Fourteen athletes have been named in the 2022 Australian 21/U Squad after some of the nation's most promising netball talent competed at the Australian Netball Championships last week.
Netball Australia Chair of Selectors, Michelle Wilkins, praised the level of talent on show at the ANCs which helped when making selections.
“It’s incredibly exciting to see a lot of young talent coming through the Netball Australia pathway and to have seen all athletes embracing the opportunity at the championships,” Wilkins said.
“Having two years without a competition like this, it really was great to see a mixture of experienced players and younger players taking the court and has created a great environment for learning and growth within all the teams.”
The selected squad will travel to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra for a four-day training camp this September. Acting as a pivotal development tool, the camp will provide athletes with specialist coaching, match play and off court education.
Netball Australia Pathway Head Coach and Selector, Anita Keelan, will lead the upcoming camp which will focus on building connections on and off the court and understanding team dynamics.
“The performances across the Australian National Championships have demonstrated the depth of talent in the Australian pathway with the quality of netball improving every day across the week,” Keelan said.
“I'm very excited to be working with this squad and specialist coaches Jenny Borlase (goalers), Elissa Kent (midcourt) and Cathy Fellows (defence) at the upcoming camp to continue each athlete’s individual growth and development.”
Five athletes within the squad are contracted to 2023 Suncorp Super Netball teams including Annie Miller (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Lucy Austin (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Nyah Allen (Collingwood Magpies), Matisse Letherbarrow (GIANTS Netball) and Amy Sligar (GIANTS Netball).
THE SQUAD (name - team - state of origin)
Lucy Austin - Southern Force - South Australia
Nyah Allen - Collingwood - South Australia
Ruby Barkmeyer - Victorian Fury - Victoria
Charlie Bell - Queensland Sapphires - Queensland
Maggie Caris - Victorian Fury - Victoria
Jemma Donoghue - GIANTS Academy - New South Wales
Lauren Frew - Southern Force - South Australia
Jessie Grenvold - Southern Force - South Australia
Matisse Letherbarrow - GIANTS Academy - New South Wales
Annie Miller - Sunshine Coast Lightning - New South Wales
Leesa Mi Mi - Queensland Sapphires - Queensland
Martina Reekers - Sunshine Coast Lightning - Queensland
Amy Sligar - GIANTS Academy - New South Wales
Molly Watson - Southern Force - South Australia
