Swifts to walk on the Wild side
Going places: Amy Wild savours her promotion to the Swifts team and (below) in her cherished jersey. Picture: FRANK VIOLI
By: Amanda Lulham
Young shooter Amy Wild once believed the closest she would get to the champion Sydney Swifts netball team was being a ball
girl at home matches.
When she was 13, Wild chased down balls at the side of the court for the Swifts, never imaging that a few years later she
would be on court with them as a fully fledged player.
But a phone call in the off-season from coach Julie Fitzgerald has propelled the 17-year-old schoolgirl into the limelight
as a member of the Swifts outfit that marched undefeated through the national league last year.
“The call came completely out of the blue. I was shocked,” said the Year 12 student, who has spent the past month learning
the Swifts’ style of play.
“To be honest, I didn’t actually believe it until I went to my first pre-season game. I kept thinking, I used to be a
Swifts ball girl. No way is this happening,” Wild said.
In her final year at Westfields Sports High, Wild caught the eye of Fitzgerald while playing for NSW under -17’s.
“She was always calm under pressure and got the job done,” Fitzgerald said. “She’s got a way to go but she will benefit
from being surrounded by older players.”
With thanks
Tuesday 22nd April 2007
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