Liz Watson is a netballer who was awarded a Scholarship within the 2015 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program, and was paired with Debbie Watson OAM as her Mentor.
Liz was born in Carlton, Victoria, in 1994, and participated in many different sports as a junior, including basketball, as well as triple jump, 800m and Cross country, in which she reached state level. At the age of 12, she developed a love for netball through primary school inter-school sports competitions and became a specialist Centre and Wing Attack.
Liz showed promise at St. Fidelis Primary School and received a sports scholarship to Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School. She represented Victoria in state teams at U12, U15, U17, U19 and U21 level, and she received the Michael Malthouse Elite Sports Bursary at Latrobe University, to study health science.
Having a standout season after moving to wing attack from her usual centre position in 2017, Watson led the entire competition for goal assists and feeds in the last two seasons.
Making a rapid rise since being a late call-up to the team in 2014, Watson has gone from strength to strength since making her debut.
Liz was named Most Valuable Player for the Victoria Flames in the Australian Netball League, and captained the team. She was also Rookie of the Year for the Melbourne Vixens and was a member of the Vixens premiership winning team. Her talent and performance on the court soon earned her a call up to the national squad, and she won a silver medal with the Diamonds at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Watson won a premiership in her first season of elite netball, and further adding to her trophy cabinet in 2020.
After suffering a season ending foot injury at the start of the 2021 she recovered rapidly and is now a key member and captain of the Origin Australian Diamonds team, Watson has established herself as a starting midcourter for the Diamonds.
Liz credits her coaches Marg Lind and Nicole Richardson at City West Falcons with her rapid rise in the domestic scene, and is surrounded by sporting success. He uncle is AFL champion Steven Alessio, while another uncle, and her brother, are both elite Aussie Rules players.
Honours & Achievements
- 2014: Melbourne Vixens debut
- 2014: Melbourne Vixens Premiership
- 2014: Melbourne Vixens Rookie of the Year
- 2015: Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program Recipient
- 2016: Australian Diamonds debut
- 2017: Melbourne Vixens Co-Vice-Captain
- 2017: Rebel Rookie of the Year
- 2017: Sharelle McMahon Medallist
- 2017: Suncorp Super Netball WA of the Year
- 2018: Commonwealth Games – Silver (Final vs England, 51-52)
- 2018: Liz Ellis Diamond
- 2018: Sharelle McMahon Medallist
- 2019: World Cup – Silver
