The football and netball club environment was nothing new for Wimmera-born Caris, who was a member of Melbourne’s AFLW squad before crossing back to the Suncorp Super Netball competition.
And Samason also made headlines when she had an immediate impact on the Super Netball League by converting the winning super shot for the Vixens in her debut match two years ago.
Since then 20-year-old Samason has suffered a series of setbacks with knee injuries, but is still considered part of the Vixens future.
She spent time with the Rochester goalers, sharing the ups and downs of a season interrupted by time on the sidelines.
In her debut match she shot 29 of her 32 attempts, the game rated as one of the most stunning maiden appearances in league history. She is one of the best exponents of the super shot in the competition, a two-goal conversion similar to basketball’s three-pointer that was introduced to the Suncorp Super Netball competition three seasons ago.
The 184cm Springvale junior and criminology student has the unique ability to represent either New Zealand or Australia with her national heritage.
She suffered an ACL injury in 2018, which has allowed her to notch only 11 national league games
At 190cm country girl Caris, who will turn 21 in December, spent time at the opposite end of the Rochester court working with the Tigerettes defenders.
From a town of just 310 people, Quantong (just outside Horsham), Caris has a unique dual-sport story after being drafted into Melbourne Football Club’s AFLW squad with pick 17 in 2020.
She played six matches in her three seasons in the AFLW, having previously been a regular with Australian netball teams at under-age level from the age of 15.
She chose to sign as a training partner with the Vixens and forgo her ALFW ruck career after being selected in the Australian under-21 team.
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