Hard work begins for regional team aspirants

NORTH Central’s 17-and-under and 15-and-under teams for next year’s Netball Victoria State Titles are continuing to take shape.

Selectors have unveiled their final training squads, which will eventually be trimmed to teams of 12 for the prestigious tournament in March.

Long-time Bendigo FNL interleague coach Nicole Donnellon has taken charge of a talent-laden 17-and-under team, with Nikkea Hogan as the assistant.

The 17-player squad is comprised largely of BFNL-affiliated players, including eight who played in this year’s 17-and-under grand final won by Sandhurst over Strathfieldsaye by one goal.

Those players include Maycee Rinaldi, Mila Childs, Ese Phillips and Sarah Crowley (Sandhurst) and Adi Neilson, Chloe Tweed, Lexie Fennell and Eden Pollard (Storm).

Golden Square also has four representatives (Anya Basilewsky, Ginger Hay, Juliet Hogan, Rachel Flood) and Kangaroo Flat two (Peyton Chambers and Alexis Manson).

Full squads are listed below.

A 20-player 15-and-under squad includes players from multiple netball associations and leagues, including Bendigo, Central Victorian, Echuca District, Heathcote District and Maryborough.

Long-time North Central coach and Echuca netball legend Betty McComb will again lead the squad for about the 15th time.

The 2026 State Titles will again be hosted at the State Netball Centre in Parkville, on 7-9 March.

North Central will be chasing its first 17-and-under title since 2015 and its first at 15-and-under level since 2013.

The region will again be represented at 17-and-under male level, with a 10-player squad to be coached by Vanessa Saunders.

The bulk of the squad is comprised of players from the Castlemaine District Netball Association.

Full North Central training squads17-and-under:

Anya Basilewsky (Golden Square), Ady Neilson (Strathfieldsaye), Maycee Rinaldi (Sandhurst), Eliza Pearce (Echuca District NA), Chloe Tweed (Strathfieldsaye), Peyton Chambers (Kangaroo Flat), Alexis Manson (Kangaroo Flat), Lexie Fennell (Strathfieldsaye), Mila Childs (Sandhurst), Lily Reid (Rochester), Ginger Hay (Golden Square), Ese Phillips (Sandhurst), Rachel Flood (Golden Square), Eden Pollard (Strathfieldsaye), Juliet Hogan (Golden Square), Scout Hayes (Elmore), Sarah Crowley (Sandhurst).

Coach: Nicole Donnellon.

Assistant: Nikkea Hogan.

15-and-under:

Scarlett Ramsay (Golden Square), Alana Borchard (Central Victorian NA), Eliza Main (Central Victorian NA), Piper Fynch, Jasmine Watson (Echuca District NA), Evie Gretgrix (Central Victorian NA), Evelyn McCartney (Echuca District NA), Elle Gilchrist (Central Victorian NA), Abbey Smith (Kangaroo Flat), Luella Williams (Echuca District NA), Ava O’Farrell (Echuca District NA), Ella Tyrell (Central Victorian NA), Katie Angove-Lord (Echuca District NA/Heathcote District), Audrey Pearce (Echuca District NA), Sienna Raco (Central Victorian NA/Sandhurst), Ava Hope (Central Victorian NA), Mia Smith (Maryborough NA), Michala Keele (Heathcote District), Harper Milroy (Central Victorian NA), Milla Ryan (Heathcote District).

Coach: Betty McComb.

Assistant: Laura Angove.

17-and-under male

(Castlemaine District NA affiliated unless stated): Zachariah Laurien, Levi Mountford, Sebastian Pratt, Marlon Von Bulow, Jaxon Foley (Echuca District NA), Mason Farrugia, Isaac Collins (Central Victorian NA), Seth Oliver (Echuca District NA), Izaiah O’Meara (Central Victorian NA), Jedd Oxley.

Coach: Vanessa Saunders.

Assistant: Tegan Maddern.