First year Training Partner Annie Miller hopes to run out in GIANTS colours for the first time in her home town of Orange as part of the GIANTS’ pre-season trip to the regional town this weekend.
Miller who was elevated to a Training Partner this season, grew up and began her netball career in New South Wales’ Central West, within the Orange Netball Association.
The thought of wearing the orange dress for the first time in her home town of Orange, was a vision Miller said she couldn’t comprehend.
“The fact that the first time I wear the orange dress could be in the town where I was born and first started playing netball is just insane,” she said.
“Even just to put it on and warm up – I’d be happy with that.”
The weekend’s visit includes a clinic for junior netballers on the Saturday morning, followed by an open and ticketed match at the PCYC on Saturday night.
“When I was little, we never had opportunities like this” Miller said.
“If you wanted to watch players or a level of competition like this, you had to travel.
“Having players of Super Netball calibre come out and play on the court that you as young kid did and do, will just be really cool.
“It will be good to do the clinic on the Saturday and work with the little kids, I think that will be really important.
“And for the community of Orange, you know we’re a big regional city but we are still a country town. So, it’s pretty cool and it doesn’t happen every weekend.”
Starting her netball journey at school, Miller progressed through the pathway representing local sides CYMS and Life Studio Netball Club, before representing Orange at State Age Championships where her talent was identified.
Ahead of turning 16 and a family relocation to Sydney, Miller travelled in to Sydney’s metropolitan area to trial for Manly Warringah in Netball New South Wales’ Premier League Competition.
She has since represented NSW at the 17U and 19U National Netball Championships, made respective Australian Squads, was a member of the NSWIS Netball Program and more recently the GIANTS Netball Academy and the Australian 21U Squad.
Miller describes her time in the elevated GIANTS program as “incredible”.
“It’s such a step up from anything I’ve ever done before, but I think every day I learn something new and get a little bit better.
“Just playing with the high calibre of girls in the team and knowing that they’re just normal people is really cool.
“You watch them on TV and you’re like wow they’re so scary, but once you start training with them they’re funny and they’re nice.”
Miller and the GIANTS will travel to Orange this Friday as part of their pre-season preparations.
Do you live in Orange and love netball? We have the perfect membership for you: CLICK HERE to learn about our Regional Membership option.
