Australia selects 21U team for upcoming internationals

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Australian 21/U coach Carol Byers has named her Australian team for next month’s 21/U International Netball Series in Ballarat at the conclusion of the selection camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra today.

The Australians will host New Zealand, England and Samoa in a ten-day tournament from August 20-30 in preparation for next year’s 2013 World Youth Netball Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

“It was a really tough selection camp because there were a lot of quality players, they all worked extremely hard,” Byers said.

“Their work rate and effort over the weekend was exceptional, the skills that were on display were also good.

“We’ve got some very exciting young talent and quite a bit of depth coming through which is pleasing.”

The young side, who are all still age eligible for next year’s youth championships, boast a mixture of experience and youth with a few players lining up for ANZ Championship franchises.

“The defensive end has a little bit of experience with Micaela Wilson (Vixens) and Kate Shimmin (Thunderbirds) having both played ANZ Championship along with a lot of youth and exuberance in Joanna (Weston) and Courtney (Bruce),” Byers said.

“The centre court is quite experienced with Maddy Proud playing for the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Paige Hadley with the NSW Swifts which is a nice mix with Kim Ravaillion and Gabi Simpson, who was with the Swifts during pre-season as well.

“Our goalers are really quite young but all the girls worked really hard and created a lot of space to open up the circle.”

Australian 21/U Team for 2012 21/U International Netball Series:

Kristina Brice (NSW), Courtney Bruce (WA), Paige Hadley (NSW), Cody Lange (SA), Alix McDermott (NSW), Maddy Proud (SA), Kimberley Ravaillion (NSW), Kate Shimmin (SA), Gabi Simpson (NSW)*, Kaylia Stanton (WA), Joanna Weston (VIC), Micaela Wilson (VIC).
*Subject to fitness