Sport
24 November, 2025
Chasing after national dream
ATHERTON netballer Asha Lynch-Simmons has racked up a string of achievements recently and is just one selection away from an Australian Championship appearance.
Lynch-Simmons has been making a name for herself in the netball world for years, and she’s still hunting down her dream to become a professional netballer for the Australian Diamonds.
Her end to the year has looked rather promising, and busy, given she is in the midst of Year 12 studies and exams. Despite her schooling commitments, Lynch-Simmons has capped off an incredible year of sporting achievement.
She picked up the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year award in the new Far North Flames team, which is part of the inaugural Ruby North Netball Series. She was also selected in the regional Future Firebirds Academy for the second year in a row and was part of the Cairns Premier League Grand Final-winning side, where she received the club Rising Star Award.
She was also selected in the Peninsula 16-18yrs team where she made the Queensland Possibles and Probables side. Her more recent achievements have stemmed from her performance in the North Queensland team at Netball Queensland’s 19-and-under State Titles, which earned her a spot in Phase One of Netball Queensland’s squad.
She has since progressed into the Phase Two side following a few training sessions in Brisbane. Lynch-Simmons will now have to travel to Brisbane 2-3 times per week over December and January for training as she competes for a spot in the final team of 12.
If named in the squad, she will represent Queensland at the Australian Championships in April next year.
Lynch-Simmons was thrilled with her progress this year and praised the pathway programs that are available to regional netballers.
“It was very exciting. It’s one step further than I made last year. So I’m really happy with that,” she said speaking to her Phase Two selection.
“There are more pathways now than there ever has been before. There’s the Future Firebirds Academy, and that gets you prepared for State Titles – you get high-level coaching.
“The Far North Flames, which I’m a part of, got you hard game practice before State Titles, and then the North Queensland team, which I went away with for States, helps to then create the opportunity to make the Phases and then be a part of the Queensland team.”
Lynch-Simmons’ mother, Meeca, said she was pleased to see local netballers finding success.
“From my perspective as a mum, it’s really amazing to see regional athletes achieving,” she said.
“There’s been a couple before Asha, and now she’s following in their footpath. This is the highest participating sport for females in Australia, so to get into Queensland’s Top 18 is incredible.
“But mostly it’s been made possible because of pathways that are available to regional athletes.”
Lynch-Simmons will find out in February if she has made the Queensland squad.
