They were the words Rachel Fox used to describe how she felt after being selected in the Australian open mixed reserves netball team.

The Hastings Valley Netball Association player who spends her time either in the centre of the court or at the defensive end could even follow up her Australian selection with a spot in another representative team she believes she is in the mix for.

“I’m also up for selection in the Australian Indigenous ladies side that tours New Zealand and I’m hoping I’ll be picked there,” she said.

Fox was originally selected to play in the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Netball Association (ATSINA) team at the National Australian Mens and Mixed netball titles in Sydney at Homebush recently.

She was selected from that team to play at a national tournament which was the Australian Men’s Mixed Netball Association’s (or AMMNA) national competition.

The over 35s player was judged the MVP from her team before being selected to play in the Australian mixed open reserves team at a date and location to be finalised.

She said she couldn’t believe it when her name was announced as making the  team.

“It absolutely surprised me a lot because it was the hardest netball I’ve ever played. Ever. And I’ve been playing since I was four.”

While netball is meant to be a non-contact sport Fox said that couldn’t have been further from the truth, but admitted she had learnt a lot from the mixed game.

“The mixed netball game is very different to the ladies game in the fact the men are so much more athletic and their elevation is just enormous,” she said.

“It’s not so much getting used to (playing with men), it’s just a different athleticism and the strength of men is different, but it’s so much fun.

“I ended up on the deck a lot and had a few bumps and bruises, but you’ve got to be able to give it as well as take it.”

Nicknamed ‘The Hunter’ at the national competition a fortnight ago, Fox said she was proud of her ability to adapt to the higher level of competition.

“My coach said my level of netball went up on an ark because I adapted to the level of netball required which was so much more higher than anything I’d ever played,” she said.

“They nicknamed me the Hunter because I go after everything. I hunt for the ball.

“For me to break through and be selected now I’m older, more mature athlete and to be selected over the top of 19 and 20 year olds is a big thing for me, but I work hard.”