Mia Russo excels at netball and Aussie rules.
Camera IconMia Russo excels at netball and Aussie rules. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

St Lawrence PS ‘pocket rocket’ a gun netballer but has the Blues for AFLW career

Kristie LimStirling Times

BALCATTA ‘pocket rocket’ Mia Russo is a trophy-winning netballer, but she has aspirations to venture away from netball and play for Carlton’s AFLW team.

Mia (9) plays for the Kingsway-based West Coasters Netball Club during the winter, indoor netball at the Seamers Sports Centre in Balcatta in summer, and school netball for St. Lawrence Primary School.

The centre court player has won two best and fairest and one runner-up trophy in the indoor netball competitions at the Seamers Sports Centre.

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She also plays midfield in Australian rules football for the Stirling Saints.

Mia said she liked playing netball, football and running long distance but it was her dream to focus on football.

“I would like to play more footy when I grow up,” she said.

“When I am playing sport, I think that I want to win.”

She said she played in the division one 11 and under netball for the West Coasters and in the Year 4 to 6 football team.

“They are really tall and it is really hard to defend them but I can outrun them,” she said.

Her mother Christina said Mia was a ‘pocket rocket’ due to her speed and fitness.

“In football, she is probably one of the smaller kids…it is hyper-modified so they do tackle and she is probably one of the most ferocious tacklers,” she said.

“There is no fear factor and she goes hard.”

Ms Russo said despite training four times a week, Mia still kept good grades at school.

“Her dad and I are extremely proud, he loved footy as a kid as well and he puts so much time and effort into the kids,” she said.

“Especially Mia; she has been our little star at the moment.”

Name: Mia Russo Age: nine Sport: Netball Category: Young Sporting Spirit Individual

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