Netball Australia has announced its Netball Centre of Excellence Squads for 2020, with 13 GIANTS/GIANTS Netball Academy athletes included throughout the 17U, 19U and 21U squads.
Matilda McDonell, Sophie Dwyer and Matisse Letherbarrow, all of whom are currently in the Suncorp Super Netball Queensland Hub have been selected in the 21U Squad.
Training partners Clare Iongi and Latika Tombs have also been selected, along with GIANTS Netball Academy athletes Amy Sligar and Annie Miller.
The 21U squad is part of the selection process for the Netball World Youth Cup.
While the Netball World Youth Cup has been postponed, preparation of the Australian squad will continue to ensure ongoing technical, tactical, physical and psychological development of the group as they approach the benchmark event.
Mille Roach, Erin O’Brien and Charlie Fidler from the GIANTS Netball Academy have been included in the 17U Squad, while Natalie Sligar, Jemma Donoghue and Nakita Jackson have earnt selection in the 19U squad.
Selection of all these squads was conducted differently this year after the National Netball Championships, where selection is normally made, were cancelled due to COVID-19.
With squad selection now complete, Netball Australia aims to deliver training camps in late 2020 (dates to be confirmed) to ensure players maintain access to competition and development opportunities.
The 2020 17/Under and 19/Under camps will be led by Netball Centre of Excellence Head Coach Michelle Wilkins and the 21/U camp will be led by Australian 21/Under Head Coach Kylee Byrne.
GIANTS Netball Academy Manager Jenny O’Keeffe was chuffed by the number of girls included in the three squads.
“I’m absolutely thrilled for the girls,” she said.
“They’ve all worked really hard, so it’s fantastic to see their hard work pay off by being given this opportunity.
“It’s been a tough year for them with no Nationals and no ANL, so it’s nice for them to have these camps to look forward to.
“The experience that the likes of Matisse and Sophie are getting from being up in Queensland for the Suncorp Super Season is so beneficial and it’s so great to see them absorbing every bit of information from the environment around them and making the most of the opportunity both on court and at training.
“I give full credit to all the girls and coaches back in Sydney who are continuing to work hard with the GIANTS Netball Academy Program.”
Dates for these training camps will be confirmed in coming weeks.
The International Netball Federation is yet to confirm a re-scheduled date for the Netball World Youth Cup but it is expected to be in late 2021 or early 2022.
