After an impressive debut Suncorp Super Netball season at Sunshine Coast Lightning, Annie Miller has committed to the Club for the 2023 season.
Originally a Training Partner for GIANTS Netball, Annie made her SSN debut in Round 2, 2021 against Collingwood Magpies.
Annie secured her first SSN contract in 2022 and made the move to Sunshine Coast Lightning where she made the most of every opportunity she had on court.
Head Coach Kylee Byrne said the future is bright for the young mid-courter.
“Annie is growing her game so quickly and showed what she is capable of this year with her speed, smarts and skills, we are so keen to build on her first year and can’t wait to see what she can deliver in 2023,” Byrne said.
“She has a huge future ahead of her and we are so excited that she will be wearing the Lightning colours again in 2023.”
Annie spoke fondly about her first season with Lightning and the challenges that came with moving away from home.
“When I first spoke to Kylee back in 2020 about playing SSN I told her I didn’t care where I went, I just wanted a contract. After being with Lightning in 2022 I have realised I would not want to be anywhere else. Moving away from my family and friends and netball in Sydney was the most challenging yet rewarding thing I’ve ever done and I am so thankful to everyone at Lightning for giving me this opportunity,” she said.
“Being on a one-year contract as a rookie brings with it a lot of new experiences, challenges and emotions — one being the anxiety of not knowing whether you’re going to stick around the following year. Kylee and I spoke about this openly with each other and she explained that putting my best foot forward on and off the court was the best thing so that’s what I tried to do this year. I had a lot of sleepless nights towards the end of the season thinking about this but the relief I felt when Kylee and Chris told me they’d love to have me back in 2023 was unreal. I think I was so tired from not sleeping I just cried of happiness — they cried happy tears too.
“I am so thrilled to be back on the coast for the 2023 season. I really believe Lightning is entering a new era of success and growth and I am so excited to contribute to this Club’s great legacy on and off the court. The culture we as a team have created in 2022 as a playing group is something I have never experienced before and definitely something that will continue to evolve in 2023. I have so much learning to do as a player, athlete and person and am stoked to be at Lightning in 2023 to do it.”
