By Henry Milic
From making her Adelaide Thunderbirds debut as a training partner in 2022, to winning the SSN premiership as a contracted player in 2023, South Australian Lucy Austin has already achieved two of the highest of highs the sport has to offer.
Austin played a pivotal role in the offensive end, contributing greatly to the team’s success in claiming the club’s fifth premiership.
ROAD TO FAST5
On the back of her performance in SSN, Austin earned her spot to don the green and gold for Australia in its Fast5 team for the second consecutive year.
“It was such a good feeling, it was really exciting especially after the success of our SSN season, I think this was the cherry on top,” Austin said.
Australia took out the Fast5 title for the second year in a row, defeating the New Zealand Silver Ferns in another epic grand final.
“I think coming off of our wins just prior to the grand final definitely gave us confidence, I felt pretty calm out there even though it was so crazy,” Austin said.
“Having such amazing players alongside of me helped me keep that calmness.”
Austin had an outstanding series, making her claim as one of the best goal shooters in the tournament and taking out player of the match in game 2 against South Africa.
“I was not expecting it at all, but I think we got our nerves out in that first game and then in the second game we definitely knuckled down,” Austin said.
“I think it put us in good stead for the rest of the tournament.”
PREMIERSHIP TBIRDS REUNITE
Austin’s Fast5 success was achieved alongside five of her 2023 Adelaide Thunderbirds teammates with three of them also hailing from South Australia.
Recently appointed Australian Diamond, Matilda Garrett, captained the team alongside Thunderbirds 2023 captain Hannah Petty who was named vice-captain.
Austin said the pair played a pivotal role in winning the title, leading by example both on and off the court.
“They brought so much leadership on the court… they had the calm heads, and led by example, especially Tilly who just played for the Diamonds and she brought lots of her skills from being in that environment into our environment,” Austin said.
Austin said she has gained a lot of experience from this Fast5 tournament and hopes to carry it with her into next year.
“It was very special… it has been a big year,” Austin said.
“I’m definitely keen on a bit of a break now before we get back into it, but I’m feeling really grateful, and I I have learnt a lot from the world series.”
The Australia Fast5 team celebrating their world series win.