A squad of 12 athletes will travel to Auckland to take on the Northern Stars and Northern Mystics, as well as an additional closed match against the Waikato Bay Plenty of Magic.
The travelling team will be made up of available squad members and training partners, as well as two GIANTS Netball Academy athletes who have been fortunate enough to join the pre-season trip.
The three matches in New Zealand will be the first opportunity the team has had to play out a full 60-minutes against a formal opposition.
GIANTS Netball coach Julie Fitzgerald said the trip to New Zealand creates a great opportunity for her players to test themselves against a new opposition.
“I think adaptability will be a key focus this trip,” she said.
“Adapting to styles of play and players that we don’t usually come up against, adapting to changes within our team and the players we have to work with and adapting to the new rules that we will start work in over there.”
The closed session against the Magic will pit Fitzgerald against one of her former teams.
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to play against them (Magic),” said Fitzgerald.
“I made some wonderful friends at Magic and I hold them very dear to my heart.”
Former GIANTS Netball Training Partner Georgia Marshall made the move to the Magic for the 2020 season to further develop her game and on-court opportunities.
“It will be great to check in and catch up Georgia,” said Fitzgerald.
“She’s in great hands at the Magic so it will be great to see her out on court and for all the girls to catch up as I know she is still quite close with some of them.”
GIANTS Netball Academy athletes Ang Frketic and Olivia Rowntree will join the extended squad that will travel across the ditch.
“We’re really thrilled that we have been able to give two of the kids from the academy the opportunity to join us,” said Fitzgerald.
“We have a few vacancies due to injuries and from some of the girls heading off to the under-21s camp, so it’s great to be able to give them that opportunity.”
The two matches against the Northern Stars and Northern Mystics are part of the Trans-Tasman challenge which will be a ticketed event. Those wishing to purchase tickets can CLICK HERE.
You can follow GIANTS Netball on social media for live updates.
Travelling Squad:
Jo Harten
Caitlin Bassett
Kiera Austin
Ang Frketic (GIANTS Academy)
Jamie-Lee Price
Maddie Hay
Amy Parmenter
Claire O’Brien (Training Partner)
Sam Poolman
Kristiana Manu’a
Toni Anderson (Training Partner)
Olivia Rowntree (GIANTS Academy)
Teigan O’Shannassy is unavailable for selection due to injury. Matilda McDonell, Matisse Letherbarrow, Sophie Dwyer, Claire Iongi and Latika Tombs are unavailable due to the Australian under-21s camp.
