Tiny Tayla a pocket rocket

By Justin Robertson
EVERY Wednesday night for the past five months Tayla Shannon was zipping and darting around the State Netball Centre in the 10-team Victorian Netball League.
It was a tough ask for the 15-year-old. Not only because it was a school night, but she was battling it out against girls two to three years older than her.
“It was pretty rough, I was one of the younger ones out there playing,” Tayla said. “They all have bigger bodies than me, but I was quicker than most of them so that’s how I got around that.”
But her hard work, skill and speed paid off. She recently won her State club’s best and fairest award.
“I was very surprised, I had no idea at all that I would win it,” the Peninsula Waves netballer said. “I just got up there with a big smile on my face when it was announced, but yeah it was a fun season with the girls and it really helped my netball.”
When Tayla isn’t nailing passes with her State team, she spends her weekend playing for Berwick under 17s and A-Grade and dabbles in a bit of football for the Berwick women’s team when she has time.
Even though her Peninsula team only managed just the one win for the season, mother Tania said the family could not be more proud of her personal best and fairest achievement.
“We are over the moon and being only 15 at the time, to achieve something like that we were overwhelmed by it all,” Tania said.
“She had a great season and now she has got bigger and better places to go, I think.”
Tayla will try out again for Peninsula Waves and will also try and break into the under 17s Victorian team next year. “ So there is not much rest for Tayla, between school and her netball,” Tania said. “The ultimate goal will be to get into the state side, and play in the Australian Netball League, but she’s only 15 yet, still a long way to go.”