"You go from attending school most of your young life to now thinking about not going there any more so it can be a bit scary," says Mansfield who attended a "country school", Haumoana School, where she took a shine to netball in year 4.
The former Havelock North Intermediate pupil, who learned the basic skills from her mother, Fiona Mansfield, in the backyard, moved with the family to Bunbury, two hours south of Perth in Western Australia, when she was 13 after her father, Nathan, got a job there in 2013.
In late 2015, the Mansfield family returned to the Bay to visit relatives and didn't leave.
While abroad, she played under the Bunbury Netball Association in a country where youngsters play for clubs rather than schools.
"I've never had an eye for being a shooter," says Mansfield who also plays goal defence for her HNHS first team but has never strayed past the midcourt zone of a netball arena.
Consequently she relishes playing alongside her predominantly adult teammates under the captaincy of goal keep Donna Fountaine.
Since some players approached her at a crossfit class in the village gym to play for Keas last season in the Saturday morning senior outdoor competition, the teenager has lapped up the lessons.
"They play smarter rather than faster so you just learn at a different level," she says of the Heather Wilkie-coached Keas who gained promotion to Super 8 through the pre-season grading tournament.
For the Keas it's a season of discovery and awareness in their first foray into the Super 8 echelons so that puts the daunting task of playing powerhouses Otane into context.
"It's a big step up for us but a good challenge because we're playing some really awesome athletes from clubs and you learn so much against them."
Mansfield says with the collective experience on the court young players like her need to lift their game to match, never mind gauge their worth.
The Keas have resigned to the reality of not rocketing into the top ranks in their maiden season but enjoying the interaction on Friday nights is paramount to the extent that the result of a game ceases to become an issue.
"When we had our first game in Super 8 it was a shock to our system."
The Keas don't train, which suits Mansfield to a tee. It means the Monday and Thursday training sessions with the school team leave her time to swot as well as engage in other extracurricular activities.
It helps that they have an "awesome" coach in Wilkie who offers them sound advice during the quarter intervals.
"She knows the game and she's really lovely," says Mansfield who intends to attend university to acquire qualifications to become a vet nurse or a physiotherapist.
TONIGHT'S GAMES
Rd 2 of the championship round at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale:
6.15pm: All In Elusive v NGHS Senior A PGA 2.
Umpires: A Williams and T Gardiner.
6.15pm: HHSOG Proactive Huias v HGHS Senior A PGA 1.
Umpires: K Jones and N Walker.
7:45pm: HHSOG Spicers Keas v Otane Thirsty Whale PGA 1.
Umpires: J Varcoe and N Corbett.
7:45pm: Central Sports Vet Services HB v Outkast Optimise Physio PGA 2.
Umpires: H Lewis and K Ives.
Note:
Reserve umpires: 6.15pm H Lewis. 7.45pm T Gardiner. 7.45pm court 2, S1, M Newland. S2, K.Turnbull. T1, D Pearse/Jess T2, S Spencer/Brooke.
Bench officials: 6.15 court 2. S1, D Pearse. S2, C Jamieson. T1, J Scott. T2, Brooke. Court 1. S1. K.Turnbull. S2, S Spencer.
