A three-time World Champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Natalie has tasted success over a long and decorated netball career both domestically and internationally.
One of Australia’s most enduring and decorated netballers, Nat Medhurst holds the distinction of being the third most-capped national league player, taking to the court 235 times across a professional career that spanned 16 years.
Scoring an incredible 4,415 goals across the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball competitions, Nat announced her retirement at the end of the 2020 SSNL season.
Beginning her professional career in her home state of South Australia with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2004, Nat moved to the Queensland Firebirds in 2010, then onto the West Coast Fever in 2014 before finishing her career with the Collingwood Magpies in 2020.
Highlights of Nat’s domestic netball career include being named the Thunderbirds Club Champion in 2006 and twice winning the Tanya Denver Medal and the Adelaide Advertiser Player of the Year (2006 and 2007) while in South Australia.
In moving to the Queensland Firebirds, Nat won an ANZ Championship premiership and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player and Queensland Sportswoman of the Year in 2011.
She also won the Firebirds’ MVP in 2012, went on to be Vice-Captain of the club in 2012 and became the first Australian to play 100 ANZ Championship matches.
She then captained the Fever in her first year at the club in 2014, was named the club’s MVP in 2015 and 2016, captained Fever during the first year in Suncorp Super Netball in 2017, before playing in the franchise’s first Grand Final appearance in 2018.
Nat then moved to Collingwood in 2019 where she played out her final season, helping the club to a finals appearance.
At an international level, Nat represented Australia 86 occasions and went onto win three Netball World Cup gold medals, one Commonwealth Games gold medal, one Commonwealth Games silver medal and six Constellation Cup titles.
Off the court, Nat was involved with the Australian Netball Players’ Association since 2006, taking on the role of President in 2019 and 2020 and was committed to improving conditions for Australian netballers.
Whilst Nat’s on court accolades speak for themselves, one of Nat’s most proudest moments was becoming a mum for the first time in 2020 to her son Edison.
As Nat enters retired life she will now turn her focus towards a career in sports administration and media, and is currently in the role as community engagement manager with Commonwealth Games Australia.
