’t see in myself.” Lucy has also benefited from her first full season playing in both the Premier League and reserves competition in 2022 – the increase in intensity has forced her to continually develop her own game.

“I’ve always strived to play at a high standard and every game at this level feels like you’re playing a grand final,” she said. “I feel as the intensity is so high you just have to be on top of your game all the time and I think with that comes consistency and I think towards the end of that season that’s where I saw the most improvement of being consistent in how I play.”

The preparation for the nationals has not been smooth sailing with the 19 & Under team as the team has battled injuries but the chance to be part of the Premier League Pre-Season Cup at the beginning of this month, gave the team a chance to really blow out the cobwebs and work on combinations.

“Everyone was able to hit the court and get so consistent game time and I think everything just started to come together.”