Cover Image: May Bailey/Clusterpix
At what point do you give up on your dreams?
When you’ve chased them so hard, and they’re tantalisingly, stubbornly just out of reach. As the years mount and the excited young school leaver somehow becomes a 27 year old athlete who’s still waiting and hoping for a Super Netball contract. When you almost believe that you’ve become ‘just’ a netballer.
At what point do you say, ‘Enough!’
Well, if you’re Sharni Lambden, you don’t.
And it’s been worth the wait because finally, after eight long years of life as a club training partner, she’s put pen to paper on her first fulltime contract, joining the NSW Swifts for season 2025.
Not that the timeframe bothers Lambden too much – now. She said, “I’ve had so many highs and lows, and as much as it was hard at times, I’m super grateful that’s been my journey because it’s shaped me to be a better athlete and a better human.
“Being resilient is part of life and a part of sport.”
Sharni Lambden had 60 minutes in the Swifts win against the Thunderbirds. Image – Hannah Howard
Lambden spent years in the Victorian and Australian pathway programmes, tasting success at both state and international level. She played alongside and against names like Kiera Austin, Amy Parmenter and Lauren Moore, and has loved seeing them thrive in their Super Netball clubs over the years.
With just 80 rostered places available however, and a number of them given over to imports, competition has proved fierce. For Lambden, the contracts didn’t come.
“I was one of those people playing the waiting game. There’s so much talent in Australia and so many girls capable of playing at that level. It does take time, opportunity and some luck.
“It is hard, as you put your life towards it, your heart and soul into it. Some people are lucky with timing and opportunity, others might take years to make it like me.”
As an 18 year old, Lambden was offered a training partner role with the now defunct Collingwood Magpies. Shy and even nervous of stepping into a club alongside huge names such as Sharni Layton, Madi Browne and Ash Brazill, the youngster felt she had a lot to learn.
“Those players were so experienced and it was cool to see how they trained and what they were like on and off court. I really looked up to them.
“At the time, I was so young I didn’t expect quite how demanding it would be, such a step up. It made me realise how hard I’d have to work to get to where I wanted to be. It’s not going to be given to you.”
Lambden said she underwent a mindset change, doing all the one-percenters on and off court to be the best she could possibly be.
As time passed it seemed that no matter how hard she worked, opportunities weren’t falling her way.
“I remember being quite disappointed and sad about it, anyone would be. It’s okay to have those feelings. But it’s about how you move on, how you push past it, how much you want to get there.
“When I kept getting those knockbacks my resilience grew. I just accepted them. I kept pushing, striving, believing it would happen. Thinking, ‘This is fine, I’ve just got to keep going. I’m not giving up because this is something I’ve always wanted to do.’”
After spending time in the Queensland-based hub during Covid, Lambden decided not to continue with the Magpies. A few months later she was offered another training partner role, this time with the Melbourne Vixens. She’d had a sniff of what the club was like, taking part in the occasional training sessions as a 16 year old. Hoping a change of environment would be good for her game, Lambden accepted the role.
The Vixens were in a successful era, and with a strong and stable roster, Lambden was unable to force her way into the contracted ten, no matter how much she honed her body or skills.
She said, “I was just starting to play my best netball, and I was getting a bit frustrated wondering what more I could do. I was getting feedback saying, ‘Sharni, you’re doing everything right, there’s just nothing for you.’
“That’s where my mindset and attitude was important. I just kept going.
“But we are all human and there were points where I wanted to throw in the towel. But I’d pick myself back up and go again.”
By the end of 2023, Lambden felt like she wasn’t getting much closer to her dream, and had a hard decision to make.
As she says, “I had to take a step back so that I could go forwards.’
It’s taken years of work on and off court, but Sharni Lambden has a 2025 contract. Image: May Bailey | Clusterpix
She had reached a point where she identified as ‘just another netballer’, and wanted to explore who she was outside of sport. “I wanted to find the things I enjoyed and do the things I couldn’t do while I was a training partner. Camping and fishing, full time work, whether I wanted to be a teacher, to go to uni and study.”
Lambden decided that for 2024 she would work fulltime, and play state league for the Casey Demons. “I really loved that time. I was with an awesome crew, playing freely which felt good, and really finding out who I was.”
In one of those twists of fate where one person’s injury is another’s opportunity, Vixens wing defence Kate Eddy was ruled out for a few mid-season games with injury, and Lambden got a call up into their match day ten. It was a chance that she wasn’t going to knock back.
“I felt really sad for Kate, but it was exciting for me. Work was amazing – they told me to take time off, train, go in and do what I needed to do, and I was very grateful they were happy for me to chase my dream.”
Playing in two full games, and with cameos in a couple of others, Lambden felt content. With no expectations of permanently joining a Super Netball roster, she was still proud of what she’d finally achieved.
And so, Lambden was stunned to get a random message from her player manager. “She asked me how tall I was. I said 178, and she said, ‘Let’s make it 180’, which I’m sure I am.’
“I asked her what was going on, and she told me the Swifts had approached her.”
In total disbelief, Lambden threw her phone into the air and burst into tears. On a Zoom call with NSW Swifts head coach Briony Akle the following day, Lambden was offered what she’d waited eight long years for – a contract.
“I couldn’t believe it was happening, just wow! All that work, all that time. With my partner Max and my family all back in Melbourne I knew it would be hard moving away from them, but it was my dream so it making the move was the best thing I could do.”
Driving into attack in Round 6. Image May Bailey/Clusterpix
Lambden has not only earned her place in the Swifts’ ten, but is usually a starting seven player with major minutes in each game this season. She’s become a vital part of a lethal defensive combination, shutting down opposing wing attacks and providing crucial protection for the circle defenders behind her.
And while Lambden’s contract is just for one year, she is allowing the future to take care of itself. “It’s hard not to think about at times, but because this is my first year, I want to take every moment to be present, to really be there, to take every opportunity I can and build each week. You never get those moments again.
“I pinch myself all the time, and sometimes can’t believe I’m here. To be starting and playing so much netball. Briony backs me, so does Dyl (Nexhip, assistant coach) and the team. It’s so cool to have their backing.
“So I have confidence and I know that I have the ability to play at this level. Like wow. I think about it all the time.”
Some of her teammates have expressed disbelief that she hasn’t been picked up before, but for Lambden, the time is right, and she’s better for it.
“Everyone’s journey is so different. I’m ready to play now, hence why I’m so into every game.
“I’m experienced, but I’m not, all at the same time.
‘I love to share my story, knowing there are a lot of girls in life in my position. And they get to the point where they give up. But they have so much talent, whatever they do, so much potential.
“So I’d encourage them to have resilience and back themselves. To make that mental shift no matter how hard it is.
“I’m super grateful for my journey because it’s shaped me to be a better athlete and a better human. I’ve had so many ups and downs, no matter how hard they were at times.
“But it’s part of sport, and it’s definitely part of life.”
