GIANTS Netball are continuing to back local talent, with the club’s final two positions for the 2022 season to be filled by pathway athletes Amy Sligar and Matisse Letherbarrow.
Sligar and Letherbarrow were Training Partners in the 2021 season, with both players experiencing court time throughout the season.
Sligar was a part of the team in rounds one, two, three and five and took the court on three occasions, including a starting seven position in round two when both Amy Parmenter and Kristiana Manu’a were ruled out.
Sligar was named in the GIANTS’ inaugural Academy back in 2019 and at the start of the 2021 season was added as a Training Partner after her selection in the 21U Netball World Youth Cup Squad.
Hailing from Camden Netball Association, Sligar has represented NSW in both 17U and 19U and played for the club’s former ANL affiliate, the Canberra GIANTS, in 2019.
The 19-year-old is a dominant mid-court player with her athletic ability and aerial skills a strength of her game.
Sligar said she is excited to live out her childhood dream.
“I’m so excited to be offered a contract for 2022 and am looking forward to the year ahead,” she said.
“To play elite netball has been a dream of mine since I started playing netball and it is crazy to think that some of my idols are now going to be my teammates.
“I have loved every minute of my time at the GIANTS so far and I am excited to continue on as a full-time contracted athlete next season.
“I’m very grateful to be a part of the GIANTS family and excited to begin our 2022 season as we aim to build on the success of previous years.”
Letherbarrow, who made her Super Netball Debut in 2020, became a replacement player for Kiera Austin for the 2021 season after Austin suffered a season-ending knee injury in round one.
The Baulkham Hills junior has been a part of the GIANTS’ program for two years now and she has played in five Super Netball matches.
The 188cm shooter offers a long-range and accurate shot and relishes every opportunity she gets at the top level.
Letherbarrow said she was over the moon to receive the phone call from Julie Fitzgerald.
“This is every girl’s dream, and this is what you work so hard for, so to be given the opportunity in the orange dress is not only a dream come true but an honour,” she said.
“Having been a part of the team in 2021 and having made the Grand Final, I definitely want to be back there in 2022 and to win.
“I just want to always put my best foot forward on and off the court and to help our team to get there.”
Committing to one-year deals with the club, the pair round out the squad for the 2022 season.
Letherbarrow joins Jo Harten and Sophie Dwyer to lock in the shooting circle, Sligar joins Maddie Hay, Jamie-Lee Price and Amy Parmenter in the mid-court, while the defensive end is made up of April Brandley, Tilly McDonell and Swifts recruit Lauren Moore.
