Reilley Batcheldor: How a Future Diamond Earned Her Super Netball Debut

Keep an eye on this name. Reilley Batcheldor will be a future Australian Diamond. This up-and-coming Goal Attack has signed with Sunshine Coast Lightning for the 2022 Suncorp Super Netball season.

Reilley will be mentored by fellow Australian shooters Steph Wood and Cara Koenen.

Reilley's rise has been no easy feat. She suffered an ACL injury in 2019, successfully completed her rehabilitation, and returned to court having a stellar 2021 season with QUT Netball in Netball Queensland's HART Sapphire Series.

Q. How were you told you were offered a contract from Sunshine Coast Lightning?

Reilley: "I received a phone call from head coach Kylee Byrne. She said she was impressed with my attitude and how I played throughout the year. I was so stoked to receive that phone call. I never expected it this soon in my career."

Q. What are you looking forward to most about 2022?

Reilley: "I'm looking forward to meeting all the players and playing with two Aussie Diamond shooters in Cara and Steph. I'll learn heaps and have so many great opportunities."

Q. What advice do you have for young players aspiring to play in the Suncorp Super Netball?

Reilley: "All the extra work you do behind the scenes is the work that counts. And every setback is an opportunity to take a step up."

Q. What's your favourite quote?

Reilley: "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

Related reading: Train the Way You Want to Play, on the habit change that turns extra work behind the scenes into high-performance selection.

Want to put in the extra work Reilley talks about? One-on-one and small group sessions with CC Netball help young shooters build the craft and the mindset to go further. Make an enquiry at ccnetball.com.

Written by Caitlyn Strachan

Caitlyn Strachan is a former Australian Diamond, triple ANZ Championship premiership player and founder of CC Netball.