The Melbourne Mavericks are thrilled to announce the first two athletes joining the club as Training Partners for the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball season: Charlotte Sexton and Charli Hoey.
Both defenders bring elite-level experience, Victorian pathway pedigree, and exciting potential to the Mavs’ high performance environment.
Charlotte Sexton, 21, joins the Mavericks after a standout 2025 campaign that included winning gold with the Australian 21/U team at the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar, where she started at goal keeper throughout the tournament. Standing at 191cm, Sexton adds valuable height, presence and potential to the Mavs’ defensive end.
A Bendigo native, Sexton has been a key figure in the Bendigo Strikers’ Victorian Netball League (VNL) Championship team, winning back-to-back Best and Fairest awards in 2024 and 2025, and earning selection in the VNL Championship Team of the Year in 2025. She was also a Melbourne Vixens Training Partner in 2025 and a member of the Vixens Reserves across the past two seasons.
Charli Hoey, 19, is a versatile defender capable of playing across all three positions: goal keeper, goal defence and wing defence. A proud product of the Victorian pathway, Hoey captained the 2025 Victorian 19/U State Team and was previously also vice-captain of the 2024 Victorian 19/U side. She has also previously been named in the Australian 17/U and 19/U squads, cementing her status as one of the nation’s top talents in her age group.
Already a much-loved member of the Mavs family, Hoey was a member of the inaugural Mavs Reserves team, who reached the Grand Final in their first season in the competition. She also travelled with the Mavs squad to the 2025 Team Girls Cup, gaining valuable exposure to SSN-level environments.
Mavs and Australian Diamonds’ Assistant Coach, Nicole Richardson, said the club was delighted to welcome both athletes into the fold.
“Charlotte and Charli are two of the most exciting young defenders in the country. They’ve both shown incredible growth, resilience and leadership through the Victorian pathway and national programs. Charlotte brings height, composure and international experience, while Charli offers versatility, tenacity and a deep understanding of the game. As a defence coach in particular I’m thrilled to work with them and help them take the next step in their development as a part of the Mavericks family.”
Further Mavs’ Training Partner announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
