Netball Untamed: Georgia Tong

“Netball, Gentle?! Hoha! I’m On the Ground Every Game. You Try Taking a High Ball Against Saviour Tui, See How You Feel After!”

Netball, a non-contact sport? Mate, you’re dreaming! As our sport grows and evolves to dizzying new heights of physicality, skill and speed, we chat to our ANZ Premiership players about what playing ‘untamed’ means to them, and how they’re adapting their own gameplay to rise and meet the new challenges – and exciting opportunities! – that arise from netball’s new era.

Proving you don’t have to be a giant to be an incredible circle defender, explosive goal defence Georgia Tong is a heck of an exciting player to watch on the court – in fact, last year she won the ANZ Premiership Players’ Award, presented to the best overall performer as voted by players themselves (fancy!). If anyone knows just how gritty, demanding and exciting netball is, it’s Georgia.

What does the word “untamed” mean to you, both in life and in netball? 
To me, it means being authentic in life and netball is really important. It’s about not holding back who I am and bringing that out in all that I do - kia manawapou. The Magic whānau have created a really special culture that allows us to bring all that we are and I am so grateful for that.

How has your netball style changed as you’ve gone on in your career? Do you play the game differently than you used to, and if so why?
I debuted for Magic as a specialist GK. Now, I am a GD through and through and I feel trapped if I'm in GK, I need some space to run! I think I play with less fear now, more courage and freedom. I also have more life experience, so let things go a lot easier.

What’s the toughest part of your role on the court, do you think, and how do you train or prepare for it? 
Well we all know I'm not the tallest defender, I'm also not the biggest defender! So I have to stay off the body and play to my strengths. I train for it by working on my elevation and my speed/footwork. Luckily I have my mate in the back, E (Erena), who can be the physical presence - we are yin and yang.

How many hours of training do you do a week during the season, and what is one part of your training that may surprise people? 

Honestly a lot! But I love it (I’m not sure my knees do though). People are often surprised that we do back-to-back trainings in a day (and the second training is a game against the Waikato Men), and then often back it up the next day with a gym session and conditioning and court training. This means the games are the easy, fun part though, because we train so hard.

We know just how much physical strength is required to play netball, but mental strength is equally important. What do you do to stay mentally sharp and well?
Balance and a good support system. I have a full-time job outside of netball, plus my whānau and my kurī, so it makes it easy for me to not take the game so seriously when I have other stuff outside of netball. In a game, I know that having only one or two focuses helps me, and playing alongside my mates who know what I need when I'm in a hole on court.

There's still a perception that netball is exclusively a women's sport. How do you view the increasing participation of men and boys in netball, and what impact does this have on the sport's evolution? 
As I said, we play against the men week in and week out and they are a key part of our prep. They are so smart, fast and strong that it brings another level of physicality to our game, and is so exciting to watch them. I'm excited for the future of men's netball.

Netball used to be seen as a ‘gentle’ sport - a ‘feminine’ alternative for women to play. Obviously nothing is further from the truth in 2025! But do you think there’s elements of that perception that still remains to this day, and how do you like to set the record straight?
This is hoha! I end up on the ground a handful of times every game and you have to be mentally and physically so tough to play netball in general, let alone at this level. If people think that we're gentle, they should try taking a high ball in the circle against Saviour (Tui) or Meels (Ameliaranne Ekenasio) and see how they feel after!

What’s one drill, strength or skill you swear by on the court to elevate your game and get on top of your opposition? 
I couldn't be my height and stature and not be able to jump and be a GD, so I am always working on my explosiveness.

What’s the biggest sacrifice you make in order to play professional netball? 
Netball is a choice I make, and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I choose this life, it's no sacrifice (but if I had to pick one it'd be that I don't get to see my whānau as much in season).

What’s a myth about netball that you think we need to dispel?
That it's not exciting maybe? Or that it's not a sport for people who aren't a hardcore netball fan to watch. I would love for people to come to a live game who have never been to one. Hopefully a few buzzer beater two-pointers will dispel this myth.

Where do you feel the most strong and confident, and why? 
This is a hard one cause I feel like I've built a life that allows me to be like this all the time now, which I am grateful for. The netball court is an obvious one but that's also thanks to the environment and culture we've created as a team.

How much of a game-changer is having a psychological edge over your opponent, and how do you personally get it? 
My edge comes from knowing I've done the mahi away from the court and just never giving up, plus being a bit deceptive or getting ball that the feeders don't expect. E balances me out with her smack talk, hehe!

If you could give advice to anyone taking the court this year who wants to tap into their untamed side? 
Don't try to be anyone else, just be you.