The Barooga native and Shepparton midcourt maestro has been named in the 2025 19-and-under Australian netball squad, furthering her status as one of the country’s top prospects vying to throw on the coveted Diamonds dress one day.
But the hype around her is nothing new.
O’Dwyer has been on the national radar for years now, previously selected in the Australian 17-and-under side.
Her latest achievement stems from her performance for Victoria at the National Netball Championships earlier this month, where she helped her state to a podium finish and a silver medal.
The 17-year-old is playing well beyond her age for Bendigo Strikers’ 23-and-under team in the Victorian Netball League and, not only that, O’Dwyer is also on the list of Super Netball club Melbourne Mavericks through their inaugural reserves outfit.
On the home front, she has featured in Shepparton’s past two matches with the Bears emerging as a flag fancy, boasting a flawless 4-0 record.
Will she be available at local level for much longer? It doesn’t appear so.
Currently, Shepparton and the wider Goulburn Valley League fraternity can catch the midcourter’s talent from the courtside, but before long, it’s likely they’ll be watching her on the big screen.
Netball Australia’s head of pathway selections Michelle Wilkins spoke about what lies ahead for O’Dwyer and the rest of her Australian 19-and-under teammates.
“These young athletes have demonstrated exceptional potential and we're excited about what they bring to the future of the sport,” Wilkins said.
“This cohort will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Australian netball, with major milestones like the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, providing inspiration for what is possible for Australian netballers.”
O’Dwyer will now look ahead to national development camps designed to foster her growth on and off the court, the first of which will kick off at the Australian Institute of Sport in September.
She’ll also have the chance to suit up against the Australian 21-and-under team prior to its World Youth Cup campaign in Gibraltar.
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