Kiera Austin has once again been recognised for her efforts during the 2020 Suncorp Super Season; with the 23-year-old adding selection in the Super Netball Team of the Year to her accolades.
Austin was named goal attack in the Suncorp Super Netball team of the year at the Australian Netball Awards Night on Wednesday night.
The annual event was this year produced and streamed via the Netball Live App and Telstra TV.
The young GIANT was named in the goal circle alongside Suncorp Super Netball’s Player of the Year Jhaniele Fowler and in a starting seven full of players whom all have international experience.
Austin is yet to make her debut for the Australian Diamonds, but was called up as an injury replacement for the Quad Series in 2019 and has been named in the latest squad selected at the conclusion of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball Season.
Austin scored a total of 291 goals, including 42 Suncorp Super Shot points, to total the most amount of goals for any goal attack in the competition.
Despite the statistics, Austin was very shocked to hear of her inclusion.
“I was very shocked, but also very grateful,” Austin said.
“I look up to a lot of the girls in the selected team and definitely want to strive to have successful careers like theirs have been so far.”
Austin’s selection is even more impressive after she lined up in the wing attack position for the first four matches of the GIANTS’ 2020 season before becoming a regular starter in the goal attack bib.
“Goal Attack is where I feel most comfortable and feel I’m able to add some flair and confidence to the game,” she said.
“But I also enjoyed playing wing attack too – I feel it has become an easier transition for me than in the past which is great.”
The 23-year-old played 810 of a possible 840 minutes this season, compared to the 281 that she totalled in 2019.
In a year of a new and increased opportunities, Austin never expected such success.
“I was just excited to be playing and I’ve started to learn areas of my game that need to be adjusted to reach Suncorp Super Netball level,” she said.
“I’m very lucky to have rubbed shoulders with some of the best in the business and it’s something I don’t take for granted.
“Over my past three years with the GIANTS I’ve learnt so much from the greater netballers in Susan Pettit, Kim Green, ‘CBass’ (Caitlin Bassett) and ‘Joey’ (Jo Harten).”
