Ballarat ballers take on state squad

NETBALL Victoria has announced its Victorian state squad teams and several Ballarat players are named within the ranks.

The selected players are now set to train together over the next few weeks in preparation for the final team list, with those named going on to the National Netball Championships in June.

Across the under 17 Victorian squad group, listed players include Sadie Cheesman, Adut Manyiel, Milly Sharp and Rosie Todd.

For the under 19’s Poppy Douglass, Indya Forde and Charlotte Todd all got the nod.

Having held state team positions in previous years, Douglass said she was excited to find out she had made this year’s list.

“There’s 32 of us in the squad, it’s still only the beginning of the process and there’s a long way to getting into the team,” she said.

“There’s a team of 12 selected in the end and they might take light four training partners as well.”

“At the moment, I train around six days a week for about two hours each day but we have a camp coming up for the squad which will be around five hours of training each day.”

After missing out on the Victorian team selection last year, Douglass said it will mean a lot to not only train with the squad but to actually make the under 19’s team for 2021.

“It will be very rewarding to be in the team to not only be able to access the coaches and that but to get to know so many great people throughout it,” she said.

“There’s a few other Ballarat girls who have been selected as well, I’m sure they are all very thrilled as well.

“I’ve played netball with lots of them and some of them have improved in the last few years so it’s great to see them get in and stay in the program.”