Sport
15 March, 2026
Lockhart hops off Redbacks, heads to Navarre
“It was a tough decision,” Lockhart said of her departure from the Redbacks.
NAVARRE Netball Club has scored a major coup, enticing young Wedderburn star Aliza Lockhart to leave the club she has played with all her life.
Lockhart, 21, has followed her footballing partner Mitch Birthisel to the Grasshoppers.
He has moved from St Arnaud to Navarre to play with his brother Nick, who is an assistant coach at the club.
“It was a tough decision,” Lockhart said of her departure from the Redbacks.
“I’ve never made one so big in my life.
“There was nothing in me that wanted to leave Wedderburn – it was a very, very hard decision, but I think it will be a right one.”
She said Navarre had been urging her to make the move for a few years, through netball coach Sidney Dyer, Nick Birthisel’s partner.
Now, with Birthisel switching leagues, Lockhart decided the time was right.
She won the North Central A Grade best-and-fairest in 2022, also playing in the Redbacks’ premiership that year.
An ACL tear in 2024 saw Lockhart out of netball for a year, but she returned in time to win both the A Grade and B Grade premierships with Wedderburn last year.
She also assisted A Grade coach Susie Lockhart with the A Grade side and coached the B Grade side to the title in an undefeated season.
Lockhart compared her departure from Wedderburn as like leaving home.
“It will be a big change, but I’m sure I’ll be back there before I retire,” she said. Lockhart will play in her preferred goal attack role with Navarre, but she admitted she was “going in blind” in terms of knowing the standard of play in the Maryborough Castlemaine league.
“Navarre made the finals last year and they definitely have some good recruits this year.”
Navarre Football Netball Club netball president Tegan McKenny said the club was “incredibly excited” to have Lockhart joining the side.
“Not only has Aliza built an impressive senior career, but she also brings a strong junior resume, having achieved great success and recognition throughout her junior netball years before transitioning seamlessly into Wedderburn’s senior ranks,” she said.
“A strong, speedy and athletic goaler, Aliza brings accuracy in front of the post, great agility and the ability to read the play early.
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