From Late Call Up to National Champion – Unique Pritchard reflects on her journey to becoming a Waratah
Four South Coast Blaze athletes proudly represented New South Wales at this month’s National Netball Championships — a standout achievement for the club.
Among them was 23&U defender Unique Pritchard, who received a late call-up just weeks before the competition, selected to step up into the NSW 19&U team.
Unique was joined at the tournament by Blaze shooter Ellie Hart, midcourter Tahlia Robertson, and Opens Head Coach Marji Parr, who served as Assistant Coach for the 19&U squad. Unique credits the presence of her Blaze teammates and coach as instrumental in helping her step confidently into the national spotlight.
“I was so grateful to have some of my Blaze family alongside me during the whole experience,” she said. “Having Marji’s full support and trust, and my girls always having my back, made the transition into Nationals so much easier.”
On debut amongst a team with many returning athletes, Unique time in the blue dress is sure to stay a highlight in her netball journey.
“Taking the court as an official Waratah felt like a huge achievement, especially after missing out in past years,” Unique reflected. “It showed me how far I’ve come as a player, both on and off the court.”
The Championships ran over six intense days, with NSW competing in seven round games, eventually securing a spot in the semi-final all in front of a loud home crowd.
“Having the chance to play infront of the huge sea of blue, it gave me a sense of pride and made the experience more special looking up knowing all those supporters were there for us”
NSW’s 19&U team went on to win their semi-final and faced Queensland in the grand final, clinching the national title with a 35–28 victory. For Unique, the experience was about more than just the trophy.
“Being in that environment showed me how important it is to back myself — and that’s something I want to bring back to Blaze.”
You can catch Unique and the rest of the South Coast Blaze in action every Wednesday night, live on netballnsw.tv.
