It’s hard to believe, but Lauren Frew used to be the smallest player in her team. The Adelaide Thunderbird now stands at 187 centimetres, an impressive height for a goal attack, while she can also drop back to play under the post if needed.
Her late growth spurt has worked in Frew’s favour. She said, “Because I was short when I was younger, I learned the ways of a small shooter, using my speed and movement to receive a ball rather than relying on being able to hold.
“That helped me when I shot up, because I had the ability to work as a moving or holding shooter, although Tania (Obst, head coach) doesn’t really like it when I’m on the hold.”
Frew’s lack of height was tough in the early days of her career, but the late bloomer’s rise through the ranks has been meteoric in recent years. She wasn’t selected for her first state team until the Under 19s, then went from a Thunderbirds’ training partner in 2023 to signing her first full time contract the following season. In 2024 she notched up considerable court time as a starting seven player, won a premiership and was awarded with the SSN Rookie of the Year and selection in Australia’s Fast5 team.
Lauren Frew uses her speed and agility. Image: Shaun Sharp/Moments By Shaun
“I did try out for the Under 15s,” Frew said. “It was always disappointing not making it, and then in the 17s I was a reserve, so I had a little taste of that high performance environment and it drove that passion because I really wanted to be there and felt so close.
“When I did make the Under 19s it felt like a great reward after some early setbacks. Our South Australian side won the gold that year, and although I didn’t play a whole lot in that tournament it was a stepping stone in my career. So, while it sucked not getting in early, I developed a real hunger to chase my dream.”
Frew followed in her netball-loving mother’s footsteps, playing for her school and with the Matrics Netball Club from the age of about eight. Like many young girls she dreamed of playing for the Diamonds one day, but thought it was farfetched until she was challenged by her Premier League coach Jacqui Illman.
“I’m a bit goofy and laidback and it looks like I don’t care sometimes, but she said to me, ‘Do you want to make it in netball?’
“And I was really taken aback, but I had her belief that I could do it, and that really helped.”
The youngster initially found it hard to find a pathway on from Premier League – the Australian Netball League wasn’t running during Covid, and she wasn’t a categorised athlete in the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) squad. But in 2022 she was selected into the Southern Force, who took out gold in that year’s Australian Netball Championships.
Shortly afterwards, a phone call from then Firebirds’ head coach Bec Bulley almost changed the trajectory of Frew’s career. “I had an opportunity to be in the Thunderbirds’ environment for six weeks, but after speaking to Bec I went to the Firebirds to trial for a temporary replacement spot.
“It was a bit of a sticky situation. On one hand, it’s a better opportunity to be part of a contracted ten, but then I was also worried I would miss out on a spot back at home in Adelaide.
“I didn’t get the spot in the Firebirds though, so it all worked out for the best. I had the ability to come home, work really hard, and ended up getting a training partner spot with the Thunderbirds for 2023.
“While it would have been exciting to move to Queensland, I am a homebody and would have found it hard to be away permanently while I was still quite young. The support from my mum, dad and family has been pivotal for my career, and they’ve always been there through the highs and lows. And I was super excited to be in the elite training environment at the Thunderbirds.”
Standing at 187cm, Lauren Frew has the height to shoot over most defenders. Image: Danny Dalton/Tah Dah
Towards the end of her season as a training partner, Frew received a message saying she needed to meet with Obst. “I thought it would be about what I could do better, and I did a lot of preparation for all the different questions they might ask.
“But they straight up said they had a spot in the ten for next year, and I was lost for words! I was not thinking that was the way the conversation would go.”
Following the Thunderbirds’ 2023 premiership, they lost two shooters – superstar English Rose Eleanor Cardwell and Queenslander Tippah Dwan both moved on to other clubs. While the hugely experienced Romelda Aiken-George was a priority signing in the goal circle, Frew was invited to round out a young attacking roster that included Lucy Austin and swing player Georgie Horjus. Little did Frew know that she would not only receive her first contract but would become a starting seven player rather than warming the bench.
“When I got that spot, I did feel that I had earned it, but at the same time, I wanted to work really hard across the preseason to prove to myself and others that I also deserved it. So when I got the starting role, it gave me confidence that the coaches had some belief in me and to have a strong start to the season. Getting thrown straight into the mix was really good for my development.”
While Obst and assistant coach Cathy Fellows have some international superstars in their team, they’ve also done an exceptional job of developing the cream of young South Australian talent. The duo has strong connections with South Australian pathways and clubs, and young players are regularly rewarded with short cameos in the Thunderbirds training environment to become familiar with it. As a result, seven of their current roster are locally born, and of those, all bar captain Hannah Petty are under 25.
Frew said that Obst has been thorough in getting to know players as both athletes and people, giving them opportunities, and allowing them to make mistakes. “She doesn’t love it when we’re playing another team,” Frew laughed, “but in the training environment we all have a lot to learn. Not just about the sport in general, but in the way the Thunderbirds like to play, their style and game plan.
“In our training environment you aren’t told off for throwing a ball away if you’re really trying to implement what you’re learning. So, it’s a great environment to not be afraid of trying, and it’s the best way to learn as an athlete.”
Looking downcourt. Image: Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media
2024 proved to be a stellar first season for Frew. Accurate under the post and comfortable from distance, she had an instinctive understanding of when to drive into the circle or leave Aiken-George one on one with her defender. The combination of speed plus height gave her an advantage in attack, and with those attributes and a good work ethic, she could be relied on to apply strong pressure in defence. She proved her worth in the semi-final against the Vixens, taking out the MVP award with 17 goals at 94% accuracy, and shot a perfect 10/10 in the grand final.
However, Frew was under no illusion – she also had plenty of room for improvement. “Strength is a big one”, she said. “As a tall, skinny girl I need to be able to hold my own against defenders. But also working on my confidence to go to the post. When you have strong targets like Romelda or Lucy, it’s very easy to pass the ball off and become more of a feeder. So working to put goals through the ring, and getting on the board early gives me confidence.
“Also the super shot. It’s such a different style of play, while there’s different pressure and tactics. Last year we had more of a one point game, so this year we’ve had more of a focus on shooting form range.”
Once she grew, Frew’s shot wasn’t really challenged until her last year of Premier League. Coming up against Kate Shimmin, known for her ability to block shots, gave Frew pause for thought.
She said, “Coming into this environment you do have to think more about what the defenders are going to do, so going to post without what worrying about them becomes more of a work on, as it can play into your mind a little more.
“Learning to back myself and knowing that I can get the goals in, and not thinking about what they are going to do.”
Frew shot 10 goals at 100% accuracy in the 2024 grand final. Image: Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media
Frew’s recognition as the SSN Rookie of the Year meant a lot to her, after not making so many state teams as a junior. So too did her selection in Australia’s Fast5 team, which took out the World Series in New Zealand, and has recently been used for future Diamond possibilities to gain valuable experience.
“It was my first time representing Australia, so that was amazing. It all happened very quickly. I was on holidays when the team was announced, then we had a quick block of training here in Adelaide, went into camp and then onto New Zealand.
“It was so cool to play a different style of netball and with different people. Here in Adelaide we all know each other’s game well which is great, but it’s also such a strength when you can play with a range of people.”
While Frew has had less court time this year than last, she is currently balancing netball with the final year of a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce. She’s focused on finishing her degree while helping the Thunderbirds to their third finals’ series, but her ultimate dream is for more national honours.
“To be playing SSN it feels a little bit closer but also so very far away. We have such amazing talent here in Australia so it will be a challenge, but the competition really drives me.
“I feel blessed to represent the Thunderbirds, and I just want to be better and play more consistent netball across sixty minutes. Hopefully one day I’ll get the opportunity to play for the Diamonds.”
Are higher honours in store for Lauren Frew? Many think so. Image – Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media
