Julie Prendergast

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Julie Prendergast is an Australian netball player. She made her national league debut at the age of 16, representing the Melbourne Phoenix. Prendergast has since relocated to rival team the Melbourne Kestrels, in a bid to gain more court-time in the 2007 season.

An athletic and exciting defender, Prendergast's speed, agility, and elevation have drawn comparisons to Australain captain, Liz Ellis. Having played much of her netball at goal defence, Prendergast is equally effective at goal keeper, where her footspeed, strength, and explosiveness allow her to succesfully defend shooters much taller than herself.

Prendergast announced her arrival on the Australian netball scene in 2004, where her exciting style of defence saw her named Netball Australia's best new talent. Her career gained momentum in late 2004 when she was selected in the Australian open squad at the age of 17. In 2005 she captained the Australian U/21 team to a bronze medal at the World Youth Championships, while on the comeback trail from a stress fracture in her foot.

After succesfully leading Victoria to the national U/21 titles, Prendergast was selected in the Australian open team for the first time in October 2006. It was a due reward for a talented defender, who had been on the fringe of selection for the previous two years. While Prendergast didn't make it onto the court on her first international tour, she has clearly been earmarked as a star of the future, with the natural talent and ability to become one of Australia's greatest netballers.