Netballer makes elite state squad

BALLARAT Clarendon College year 12 student, Poppy Douglass has been selected for the Netball Victoria Elite Development Squad.

The program launched this year to continue offering opportunities to high level young athletes while they couldn’t compete on behalf of the state at a national level due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“As soon as I found out about it, I wanted to get in to maintain skills. There’s some great coaches down in Melbourne available to us to learn new skills, and most of the girls are from the metro area,” she said.

“So far we’ve covered basic skills. It’s higher intensity and very exhausting, but we’ll progress fitness-wise and skills-wise so everyone there can reach their full potential.

“I enjoy seeing people that aren’t from Ballarat, making new connections, learning new things as a person and player.”

Douglass has never experienced so much netball down-time as she has in recent months since she began playing the sport.

“It’s been very different. My first session back was last week and it’s been the longest I’ve been without netball in my whole life,” she said.

“I’ve been doing Zoom sessions at home, but I was getting pretty bored and restless not being able to get out and play with friends and do on-court scenarios.

“There are so many amazing people that help me out and have got me through the weird time, but I’ve missed the social and community aspect of it, and the ability to go down to escape on the court and keep active.”

Holding a Victorian Institute of Sport scholarship, and a place in the VNL’s Geelong Cougars, Douglass’ local home is North Ballarat Netball Club.

Coach, Annie McCartin said she could tell Douglass had “something special” as soon as she became a part of North’s senior team.

“From the 17 and unders, the natural, first progression is to come into the 19 and unders, and I could see we needed someone else in our A grade team,” she said.

“We could see Poppy had a lot of offer, we wanted to develop her and give her the best opportunities that help her in all the different things she’s been selected for. With all her training, she’s gone up and up.

“It wouldn’t matter if Poppy was picked to play for Australia, she’d never change. She’s a level-headed girl, takes everything in her stride, we all love her and we’re excited about her future.”