Shepparton’s Ruby Higgins an emerging presence on Goulburn Valley League netball scene

Partnered with Shepparton coach and fellow goaler Kim Borger in attack, the duo has formed a deadly connection, leading the Bears to nine straight wins and second place on the ladder.

While Higgins spends most of her time outside of netball working in early childhood education, on the court, she is the one soaking in the knowledge.

The 18-year-old has featured in all but one top-flight Bears fixture in 2025 and said she was eager to make the most of her opportunity.

“It feels really good (to have the club’s backing); I feel confident,” Higgins said.

“At the start of the year, when Kim was like, ‘We want you to be in A-grade’, I was really scared and worried, but it has been good and they are a good group of girls.

“Kim is great, she just knows so much, it’s amazing, she has an answer for everything. Sometimes you don’t even know what to ask her and she knows what to tell you.

“Working with her in the ring is so good.”

Under the tutelage of Borger, Higgins is getting the best possible advice to further her netball exploits.

Shepparton is yet to win an A-grade flag, but with the raw energy and talent of Higgins and the netball nous of Borger, the Bears are proving themselves as worthy challengers to the premiership throne.

While Higgins is hesitant to talk about what makes her a special talent, Borger has a mountain of reasons as to why her protégé is a key part of the Bears’ A-grade side.

“Rubes has come along really nicely and is growing in confidence every single week,” Borger said.

“She is just getting her game smarts about her and we are developing her netball brain so to speak.

“She is just such a strong body and the team just absolutely backs her and supports her.

“She is prolific under the post with her accuracy and those sorts of things, but she is also a really strong body, so you can put that ball up to her and know that she will rip it in.

“She has a beautiful drive in on her, but she also has a bit of a defensive presence as well.”

Higgins has shot 92 goals across eight matches this year, with her last game against Kyabram having her finish with a season-high 26.

Borger said her young partner in attack was only scratching the surface of her potential.

“I think for Rubes, she has such a big career ahead of her,” she said.

“She has only just turned 18, so she is such a young one that we are very much trying to develop for the future of the club.

“There will always be a spot for her at Bears for as long as she wants it.

“I think for Ruby, it is just about having enjoyment and those sorts of things. It is nice seeing her out there and seeing her be happy and relax a bit, smile and enjoy it rather than it being stressful.”

Higgins' netball journey began in her home town of Cobram.

She then made the move to Bears where she has since featured in junior GVL interleague sides alongside current A-grade teammates Mackenzie and Keeley O’Dwyer.

Despite her age, the strong goaler dominated B-grade in 2023, coming tied runners-up with Tatura young gun Charlette Gray and Shepparton Swans co-coach Jana Riordan in the league best-and-fairest.

A handful of personal accolades tucked into her maroon and gold pack gave Higgins confidence, however, it was the Bears' 2023 B-grade flag that she rates as her biggest highlight.

Should Shepparton break the drought and grab a hold of the A-grade flag for the first time in its history, Higgins said it would be a special moment for a club she holds dear.

“It would be amazing; hopefully we can do it,” Higgins said.

“It’s a great club. Some clubs you find the footy and netball are very separate, but here we go in and have dinner and we all engage with the footy boys, there are like games and stuff and Thursday night teas.”

The Bears’ shot at glory is not far-fetched.

Shepparton currently sits one win behind flag favourite and reigning premier Euroa on the ladder with a match in hand.

The side’s premiership credentials will be tested when the Bears host the Magpies on July 12.

While overcoming the likes of Olivia Morris, Hollie Reid, Mia Sudomirski and co will be a tough ask, Higgins said Shepparton was producing the unexpected in 2025.

“I feel like our connection as a group we work really, really well together and we feed off each other,” she said.

“Against Seymour, Mooroopna, coming out of those games in front has been a really, really good feeling.

“Mooroopna and Seymour have been so strong and they still are, but I was not expecting to win at all.”