Sport
Goulburn Valley netball guns progress through to the next round of Victorian age-grade selection
The next few weeks could serve as a springboard to ‘Elevate’ the careers of four Goulburn Valley netballers.
Netball Victoria recently announced its initial 50-player lists for the 17-and-under and 19-and-under 2025 state team squads, with a quartet of local starlets right among the mix.
During the next fortnight, those squads will be shaved in half to enter Netball Victoria’s Elevate program before the official teams are announced in December.
Rumbalara goaler Ellie Morgan was named among the 17-and-under ranks, while Shepparton Swans’ Gabby Moore and Shepparton’s Mackenzie O’Dwyer were called up to the 19-and-under squad.
Moama’s Abby Larkin was also identified for the older age group.
Veteran Shepparton mentor Jacinta Todd will head up Victoria’s 17-and-under contingent after serving as assistant last year and was thrilled to lead the state’s best and brightest for another year.
“Coming back last year as an assistant and then taking on the role as a head coach this year, I’ve really enjoyed it, being in that environment again,” Todd said.
“I was excited to put my name out there as another opportunity.
“Our top 50 will be starting this Friday where they will be going through more match play this week and next week.
“Then after those two sessions, as selectors we then narrow that down to a top 25 which ultimately get called our state squad for the 17s and 19s.”
If selected, the GV girls will then move into the Elevate program for two to three months before Todd and her fellow coaches and selectors have another look at them.
That doubles as the final stage before 2025 teams are picked.
Regardless of the outcomes for Morgan, Moore, O’Dwyer and Larkin, Todd had some salient advice reserved for the fearsomely talented foursome.
“I’ve always said to any girl, and I know myself having gone through as a player, any trial phase you get to experience is essentially experience for you,” she said.
“It’s your opportunity to work alongside and play alongside other players that you may never have done so before. You get to take away so much from every trial.
“And then for the girls that are successful to get into the squad and program where they can spend two to three months, they get to form those relationships and work alongside some really awesome top coaches here in Victoria that will take them through lots of sessions and things like that.
“Any opportunity that these girls are exposed to I think is just great experience for them.”