Cardwell: “I haven’t reached my full potential yet”

Harriet Millard

Eleanor Cardwell has her sights set on the Commonwealth Games and is putting her hand up for England selection.

Image credit: Hayley Bavin

After almost two seasons sidelined by surgery, the six-foot-one attacker has returned to weekly elite netball. With a full 60-minute performance at goal shooter on Saturday afternoon against London Mavericks in Brighton, converting from both short and long range, Cardwell is doing everything right, but feels she has lots more to give.

“Looking at the bigger picture obviously I’ve come back from injury and now I’m continuing to grow and I haven’t reached my full potential yet but I know it’s going to take time to get there - Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

The Brighton game

Cardwell grew into the game with increasing confidence and she can feel her progress over the last few months.

“The improvements that I’ve made since coming into the Thunder environment at the very start are huge and if I can continue building that, hopefully I will push for a place at Commonwealth Games and obviously I really want to go for that ...so I’m just keeping training and trying to work hard, and work with those girls around me to get to that place."

Her shots were landing and she also offered agility in and out of the circle with bodyrolls and one-handed, gravity-defying ball control moments on the goal line that have earned her the nickname: 'the claw'. She helped AO Manchester Thunder turn the game around in the third quarter and secure the win.

“I’ve also not played shooter in a while, at [Melbourne] Mavs I was a GA so it’s really nice to get this position, kind of cement it and see how I can bring my role into shooter, and build my game play in different styles - it’s been nice to get 60 minutes.”

Experience in high pressure scenarios

While competition for places is stiff, with several contenders across the Super League and SSN, Cardwell brings significant winning experience to Manchester Thunder and England. She has four Netball Super League titles and is one of only four current England Roses to have won a Suncorp Super Netball Premiership, claiming the title with Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2023. (The others being Helen Housby and Natalie Metcalf in 2019 and 2021 with NSW Swifts, and Sasha Glasgow in 2022 with West Coast Fever).

That 2023 victory was shaped by her composure under pressure. With the scores level in the grand final against NSW Swifts and just 80 seconds remaining, Cardwell opted for a bold two-point shot instead of a safer one pointer. Although Helen Housby responded with a two at the other end, Cardwell’s decision ultimately helped put the game beyond reach for Swifts. As commentator Sue Gaudion exclaimed at the time, “In my opinion she nailed it for the Thunderbirds!”

Weeks later, in Cape Town, she played a key role in England's defeat over New Zealand to reach the Netball World Cup final. Those high-pressure moments could prove vital for England this summer, and if Cardwell is still building, the attacking end could be in experienced hands if she is to be selected.