The Swifts might be forever inked on Lauren Moore’s skin but these days her longest strides and highest leaps are only for the GIANTS.
A premiership player with the Swifts in 2019 and 2021, Moore became a GIANT for season 2022 and is now deeply entrenched in the orange team amid a breakout Suncorp Super Netball campaign which has seen her grasp an opportunity starting at goal keeper.
The 25-year-old is primed for another instalment of the NSW derby when the GIANTS and Swifts face off at Ken Rosewall Arena on Sunday afternoon.
“I have my Swifts tattoo on my left ankle and I wear long socks which covers that up,” Moore laughs.
“I was saying to the girls it’s so funny how much the rivalry is ingrained in you, in whatever club you play for to hate, as bad as that sounds, the other. When I was at Swifts I couldn’t imagine being a GIANT. No way! Our brain doesn’t work that way.
“Then if you move clubs you know some ins and outs of the girls, how they play and how they may be thinking in certain situations so that’s cool.
“Swifts was a big part of my journey, I grew up there and it did form me into the person I am today so I am very grateful but let’s gets a GIANTS premiership so I can put my GIANTS playing number on my right ankle.”
Joining what was once the arch enemy ignited a fresh, new chapter for Moore.
“I was 17 and still in school when I got my first contract, I’d grown up there. I’m a circle defender at heart, I’ll play wherever you want me to play, but I feel like I needed to be in the circle and with Sez (Sarah Klau) and Mads (Maddy Turner) there they’re amazing and I was never really going to get a sniff.
“I knew I needed to leave, it ended so amicably, I loved them but I don’t like them now!
“I just knew I wasn’t supposed to be there anymore and then the opportunity came to come to the cross-town rivals and at first I was like “WOW, didn’t think this would be happening!” but I think it was the best thing for me.
“I’m not old but I have been around for a little while so it was nice for me not to have to uproot mine and my partner’s lives and still train at the same facilities.
“It just made sense for me. It was time for a change. When I got picked up as a 17-year-old I imagined the best, it was so cool I had a contract straight after school, I didn’t ever want to go to uni but things happen, injury, non-selection and I was so grateful to be part of two premierships but I wasn’t quite where I thought I had the potential to be and I’m still not, I’m not where I thought I could be but I’m in a better place now, performance wise and wanting to get on to the court more.
“And I just don’t think it would have happened for me at Swifts.”
When the rivals do battle it doesn’t matter where the GIANTS or Swifts are on the ladder, a fierce contest is certain.
“Once it’s game week, I sense my hello’s are a little less friendly, I’m not that happy to give you a hug this week and once you hit the court it’s like “I don’t like you”, Moore says in jest.
“The rivalry is not manufactured what so ever. I love the derbies they’ve been my favourite matches whatever team I’ve played for.
“The Swifts have been raving on having a full stadium this week which I love, I love it and I’m going to pretend they are all cheering for us. We both have blue on our uniforms.
“Our last three games are against the top four and I think it’s awesome for us. We aren’t playing for finals anymore but we still have so much to play for - our club, our fans, our family and friends. We still want to give back to our fans and communities. We still have a lot of motivation, it’s not over yet.
“Plus, who doesn’t want to go beat the Swifts and then say like ‘alright, see ya have fun in finals’?”
Written by sports journalist and GIANTS Netball ambassador, Megan Hustwaite.
