Sharelle McMahon

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Sharelle McMahon (born August 12, 1977) is a current member of the Australia national netball team. She plays the goal attack and goal shooter positions, and is known for her remarkable speed in sprinting, dodging, passing, fast reflexes and elevation. In addition to these qualities, Sharelle is known as a greater "finisher", sinking shots with relatively high accuracy and maintaining composure in tough situations.

McMahon always displays good sportmanship, and while an assertive player, does not take to being manhandled submissively. Respected by fans, the public and commentators alike, Sharelle sets an example for players worldwide.Sharelle displays discipline, which is evident in her cool head and decision makiing, even in the closest of games.

"Sharelle has learnt to rely on her two best assets, blistering speed and a great netball mind-when she is towered over by opposition defenders." (Ellis, 2005)

She first started playing for Australia at age 20, making her international debut against Jamaica in Jamaica. She has played with the Melbourne Phoenix since 1997, and co captain with Bianca Chatfield since 2004. She says her career highlights are shooting the winning goal at the 1999 World Championships and 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Sharelle McMahon became a household name on October 2, 1999 when she shot the winning goal for Australia to defeat New Zealand in the dying seconds of the World Netball Championships Grand Final.

She was called Mc Mahon Magic shooting the winning goal for the aussies in 1997 against Jamaica.

Brought on at half-time during the final of the world championships, the game would be career-defining for Sharelle. Many people marvelled at her composure and efficiency afterward. She said "I don't really remember what was going through my head when I shot that goal. When Donna Loffhagen took her last shot, I remember thinking we were going to lose. But we got the rebound from Donna's shot, and I snapped out of that and back into playing. When the ball was in my hands I didn't know there was only one second left-I was just playing netball."

"Sharelle is regarded by many as one of the world's best netballers." (Ellis, 2005) After beginning netball at age 7, she is the current captain of the Melbourne Phoenix, and was acting captain of the Australian team during the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne when Liz Ellis was injured and unable to participate. Sharelle first came under the attention of national selectors in 1996 with a spectacular performance in the Victorian Under 21 team, which won the Qantas nationals. She was chosen in the Australian Under 21 team the following month.

She remained in the under 21 team in 1997 and was a member of the Melbourne Phoenix team, which won the inaugural Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 1997 and again won the trophy in 2000. Sharelle was a member of Melbourne Phoenix when they won the Commonwealth Bank Trophy for a record third time in the six year old competition. In 1998 she was the youngest member of the Australian team which won the inaugural netball gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

In 2002, Sharelle was again a member of the Australian team when it successfully defended its Commonwealth Games title in Manchester. She was also a member of the Australian team that was beaten by the Silver Ferns by 25 goals in October of 2005. However the difference was not nearly as large when the two teams met in Melbourne for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. They were well matched, but were eventually outplayed by a determined Silver Ferns team 60-55.In the first test between the the two giants of world netball the Aussies were downed by 12 to an imposing silver ferns team. However Sharelle and the aussie team turned the table on the silver ferns as they put out a spirited performance to down the silver ferns by ten. Sharelle was a major factor in the win as was co-captain Liz Ellis.

On July 17, 2006, Sharelle was a special guest in Bert's Family Feud along with Catherine Cox, Bianca Chatfield and Natalie von Bertoch.