Australia’s Emerging Athlete of the Month honours for November have been awarded jointly to two rising netball standouts, Tabitha Packer and Lily Graham, following their exceptional performances at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.

The pair were instrumental in Australia’s gold-medal run, with their recognition reflecting both their individual excellence and their impact on the tightly united team.

For both athletes, receiving the honour together feels particularly meaningful.

“It is such a big honour and really exciting to be able to share this with Lily,” Packer said.

“There are so many talented girls in our team, so being recognised is such a shock and I am very grateful for it.”

Graham shared the sentiment.

“I am very honoured and grateful to be recognised… alongside my teammate and friend Tabitha,” she said. “It has honestly just been so much fun.”

Packer’s recognition follows a standout tournament defined by reliability, versatility and maturity beyond her years, traits her teammates would like use to describe her. Named Netball Australia’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the World Youth Cup, she excelled in a variety of roles throughout the tournament.

Reflecting on the experience, she said she has learned to stay present and grounded.

“I’ve learnt how important it is not to get too carried away thinking too far ahead,” she said.

“Focusing on what I’m working on in the moment helps me not overthink the long-term outcomes.”

Her journey began in the Adelaide Hills before moving to Contax Netball Club and into the state pathway. Missing out on bottom-age U17 selection proved an unexpected turning point when she was invited to train with the South Australian Institute of Sport (SASI), opening her eyes to the world of high-performance sport.

“Seeing girls who had been through the pathway now playing at the highest level made it feel more achievable. It inspired me.”

Packer speaks with great pride about the culture within the World Youth Cup squad.

“We were so lucky to all get along so well,” she said.

“The balance between professionalism and fun really built our on-court connection, and everyone was supportive whether they were playing or cheering from the bench.”

Looking ahead, she is focused on her growth, including developing a new position this season.

“Ideally the goal is to get opportunities in Suncorp Super Netball (SSN), but I know I just need to focus on my game and what I can control,” she said.

She credits her father as her biggest influence.

“He faced a life-changing challenge that ended his sporting career young. It helps me put netball into perspective and be grateful for the ability to play.”

For Graham, the recognition caps off a whirlwind year that included winning a SSN premiership with the Melbourne Vixens before starring for Australia in Gibraltar.

Her teammates sum her up with three words, loud, competitive and fun, and she brought all three qualities to both campaigns.

“To win a premiership and then the World Youth Cup, it has all been so surreal and eventful,” she said.

“I absolutely love turning up to training every day, and I thrive in a team environment.”

Graham progressed through the Netball Victoria pathway from state teams to national squads before becoming a Vixens training partner, then a replacement player, and eventually securing a full-time SSN contract.

“I feel like I’ve progressed very quickly so I’m still taking it all in, even going into my third year with the Vixens,” she said.

She recalls the strong World Youth Cup team dynamic as a major factor in Australia’s success.

“We were all such good friends on and off the court,” she said. “We pushed each other to be better and I was willing to play whatever role the team needed.”

Graham is now balancing her on-court ambitions with her Health Science degree at Deakin University.

“On court, I’m hoping for a back-to-back premiership, but mostly I just want to make the most of the opportunities I have,” she said. Her family remain her biggest supporters, celebrating every moment with her.

Together, Packer and Graham represent a new wave of Australian talent, working hard both on and off the court to be grounded, competitive, fiercely team-oriented and ready for the next step.

Their joint Emerging Athlete of the Month award is a reflection not only of their performances but of the spirit and connection driving the next generation of Australian netball.

The Commonwealth Games serves as a platform for developing the future stars of Australian sport and the Emerging Athlete of the Year forms part of a refreshed Awards and Honours program developed by the CGA Heritage and Awards Committee.

The CGA Emerging Athlete of the Year Award celebrates the next generation of Australian sport stars and those that may make an impact for Australia at major sport events in the future.

Over the course of 2025, an athlete will be recognised each month as the Emerging Athlete of the Month and will receive a $500 contribution towards their training and competition expenses.

Three finalists from the monthly winners will then split a $7000 cash prize, with the winner receiving $5000 and the two runners-up $1000 respectively.