Netballer Scarlet Jauncey never envisioned a First Nations national team to strive for. An opportunity to represent her country, surrounded by Indigenous teammates and mentors. This is one of the many reasons why Netball Australia’s recent initiative – the creation of the Black Swans – holds immense power.
12 of Australia’s top First Nations netballers were selected for the inaugural national team, as part of Netball Australia’s dedication to enhancing representation and retention of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander athletes. Their selection was based on their participation in national high-performance programs, and they received support from Indigenous coaching and support staff.
The Black Swans, coaches and support staff take the line at the Australia Pacific Series, 2024. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
The team’s debut was at June’s Australia Pacific Series, where they finished at the top of the standings. Held in Queensland, it was the fourth edition of the tournament, with teams from Tonga, Singapore, Fiji, Namibia, and Samoa competing for world ranking points. While the Black Swans couldn’t vie for medals as an invitational team, they achieved an impressive four wins and two losses, a remarkable feat for the newly formed team.
A proud Yaruwu woman, Jauncey was a stalwart in defense, while her sister Jamaica featured in the shooting circle. Scarlet, having captained WA’s state U17 and U19 teams, considered playing for the Black Swans the pinnacle of her career.
Sisters Scarlet and Jamaica Jauncey took the court together for the Black Swans. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
Jauncey expressed, “Playing for the Black Swans was a unique experience. Playing alongside my closest friends, building connections, and representing my country at a young age is something I never imagined. It was truly fantastic to do this on the global stage, representing my family and tribe.”
“The Black Swans is setting the path for the future and providing young Indigenous children a goal to strive for.”
Ali Tucker-Munro – inaugural coach of the Black Swans. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
The Confident Girls Foundation has shown ongoing support and sponsorship for the Black Swans, which will aid the team in their future endeavors. Their next competition will be at the upcoming Australian Netball Championships in Canberra in August. Over three days of competition, the Black Swans will test their skills against other teams while offering developmental opportunities for various aspects of the netball ecosystem.
Fortunately, Jauncey won’t have to choose between playing for the Black Swans and Western Australia, a decision she recently faced.
“I had a similar dilemma when I decided to participate in the Pacific series, which coincided with my commitments with the West Coast Fever reserves, as well as my final round and semi-finals in the Western Australian Netball League.”
“They were crucial games, but playing for the Black Swans was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. It was a tough choice, but I knew what I wanted to do all along.”
Goal keeper Scarlet Jauncey gets a hand to the ball. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
ON COURT SUCCESS
The thoughtful structuring of the team by Netball Australia created a safer and thriving environment for the young athletes. Surrounded by other First Nations women such as head coach and Kamilaroi woman Ali Tucker-Munro, and former elite netballer Beryl Friday, a Kuku Nyungkal woman, the athletes could benefit from their experiences.
Jauncey shared, “Our physio, manager, and both coaches were all Indigenous, which was a special aspect of the team.”
While inaugural Black Swans’ coach Tucker-Munro also serves as Netball Australia’s First Nations Engagement Lead, she is a familiar figure to Jauncey. Tucker-Munro, a former Diamonds squad member, regularly interacts with Indigenous netballers during Australian training camps.
Ali Tucker-Munro – inaugural coach of the Black Swans. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
The Confident Girls Foundation has also extended their ongoing support and sponsorship to the Black Swans, aiding the team in their future endeavors. Their next competition will be at the upcoming Australian Netball Championships, to be held in Canberra in August. Over three days of competition, the Black Swans will have the opportunity to test their skills against other teams, while also providing developmental opportunities for various aspects of the netball ecosystem.
Fortunately, Jauncey won’t have to choose between playing for the Black Swans and Western Australia, a decision she recently faced.
Jauncey shared, “Our physio, our manager, and both of our coaches were all Indigenous, so it was great to see and experience them in their high-performance roles.”
While inaugural Black Swans’ coach Tucker-Munro is also Netball Australia’s First Nations Engagement Lead, she’s a familiar face to Jauncey. The former Diamonds’ squad member is a regular when Indigenous netballers attend Australian training camps. Jauncey explained, “She’s been around during those weeks doing coaching, being a support person for me and other First Nations’ athletes.
Ali Tucker-Munro – inaugural coach of the Black Swans. Image Danny Dalton/Tah Dah Sports
The Confident Girls Foundation has also lent their ongoing support and sponsorship to the Black Swans, which will assist the team in their future endeavors. Their upcoming competition will be at the Australian Netball Championships in Canberra in August, where the Black Swans will have the chance to showcase their skills against other teams and provide development opportunities for various parts of the netball ecosystem.
Thankfully, Jauncey doesn’t have to choose between competing for the Black Swans and Western Australia, a decision she recently had to make.
“I faced a similar dilemma when deciding to participate in the Pacific series, as it clashed with my commitments with the West Coast Fever reserves and my final round of the Western Australian Netball League.”
“They were critical games, but playing for the
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