Tara Murray
Western Warriors’ Ruby Shannon rise through the netball ranks this year has left her shocked on more than one occasion.
Part of the Vic Fury team last season, Shannon was part of the Melbourne Vixens reserves side this year as well as being selected in the Australian under-21 team.
Shannon has now capped off the year being named a Melbourne Vixens training partnership for next year’s Suncorp Super Netball season.
“It is pretty exciting,” Shannon said. “I didn’t really expect that it was going to happen.
“‘I’m so excited for the opportunity that is going to come.”
Shannon found out the Vixens were offering her a training partner role through a phone call, it was one that she didn’t see come.
Pre-season has gotten underway already and Shannon said she was loving the experience.
“It is pretty intense and they have an amazing work ethic,” she said. “I’ve been mainly training with Hannah Mundy and learning from her.
“It has been pretty amazing. It’s a big step up from what I’m used to.”
Shannon said she was looking to take in as much as she can from the Vixens girls to be the best player that she can be.
She said she’s not looking too far ahead and was focused on learning everything that she could.
The training partner selection caps off a big year for Shannon.
She was selected for the Australian under-21 squad that toured Fiji.
“It was amazing,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting that one at all.
“We were over there for a week or so. It was quite intense. It made me excited for the years to come.”
Shannon said even the training before the camp had opened her eyes, with many players in the squad already part of SSN sides.
The midcourter said the experience with the Melbourne Vixens reserves has also been really good for her this year and was a lot of fun.
All of this came after Shannon broke her nose early in the season while playing for the Warriors in the Victorian Netball League.
She said the recovery went quickly and she was soon back on the court.
Shannon said she loved her time at the Warriors in their first season in the competition.
“I learned so much from a lot of the players,” she said. “Kim Borger is an amazing player and you learn so much.
“I think we have a few ups and downs but I gained a lot from the season.”
Shannon has already signed on for next season. She’ll be part of the midcourt with former Vixen Tayla Honey.
“I’m so excited,” Shannon said of playing with Honey. “When I found out, I was like OMG I get to play with her.
“I know she has an amazing work ethic.”
Shannon, who also plays with Riddell in the Riddell District Netball League, said she was just going with the flow in her netball career.
“I will go with the flow and really try to reach my best,” she said. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself.
“I want to enjoy my time with the Vixens and see wherever that takes me.”
