At 18, Shepparton United’s Montanna Burke is one of the Goulburn Valley League’s youngest starting centres.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
By the time the first centre pass was tossed Shepparton United already knew it had pulled off one of the most intriguing recruiting moves of the Goulburn Valley League off-season.
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With co-coach and long-time centre Laura Cole shipping off to Nathalia, the Demons had to act fast, but in the end, didn’t exactly opt for a like-for-like replacement.
Instead, new coach Shinea Sali went shopping for a midcourter on Burke St.
The club cashed in on Montanna Burke, aged 18, and coaxed her to hop from one end of Deakin Reserve to the other following a breakout season for Shepparton’s 17-and-under side.
The young dynamo collected the Carol Ryan Rising Star award in 2024 and now she’s not only a fully fledged A-grader, but Burke is turning the cogs in centre, the place where lungs go to die and games go to be decided.
It’s no mean feat.
But Burke seems to be handling the transition with level-headed cool, especially considering she only played four quarters total of A-grade last season.
Montanna Burke has adjusted well to life in the GVL’s A-grade scene this season.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“It’s been full on,” Burke said.
“I’ve been against some of the top centres like Casey (Adamson) from Seymour, and they're definitely older than me too — and it definitely shows I need to push myself.
“It actually helps me towards the end and I feel that I can achieve something and it's just really good.”
Burke’s drive has been there from the drop.
Her journey into netball started in familiar fashion — a reluctant entry into Net Set Go courtesy of her mum — and evolved into a sporting juggling act, split between netball and basketball.
There was even a trip to the US, her first time on a plane — 27 hours in the air — for basketball.
But ultimately, netball won out, not just for the sport itself, but for the sense of belonging.
Montanna Burke in action for Shepparton Gators in the CBL two seasons ago.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“Basketball felt a bit more stressed,” she said.
“I was playing basketball at 9.40pm at night on a Friday night and then the next morning I had games at 10am, so I just felt netball was more suitable.
“And getting into Year 12 now I had to pick one over the other.
“I found a passion that I was starting to actually get good in and I picked netball over basketball and then I just decided to pursue it and see how it goes — and now I'm here.”
Just a season ago, Burke was donning the maroon and gold of Shepparton.
She rose to take out the GVL’s 17-and-under Rising Star award — a kind of anointed ‘watch this space’ badge of honour.
But it wasn’t by accident.
“My mum and dad and I sat down at the start of the season and we made a goal — and it was to get the best-and-fairest,” she said.
“I did push myself and my family and I went through a lot throughout that season, losing both my grandparents.
“But I definitely pushed through and I felt like I couldn't let that affect my netball and, by the end, I got my goal and I was pretty happy about it.”
Montanna Burke in action against her old side Shepparton earlier this season.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
This year, the goals are more granular.
Each week, Sali sets her objectives: stay on court, push out four quarters, keep learning.
And each week, Burke ticks another box.
There’s a vault of knowledge within United’s nucleus that she can crack into and, being the new kid on the old block, help has only been a shout away.
“The girls are amazing,” Burke said.
“Every single one of them has little inputs and little things to say and it’s so good.
“On the court, if you do something, they'll come up to you and say, ‘just do this,’ and you actually notice it and you start picking it up.”
This season marks a new chapter for Burke, one lined in red and navy rather than gold and maroon.
But with her skill set, IQ and work ethic, Burke is fast becoming the kind of player you build a midcourt around — now, and well into the future.
