Natalie Bode

Natalie von Bertouch ; (born 16 December 1982), also known as Natalie Bode, is a former Australia netball international. Between 2004 and 2012 she made 76 senior appearances for Australia. Bertouch was a member of the Australia teams that won the gold medals at the 2007 and 2011 World Netball Championships. She captained Australia at the latter tournament. She was also a member of the Australia teams that won the silver medals at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games. At club level, Bertouch captained Adelaide Thunderbirds to two ANZ Championship titles in 2010 and 2013. Her older sister Laura von Bertouch is also a former netball player. The two sisters were team mates with both Thunderbirds and Australia.

Early life, family and education Bertouch is the daughter of Terry von Bertouch, who, during the late 1960s and 1970s, played Australian rules football for North Adelaide and Norwood in the South Australian National Football League. Her older sister, Laura von Bertouch, is also a former Australia netball international. The Bertouch sisters were both educated at Immanuel College. Between 2004 and 2008, Bertouch attended Flinders University, where she gained a Bachelor's degree in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. In November 2014, she married the Australian rules footballer, Jace Bode. They have two daughters.

Playing career Contax Bertouch and her sister, Laura von Bertouch, began playing netball aged seven and nine at the Contax Netball Club. In 2000, together with Tracey Neville, the Bertouch sisters were members of the Contax team that won the South Australia state league. Natalie also helped Contax win further state leagues title in 2002 and 2003.

AIS During the 2001 season, Bertouch played for the Australian Institute of Sport. She was a member of the AIS team that won the South Australia state league. She was also named the league's best and fairest player and was selected in the Team of the Year.

Adelaide Thunderbirds Between 2001 and 2013, Bertouch played for Adelaide Thunderbirds. During the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era she was named in the Team of the Year for three successive seasons between 2005 and 2007. In 2008, Bertouch became the inaugural ANZ Championship Thunderbirds captain. She subsequently captained Thunderbirds to two ANZ Championship titles. In 2010, after finishing second during the regular season, they defeated the minor premiers, New South Wales Swifts, in the major semi-final and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the grand final. In 2013, Natalie von Bertouch captained Thunderbirds to a second premiership after they defeated Queensland Firebirds in the grand final. Shortly after the 2013 grand final Bertouch announced she was retiring as a player.

Australia Between 2004 and 2012 Bertouch made 76 senior appearances for Australia. She was also a member of the Australia teams that won the silver medals at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games. Bertouch captained Australia for the first time in 2008, in the absence of regular captain Sharelle McMahon. She subsequently captained Australia when they won the gold medal at the 2011 World Netball Championships.

Tournaments Place2006 Commonwealth Games 2007 World Netball Championships 2009 World Netball Series 2010 Commonwealth Games

Employment Since retiring as a netball player, Bertouch has been involved in various projects. Since 2015 she has worked for Cancer Council SA. In 2016 and 2017 she worked as a columnist for The Advertiser. In 2015 and 2016 she served as a Netball South Australia board member. In 2018 she joined the Adelaide Thunderbirds coaching staff as a mid-court specialist coach. She also serves as the Transition Manager of the Australian Netball Players’ Association.

Honours

Australia World Netball Championships Winners: 2007, 2011 Commonwealth Games Runners Up: 2006, 2010 Netball Quad Series Winners: 2012 Adelaide Thunderbirds ANZ Championship Winners: 2010, 2013 Runners Up: 2009 Australian Institute of Sport South Australia State League Winners: 2001 Contax South Australia State League Winners: 2000, 2002, 2003