Player Spotlight | Ellarnah Hanlen

By Elly Kirlis.

Hanlen making most of opportunities.

From playing her juniors to rep, to Hampshire Park, Ellarnah Hanlen is making her opportunities count, whose pathway journey so far is shaped by hard work, dedication and resilience. 

Starting the game of netball by the inspiration of her mum and sisters, Hanlen’s mum used to coach Whitehorse Netball and since then, Hanlen’s love of the game has grown. 

“I played my first ever netball game when I was four or five and I’ve loved it since then.”

“It’s my good stress relief and to get any problems off my head, I just go onto the netball court and it releases everything.”

Playing for Whitehorse, Aces Netball for juniors and playing at the football netball competition at Hampshire Park, Hanlen currently plays for Rosebud Netball Club on Saturdays. 

Hanlen shares the positions she plays in the VNL competition and Saturday competition. 

“In my netball career, I’ve been mostly a goaler, goal attack. This year at VNL and Saturdays, I’ve been pushed out into being an attacker a fair bit. 

Hanlen shares her setbacks and injuries that she has faced. 

“The most major injuries I’ve had is an ankle, which is six to eight weeks. I had a little injury last year in my knee, which I had a slight crack in the back of my patella.

“I rehabbed and played on it, which I probably shouldn’t be playing. I also wanted to be out and about on the netball court playing the best netball I can.”

“In terms of setbacks, I wasn’t picked for teams, which I got down in the dumps about. But I worked hard and proved myself the next year.”

Currently playing in the Eastern competition, Hanlen currently plays for Croydon Football Netball Club. 

“It was a fill-in game here and there. The girls I used to play juniors with, they were like, don’t want to come play for us? I was like, sure.”

“I love it. It’s like my fun game of netball, switch off on a Friday night and go and have fun. I enjoy being around the atmosphere of EFNL on a Friday night.

“The boys get down and watch us sometimes. It’s a good atmosphere and a good place to play at.”

Currently playing in the VNL, where Hanlen is thriving, Hanlen currently plays for the Southern Saints and has Sharni Norder (Layton) as her coach.

“I absolutely love Sharni. She has been great for me. I love playing with the girls and it’s great fun playing VNL.

“I had a year off last year. I don’t get picked for some teams, so I kept with my Saturday game and Fridays at EFNL.

This year I’ve proved to myself that I know I am better and I can push myself to the next level. It’s really good to see reward and getting the spot where I want to be playing netball.”

“I’m so thankful for Saints giving me the opportunity this year.”

Hanlen shares her favourite highlights and favourite memories that she has achieved. 

“Last year personally was a really good year for me. People didn’t accept me and didn’t give me an offer, I was a bit like I’m going to prove you wrong. 

“I went out last year and proved myself that I was good enough. I got best and fairest in the EFNL comp, the blue ribbon medalist in the grand final and then leading goal shooter.”

Hanlen shares her goals that she wants to accomplish.

“Ever netballer's dream is obviously play at the high level, but obviously just chipping away

at what I'm currently doing now and just seeing where I can obviously take my netball.

“ I want to get to the highest point I possibly can. Every little girl's dream is playing for Australia or Suncorp, but even making a reserves team or something like that.“

Lastly, Hanlen shares the best advice she’s received on or off the court. 

“The best advice that I've ever received is always train like how you want to play.

“If you train not as good as you wanted to, that's always going to like show on court. But

if you put in 100% of training, it's always going to show on the court that you're putting in effort

and always going 100%.

“If I miss a goal or do a bad pass, always work hard to get the ball back and just not get in my head and also like work as hard as I can and just breathe under pressure.”