Netball Australia has named its latest cohort of athletes to represent the Australian 21/U Squad for 2024.
The 24-strong squad, consisting of emerging athletes from across the country, will be led and developed by 21/U National Head Coach, Cathy Fellows, as selection preparations commence for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.
The 2024 squad was selected by a coaching panel including Fellows, Netball Australia’s Chair of Selectors, Michelle Wilkins, and Netball Australia Pathway Head Coach Anita Keelan.
Athletes were assessed for squad selection within their state elite training environments, as well at this year’s Super Netball Reserves and National Netball Championships.
Wilkins praised the talent of the selected squad members and said the diversity of skill in the national pathway was thrilling to see.
“The depth of talent and versatility of our athletes is extremely exciting,” Wilkins said.
“The squad selection has been largely made around preparation of our pathway talent leading into 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.
“It is certainly going to be a highly competitive selection for the final twelve that represent Australia in Gibraltar next September.”
The selected group of athletes will complete a three-day training camp in Sydney this August, before heading to Fiji for a training first - The Rising Stars: Fiji 21/U Tour.
The tour will provide valuable competition experience for 21/U teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Singapore ahead of the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.
Set to take place at Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji from August 19-23, the four countries will take part in match play across the week to foster international connections and prepare players for elite competition.
Athletes will also take part in community engagement and cultural exchanges across the week.
Head Coach, Cathy Fellows, expressed her enthusiasm to work with the selected squad members.
"I am very excited about the opportunity for this group of selected athletes to get exposure to international competition as part of 2025 Netball World Youth Cup preparations,” Fellows said.
“We are looking to build our skill sets individually, within units and as a team both on and off the court."
Suncorp Super Netball umpires Georgina Sulley-Beales and Jordan Kiss will also join the Rising Stars Tour to officiate on-court and assist with some local development during the tour.
The Rising Stars: Fiji 21/U Tour is supported by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports Program in partnership with Netball Australia and participating countries.
2024 Australian 21/U Squad Athletes:
Ruth Aryang – Western Australia
Nicola Barge – New South Wales
Sophie Casey – South Australia
Georgie Cleaver – Western Australia
Harriet Gall – Victoria
Lily Graham – Victoria
Kayla Graham – South Australia
Scarlet Jauncey – Western Australia
Nevaeh Matenga – New South Wales
Paige O'Neill – Tasmania
Monika ‘Otai – New South Wales
Tabitha Packer – South Australia
Lillyana Rennie – Queensland
Charisse Rond – Western Australia
Frederika Schneideman – New South Wales
Charlotte Sexton – Victoria
Ruby Shannon – Victoria
Elsa Sif Sandholt – Queensland
Lucy Voyvodic – South Australia
Charlotte Walker – Tasmania
Hope White – New South Wales
Grace Whyte – New South Wales
Clara Wigley – Western Australia
Olivia Wilkinson – Victoria
