A CHANCE introduction to Australian Rules Football three years ago has opened exciting pathways for talented Nelson Bay athlete Catalina Labra Knox.
When friends persuaded the versatile schoolgirl to come along to nearby Dick Burwell Oval and trial with the Nelson Bay Marlins AFL club as a precocious 15-year-old, she made an immediate impact.
Rookie Catalina cut her AFL teeth with the Marlins juniors as a classy midfielder and gained representative honours before sitting out the 2024 season to focus on her HSC studies at Tomaree High School.
The 19-year-old ace rover made the step up into the women’s senior ranks this season and underlined her potential by being named the Hunter Central Coast AFL Player of the Year in the Black Diamond Plate competition.
It was a fitting reward for the midfield dynamo in her debut season as a senior as she helped steer the young Marlins into the Grand Final against perennial champions Newcastle City Blues with superb on-field performances.
The Blues edged out Nelson Bay 23-15 in a classic trophy decider at Newcastle’s No 1 Sportsground with Catalina producing a non-stop display to be one of the best players on show.
After finishing third in the regular season, the youthful Marlins stormed home during the finals series with rousing victories over Lake Macquarie Dockers 26-2 and Maitland Saints 40-23 for a crack at the title.
In recognition of their sterling efforts Catalina was one of four Nelson Bay players along with skipper Olivia Feldman, vice captain Tara Maguire and Mikaela Burrows to be named in the Women’s Black Diamond Plate Team of the Year.
An ecstatic Catalina told News Of The Area that being selected in the Team of the Year and receiving the prestigious Hunter Central Coast AFL Black Diamond Plate Women’s Player of the Year Award was a “huge thrill”.
“I was just happy to cement a spot in the Nelson Bay women’s team this season and play in a Grand Final,” she revealed.
“We worked hard all year and had a core of experienced players that blended well with our younger brigade” said the teenage tyro.
This year’s Marlins team were the first senior women’s outfit from Nelson Bay to line up in a Grand Final since 2019.
While being a “natural” in the AFL game, Catalina is just as adept in rugby and has also carved out a promising career with the Nelson Bay Gropers junior girls and senior women’s squads.
An outstanding centre or half back, the elusive Labra knox has proved a revelation at 15s rugby plus sevens since first lacing up a boot as a 14-year-old and forcing her way into the Hunter Wildfires representative rugby system.
The gifted all rounder will spend the off-season taking a regular surf and maintaining her fitness before juggling her AFL and rugby commitments in preparation for the 2026 season.
By Chris KARAS
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