A GROUP of the region’s most talented junior netballers travel to Bendigo this weekend to pit themselves against teams from across Victoria.
The Murray Region will be represented at Netball Victoria’s 2024 State Titles by two teams, under-15 and under-17 sides taking on players from the state’s 18 other regions.
Players were put through their paces in one last training session in Swan Hill, before the games kick off on Friday morning.
Mel Wait, the 17-and-under coach, said the girls had been working really hard.
“They have been just amazing,” she said.
“I’ve really made sure that I’ve challenged their thinking and tried to teach them new skills.
“They’ve just been like sponges and are making sure that they are making the most of the opportunity.
“Once these girls get on the court, they are competitive, and they are very driven.
“We’ve got some girls who have been there before, my team is a bit of a mix, but they’ve all played at that level at some point.
“This experience will help them so much back at their club level as well.”
Wait said she and 15-and-under coach Natalie Plant had enjoyed coaching netballers from across the region.
“The opportunity to coach the best juniors in our region has been incredible,” she said.
“It’s been lovely to coach such a talented group of girls, and I know that Nat feels the same.
“It’s really important that we all recognise the effort and the commitment that these girls have put into their sport.
“Their willingness to learn and try new things, even the way that they’ve built relationships with each other, it’s really going to help their performance on the weekend.”
Trials for the squad were held in January this year, and that summer training may be helpful given temperatures were set to reach 37 degrees this weekend.
“They had to be registered pretty early on, and then we’ve been training pretty much ever since,” Wait said.
“It’s going to be hot on the weekend, and we are expecting a bit of an adjusted draw.
“But it will be a combination of indoor and outdoor games, so the management of our players will be pretty important.”
The Murray Region contains players from both Central Murray and Golden Rivers leagues, with netballers needing to have played six matches in either league in the past year to be eligible.
MURRAY REGION SQUADS
15 & Under
Chloe Meehan
Chloe Nalder
Isabella Papa
Isla Beasy
Jenna Gray
Kieley Styles
Lily Wise
Miela Roberts
Ruby Ryan
Scarlet Grey
Violet Corrie
Zoe Pollock
Coach: Natalie Plant
17 & Under
Ava Crow
Brooke Pearson
Eva Bolton
Jamison Wise
Jayda Plant
Maddy Black
Montana Davies
Olivia Fowler
Willow Conlan
Coach: Mel Wait
