Julie made her first senior Netball team playing list at age 15 in 2002. Julie made her Commonwealth Bank Trophy debut at age 16 for the Melbourne Phoenix in 2003, where her style of defence saw her named Australia’s best new talent. She played with the Melbourne Phoenix from 2002 – 2006 and won a premiership in 2005. 2007 was a year of peaks and troughs for the talented athlete. Early in the year, Julie crossed the floor from the Melbourne Phoenix to the Melbourne Kestrels and was also named to play for Australia in the England Tri-Series.
Julie was a part of the inaugural Melbourne Vixens Netball team from 2008 to 2012. In 2008 they had a stellar team on paper and got labeled the ‘dream team’. Unfortunately the team didn’t perform to there expectations. However a rebuilding year in 2009 saw the Melbourne Vixens take out the Championship title. They then suffered the premiership curse in season 2010. By the 2012 season the Melbourne Vixens where back in the Grand Final and finished runners up to WBOP Magic. In 2013 Julie crossed the Tasman to join forces the LG Mystics based in Auckland to join her husband (Daryl) who was playing Basketball for the NZ Breakers in the ANBL. She signed on for a further year with the Mystics in 2014, however it was another disappointing year for the team without a chance to play in the finals. She signed with the NSW Swifts for season 2015 and is currently enjoying her time in Sydney with the Swifts. They are currently in the top 3 on the Australian Conference ladder.
Julie was selected in the Australian Diamonds open squad in 2006. This was the year of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. She was selected in her first Australian Diamonds team after the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and travelled with the team for a Test Match series against NZ. She debuted for Australia on 8th July 2007 and played against Jamaica in her first Test Match in Sydney. Later that year she was the youngest member named in the World Championship team. She competed at the World Championships in Auckland, NZ and Australia won Gold. In 2008 – 2009 Julie took part in International test matches for Australia. In 2009 Julie was awarded the Liz Ellis Diamond for her outstanding year in the ANZ Championship and with the Australia Diamonds. In 2010 Julie undertook major surgery on her knee that took her out of the game for quite some time including the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games trials. She worked very hard and got herself back in the Australian Diamonds team for 2011 and took part in the World Championships in Singapore that included an extra time Grand Final against NZ, however the Aussie Diamonds managed to fight it out and came away with the Gold Medal. In 2012 – 2013 Julie again took part in international test matches. In 2014 Julie made her first Commonwealth Games team and played in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The Australian Diamonds won the Gold Medal game by a convincing 18 goals to take home the Gold Medal.
Julie is married to Daryl Corletto. They got married on 21st March 2009 in Melbourne. They have 2 furbabies, Molly a cat & Jack a Golden Retriever dog. Julie is the youngest of three. She has an older brother (Ian) and an older sister (Karen) both of which she idolised growing up. She grew up in Kerang a small country town in Victoria, approximately 3.5hrs north of Melbourne. She loved growing up in the country with the opportunities it allowed her to participate in many different sports. She started playing Netball at age 9 and also loved athletics, swimming and Basketball, whilst taking part in a range of other sports at school. She moved to Melbourne with her family when she was 10 years old. Julie’s parents (John & Gayle) have been a huge part of Julie’s Netball career, they have been a huge support for Julie whether it be her full time taxi when she was younger, encouraging her and supporting her through the high’s & low’s of her career.
Julie is also a qualified secondary PE & Math teacher. She also has her own Netball coaching business & enjoys coaching junior Netballers to achieve their goals.
Julie & husband Daryl are also ambassadors for Cystic Fibrosis and are on hunt for a cure for CF: www.cysticfibrosis.org.au/vic #cureCF
Name: Julie Prendergast
Nickname: Julz, JC, Julzy, Hulio, Prenda, Stretch (only from my short in-laws)
Positions: Goal Defence, Goal Keeper & Wing Defence
D.O.B: 31st October, 1986
Hometown: Kerang
Height: 6ft or 184cm
Parents: John & Gayle Prendergast
Partner: Daryl (Husband)
Children: Cooper (Born: 11th August 2016)
Siblings: Ian (Brother) & Karen (Sister)
International Test Caps: 52 (retired 16/08/16 after World Cup Grand Final)
ANZ Championship Games: 101
CBT Games: 53
International Test Debut: July 8th 2007 – (Australia 66 defeated Jamaica 62)
Last International Test Cap: 16th August 2015 – World Cup Grand Final – (Australia 58 defeated New Zealand 55)
Career Highlights:
JUNIOR CLUBS:
PREVIOUS CLUBS:
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS:
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
STATE REPRESENTATION:
Victoria University – Bachelor of Applied Science (Physical Education – Secondary) & Diploma in Secondary Education
Carey Baptist Grammar (Year 11 – 12)
Doncaster Secondary College (Year 7 – 10/11)
Templestowe Heights Primary School (Grade 5 – 6)
Kerang South Primary School (Prep – Grade 4)
AFL Team:Carlton Blues
Favorite Color:Blue & Purple
Favorite Movie:Coach Carter
Favorite Music:Top 40, RnB, Xavier Rudd, Jack Johnson, Coby Grant
Favourite TV Show:Suits, The Block, X Factor
Favourite Sports:Basketball, Athletics, Swimming, AFL, Tennis
Favourite Food:Pasta (San Remo of course!)
Something Different:When warming up on court for a game I like to be on the side/end (lots of room and don’t feel crowded)
Biggest Support:My family
Role Models:My brother & sister & Liz Boniello (nee Taverner)
Current Club:Retired
Hobbies:Walking my dog (Jack) at the beach