This year, the Strikers celebrated outstanding success across all levels of the Victorian Netball League (VNL). The Championship and 23 & Under teams reached finals in only their second year of competition and the introduction of a VNL Reserves team to the competition showcased the depth of talent across the Strikers program.
A key part of that success story for La Trobe is being able to celebrate the achievements of some of our very own. Twelve Strikers players are currently studying at La Trobe across both our Bendigo and Bundoora campuses, balancing elite netball with their academic and career aspirations.
Some are supported by the La Trobe Elite Athlete Program (LEAP) and others through the LEAP Emerging program, while all Strikers athletes enjoy access to La Trobe’s state-of-the-art gym facilities at both campuses.
The connection between the Strikers and La Trobe goes deeper than player pathways. Key members of the Strikers’ support staff — including Strength & Conditioning Coach Paddy Blood, Jake Pallpratt, Ayla Papallo and Tia Shaw (physiotherapists pictured below) — are proud La Trobe alumni, all having graduated from our Bendigo campus and bringing their expertise back to the club.
This year, Exercise Science student Shania Decker completed her practicum placement with the Strikers, gaining invaluable hands-on experience working alongside our high-performance staff throughout the season.
Beyond the VNL, Striker’s athletes have also enjoyed individual success at state and national level. Shae Clifford was crowned league MVP in the 23 & Under competition, while she and Eliza Mooney were both named in the 23 & Under Team of the Year. In the Championship team, Charlotte Sexton, Zoe Davies, Teal Hocking and Emma Walters were all recognised with Team of the Year honours.
La Trobe students Charlotte Sexton and Ruby Turner also achieved recognition at the elite level, earning selection in the SSN Reserves with the Melbourne Vixens. Charlotte added to her outstanding year as a Vixens training partner and was recently named in the Australian Youth Team to compete at the 2025 Youth Games in Gibraltar.
Teal Hocking further showcased Strikers’ strength at the elite level, earning a place with the Melbourne Mavericks SSN team. These achievements highlight the strength of the Strikers’ program and the opportunities that come from being part of a club so closely linked to education and professional growth.
The year was capped off with the Strikers’ Presentation Night, held at our Bendigo campus in the beautiful LSU Gallery — the perfect venue to celebrate a brilliant season. Associate Professor of Rural Nursing, Dr Melissa Deacon-Crouch, had the honour of presenting the Championship MVP award, which fittingly went to Charlotte Sexton (pictured below).
La Trobe is proud to partner with the Bendigo Strikers — a partnership that continues to open doors for our athletes, students, and future professionals to thrive both on and off the court.
For more details on La Trobe University's range of sport industry partnerships, visit the La Trobe Sport website.
