By Justin Schwarze
Young gun ROC netballer Declan Gallard has added to his growing list of achievements by being selected to represent Australia at international level.
He was selected to compete in Australia’s 17-and-under squad at the Trans-Tasman Cup, a men’s tournament being held in New Zealand in December.
Despite the selection to represent his country in 2024, Gallard only began playing netball in 2022 through a school program.
Even though he began his career late, he was always around netball and cited his sister and mother’s positions in the sport as big influences.
He joined ROC in 2022, which saw him quickly climb the ranks as he asserted himself as one of the best young players in not just the state, but the country, and took his talents to Waverley District in the Henderson Netball Region.
From there, he debuted in the men’s side, which led to him carving out an important role in a state title winning squad with the Henderson Netball Region.
But his meteoric rise didn’t stop there.
Gallard tried out for the Under-17 Victorian side, and he was ultimately selected.
At the 2024 Nationals in Brisbane, he helped Victoria take home gold in thrilling fashion.
“At the nationals, it was a lifetime experience,” he said.
“We won the gold medal in overtime by one goal, it was pretty amazing.”
Not only did he leave Brisbane with a gold medal around his neck, but he was also named to the All-Star Seven for the tournament as a wing defence.
Gallard’s performance for his state put selectors on notice, and he soon received an email that invited him to the Australian selection camp in Sydney to trial for the national squad.
After the camp, Gallard waited patiently for a response.
“On a Sunday night in June, I got a phone call saying that I was in the team, that I was going to play for Australia,” he said.
“That was really amazing, and I’m quite proud and excited to play for my country.
“To represent your country, it’s a childhood dream to do it and to play with some of the best netballers in Australia in my age group.”
With the international tournament fast approaching, there are some nerves involved, but he’s ready to cement himself as one of the best netballers in Australia.
“I feel like you don’t get selected just to be selected, you’re there for a reason,” he stated.
“The selectors see something in you, the coaches see something in you, so you’ve just got to back yourself and do what you know you’re good at.”
He said he is ready to give everything he has to achieve even bigger things in men’s netball.
For now, his focus is on his upcoming trip to New Zealand, but he has one eye on taking the netball world by storm.
“I just want put everything I have on the court this tour and be the best I possibly can,” he said.
“The long term goal is the biggest one, it’s to try to be a Kelpie, it would be amazing to take the court as a Kelpie.”
