“We are a powerhouse, and I honestly think we can take out the premiership,” said Melbourne Mavericks Training Partner, Emma Walters, speaking about the Mavericks Reserves side.
The Melbourne Mavericks are more than just their main team – their depth is uncanny, especially with the way the Mavs Reserves team are tackling the Super Netball Reserves competition.
Walters - who is not only a Training Partner with the Mavs, but also a key member of the Reserve’s leadership group - shared insights on the club culture, the excitement for the Mavs Reserves, and a glimpse into her passions beyond netball.
Not only a force on the court, but Walters’ life outside of netball is compelling.
After growing up in Victoria, Walters headed north to the Sunshine Coast, where she pursued her passion for animals. Now in her final year of a degree in Conservation and Wildlife Biology, her love for wildlife has currently shaped her career path. During her time on the Sunshine Coast, she lived out many children’s dreams – working as a zookeeper.
“I worked at Australia Zoo for about three years,” said Walters. “I worked [for] just over a year and half with elephants and then [for] over a year with native Australian animals. It was awesome.”
With her family still in Melbourne and wanting to complete her degree, the call to be a Mavericks Training Partner was an opportunity she had to take.
“Everything kind of came together for me to come to Melbourne,” said Walters.
Coming off a 55-41 victory against the Thunderbirds Futures in Round 4 of the Super Netball Reserves, the Mavs Reserves are hoping to keep up this momentum.
“We really united as a team, especially coming off our game in Perth where we didn’t play the game we wanted to,” said Walters, referring to their narrow 43-40 loss to the Fever Reserves. “So, to come out against Thunderbirds and have a really strong win was such a good boost of morale for the team.”
The culture within the Mavs environment is something Walters praised.
“From the main team down to the Reserves, everyone feels like an equal and everyone’s so welcoming,” she said.
“Especially when the Reserves are playing on the weekend and most of the actual team rock up to support you – it’s just the best feeling in the world! The people that are your idols are coming along to cheer for you, it’s an awesome whole-club culture,” Walters continued.
Although the Mavs Reserves are new to the Super Netball Reserves competition this year, Walters is not. She previously played for the Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts (the Lightning's Reserves team) in 2024, making this weekend’s match up even more exciting.
The Mavs Reserves are set to take on the Lightning Bolts this Sunday, June 1, at UniSC Arena. Walters - a member of the Mavs Reserves inaugural leadership group alongside Sacha McDonald and Zoe Davies - is ready to lead the team out against her former side.
“I’m excited to play them. I’m mostly excited about seeing heaps of my mates and knowing a bit of their game tactics and how they work on court,” said Walters. “I’m excited to take what I’ve learned at Mavs and put that up against them,” she continued.
Currently sitting at 3-1 from four games played in the season thus far, the Mavs Reserves have a positive outlook for the final three rounds of the season.
“I’m feeling really strong heading into the last part of the season,” said Walters. “We only have three more rounds to go, and with such a strong squad of 16, every single player that comes on brings something to the team.”
Walters also spoke on the team’s loss and how it created a positive impact.
“It was really good that we did have a loss - it taught us how to lose, where our weaknesses are on court and how to come back,” she said.
This team is exciting, they have demonstrated strength and growth, bringing hope and anticipation to the Mavs community.
“I really want a premiership,” Walters said.
After this weekend’s away game on the Sunshine Coast, the Mavs Reserves will return home to Waverley Netball Centre, playing back-to-back games to round out the regular season on Saturday 14 June (v Swifts Academy @ 8pm) and Sunday 15 June (Giants Reserves @ 11am). Get down there to support them, as these games will determine their seeding for the Super Netball Reserves Finals. Entry is FREE!
