Netball star wears sister's face as she plays for Voguey at Koori Tournament
Acacia Elers, 19, in Australia's Black Swans First Nations squad, wears her late sister Vogue's image on her dress while playing for the memorial team at the Koori Netball Tournament.
Acacia Elers is one of Australia's rising netball talents. She plays for UTS Sparks in NSW Premier League.
Acacia is also in the Black Swans squad, which recognises Australia's top First Nations players. This weekend, she steps back from high performance to honour her sister Vogue, who died in 2021 aged four.
Junior and senior teams will play under the banner of #4Voguey, with Vogue's face adorning the players' dresses. Elers grew up watching her mother Brooke play in the Koori Netball Tournament and now her mother will coach the Voguey team.
The tournament, now in its 27th year, has drawn a record 132 teams across juniors, women's, and mixed divisions. Netball NSW will identify talented young players for development camps and pathways for First Nations athletes over the weekend.
- Four years old in 2021
- Sister's age when she died
- Record 132 across all divisions
- Tournament teams this year
- 27th year
- Tournament anniversary
- 19 years old
- Acacia's age
Why it mattersThe tournament is one of NSW's largest celebrations of First Nations netball, creating community connection and showing young First Nations athletes there are clear pathways to elite play.
AustraliaNSW communities gather to celebrate First Nations culture through sport. Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players see role models and pathways to national representation.
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