National First Nations team selection for proud Eyre

NEW Bacchus Marsh recruit Chloe Eyre has packed plenty into her burgeoning netball career since taking up the sport at age seven.

A growing list of accolades is highlighted by her selections in various interleague teams, the Victorian First Nations team and VNL club Boroondara Express’s 23-and-under team.

But the now 18-year-old insists her biggest and proudest achievement to date has been her selection in two First Nations Black Swans squads, Australia’s national Indigenous netball team.

The latest of those selections arrived late last month, with the silky goal attack picked in a 12-player team to compete at the inaugural Spirit Series in Sydney next month.

Held at Sydney’s Netball Central from 8–11 July – and aligning with NAIDOC Week – the event will see the Black Swans take on the national teams of Singapore, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

It will be the first time Eyre, a proud Wamba Wamba woman who debuted for the Cobras in their 31 May win over Ballarat, has gotten to play against international teams and indeed donned the Black Swans dress in an official match.

“Last year I made it (the squad) as well, but I didn’t get to go away with the team,” she said.

“It was a squad of 20, with 15 (players) chosen in teams for tournaments and I didn’t get picked.

“This year I have and we’re going away in July. It’s going to be so much fun.

“I’m stoked. I’ve never played against an international team.”

Eyre’s Black Swans selection was reward for her standout performances in last September’s First Nations Tournament, involving 23-and-under aged teams from every state and territory.

“(The Black Swans) is a great program. We do education Zoom sessions every three weeks, but don’t get to train together,” she said.

 

“(Former Queensland Firebirds championship player) Beryl Friday is one of our coaches and she trusts that we are getting good training in with our local teams and whatnot.

“For me, that’s every day except Tuesday and Sunday.

“Having said that, the last few Sundays have been taken up by First Nations trials.”

A month out from her official Black Swans debut, Eyre says it’s the biggest honour of her career to date.

“Other than the First Nations state team, I’ve never made another state team, but to even be considered for a team at a national level is amazing,” she said.

“I thought that was way out of reach. I’m still a bit shocked.”

Friday – also Netball Australia’s First Nations pathway manager – said the Spirit Series represented an important opportunity for athletes within the First Nations pathway.

“Selection into the Black Swans is deeply meaningful for our athletes because it recognises not only their talent and hard work, but also the pride they carry representing their communities and cultures,” Friday said.

“To compete against other national teams in a high-performance environment gives these athletes exposure to different playing styles and cultures, which is invaluable for their development on and off the court.”

Shocked by her Black Swans selection, Eyre admitted that finding herself lining up for the Cobras, which she did for the second time last weekend against Lake Wendouree, was similarly unexpected until a few weeks ago.

The Sunbury resident, who played with Riddell District league club Macedon last season, had initially planned to skip playing at local level this season to concentrate on her hairdressing apprenticeship and VNL netball with Boroondara Express.

But following a change in employment, she was coerced to Bacchus Marsh by one of the Cobras’ other 2026 season recruits, defender Georgia Shattock.

 

The pair are 23-and-under teammates at Boroondara Express.

Oddly, Shattock was not the only Cobras player familiar to Eyre, albeit with the other link somewhat tenuous and distant.

“I played interleague in under-15s with Jasmine (Paama), who is another goaler, but I didn’t really get to know her back then,” she said.

“That was when I was playing for Lancefield.

“But I’m excited to be here (at Bacchus Marsh). Hopefully we can achieve a bit of consistency with how the goal circle is working.

“And hopefully the team and I can gain confidence in each other and I can gel well with everyone.”

If first impressions last, Eyre – who lined up at wing attack in the opening quarter against the Swans before moving into her customary role in the goal circle – and the Cobras will be a great match.

“It was a good game … I felt as the game went on, I gelled a lot better with the girls, gained some momentum and got a good feel of things,” she said.

“Being the first time playing with them, I was still getting used to how the girls play and different combinations.

“But it was really fun. The Bacchus Marsh girls are so lovely. I’m excited to keep playing with them.”

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