Eloise Southby-Halbish

"Over 1 million people play netball in Australia; I am calling on every one on them to initiate contact with Sport 4 the Environment, so that netball can be the first fully green sport" Eloise Southby-Halbish - Netball


Eloise Southby-Halbish learnt to catch a ball earlier than most girls. Not a netball though – an AFL ball. She is the daughter of the former Carlton legend, Geoff Southby, although he says people now recognize him as the father of Eloise Southby-Halbish. The early training paid off for Eloise. She was a member of the Victorian team which won the 1995 Qantas Netball Nationals and was chosen after the grand final in her first Australian Open Squad at age 19.

She first wore the green and gold for the Australian 21U Team in 1996 and was the goal shooter in the team which won the World Youth Cup against New Zealand in Canada. Her most recent achievements in the green and gold was securing the 2002 Commonwealth Games Gold Medal and second place at the 2003 World Netball Championships.

In 1997 she was an integral member of the Melbourne Phoenix team that won the inaugural Commonwealth Bank Trophy and as the Phoenix co-captain, she was instrumental in the team’s premiership wins in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005, making them the most successful Commonwealth Bank Trophy team.

Eloise combined brilliantly in the goal circle with friend and team mate Sharelle McMahon for both the Melbourne Phoenix and the Australian Netball Squad and in the nine years they have played together have been the most lethal goaling combination within the league.

Although selected in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Eloise was ruled out of the team three weeks prior, due to an ankle injury.  During the Commonwealth Games she worked with 3AW and Channel 9 to cover netball.

Eloise announced her retirement from international and national competitions in March due to the recurring ankle injury.  She is currently a Traineeship Consultant with AFL SportsReady and Head Netball Coach of Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School.