By NATHAN ALEXANDER

SEVENTEEN-year-old defensive star, Molly Whitty, shines for the Bright A-grade netball team, winning two consecutive best on courts.

The goal keeper first started playing netball at Bright P-12 College, through the interschool sports program.

This ignited a passion for the sport and prompted her to join the Bright Netball Association, a local netball social event, where her team triumphed in the grand final and Molly was awarded the best on court.

“Winning the grand final and seeing that they thought that I was one of the best players on the team inspired me to play for Bright,” she said.

Since then she has become an important member of the Bright Football Netball Club, helping out with more than just shutting down the other team's offence on the court.

“My sister plays Under 17s, so I’m always there supporting, watching their games, as well as doing duties on the weekend such as doing the scoreboard,” Molly commented.

In the past two weeks, the effort she puts into her game and around the club hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“The best on awards really give me a sense to keep going,” she explained.

“Going from under 17s to A grade was pretty scary, but starting off in the first few weeks getting those best on and coaches award just kept the motivation going and kept me thinking that I was worth it and I did actually belong here.”

This sense of belonging fuels Molly’s game, with an important focus on the community of the club creating a love for more than just the games.

She enjoys going to training and learning from her teammates and the supportive coaches she has, who she thanks for her success.

One of these coaches for Molly was her under 15’s coach, Kylie Wickham.

“I definitely couldn’t have got this far without her,” she said.

Molly is very determined in the game, arriving early to get ready and, along with her team, putting 100 per cent effort into every quarter she plays.

Molly plans to continue leaving everything out on the court, not only during upcoming weekends but in future seasons playing for Bright, which she is looking forward to, ensuring herself a promising future in netball.

“It’s such a family-oriented club and they’re so welcoming and very supportive and overall a really great club to be a part of,” Molly concluded.