The NSW Swifts are delighted to announce the QBE Swifts Academy Team which will contest the 2023 Australian Netball Championships (ANC) in Morayfield, Queensland next month.
The open age championships will be contested from August 21-27 at Morayfield Sports and Events Centre north of Brisbane, providing an opportunity for both local and interstate fans to experience top-level netball across the week.
The ANC is contested by feeder teams of Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) clubs, and State Bodies which do not hold an SSN license. In 2021 the ANC replaced the Australian Netball League as the feeder competition to SSN.
In 2023 the Swifts will once again be represented by the QBE Swifts Academy, which replaced the Club’s previous pathway program – the Netball NSW Waratahs – at the end of 2019.
Launched with the backing of Netball NSW and the Swifts’ Principal Partner QBE Insurance, the Academy strengthens the foundations of Australian netball's most decorated elite club by providing further pathway opportunities to aspiring players from across New South Wales.
As well as the Swifts Academy, the other participating sides at the 2023 ANC include: the Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures, Firebird Futures, Capital Darters, Collingwood Magpies, Giants Netball Academy, Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts, Tasmania Wild, Territory Storm, Victorian Fury and the West Coast Fever Reserves.
The Swifts side will be able to call on SSN experience for the competition with NSW juniors Sophie Fawns, Teigan O’Shannassy and Lili Gorman-Brown all selected, as well as 2023 Training Partners Audrey Little, Chelsea Mann, Grace Whyte and Dakota Thomas.
The team of 12 includes five regional athletes, showcasing the depth of talent across all areas of NSW and will be led again by head coach Lenore Blades.
“The Swifts hold a very special place in the NSW sporting landscape and the QBE Swifts Academy is a vital pathway to ensure the Club remains at the forefront of the game,” Blades said.
“The ANC promises to be a wonderful competition and I would like to congratulate each of our athletes selected.
“We are fortunate to be able to call on three NSW juniors who recently played in for the Swifts in the Super Netball Grand Final, as well as Training Partners who were part of the wider environment.
“To see products of the Academy take flight at the top level is really encouraging and inspiring for everyone in our group, and we will look to bring that confidence to Queensland.
“We are also exceptionally proud to have five regional athletes in our team which illustrates that the Academy is delivering for netballers all across the State.
“As well as that, two of our team were part of the Australian 19U Camp which took place in Canberra, so make no mistake, we will have many future stars of tomorrow showcasing their abilities and we cannot wait to head north.”
Kath Tetley, Executive General Manager of the NSW Swifts, added:
“The Super Netball season might have concluded but this is a world-class netball competition that’s taking place next month and will really showcase the Australian talent from across the country – featuring our Swifts Family, and netballers in NSW.
“Every game of the ANC will be broadcast live and free via Kayo Sports Freebies so NSW fans will be able to tune in and support the team from wherever they are in Australia.
“This team is a critical program of the Club. All selected are well versed in the legacy and history of the Swifts and they are a proud and talented group. We cannot wait to see what they do next month.”
2023 QBE SWIFTS ACACDEMY TEAM
- Jessica Conlan (Barellan & District/ERNA Hawks)
- Lili Gorman-Brown (Sutherland/Sutherland Stingrays)
- Sophie Fawns (Wagga Wagga/ERNA Hawks)
- Audrey Little (Manly Warringah/MW Sapphires)
- Chelsea Mann (Manly Warringah/MW Sapphires)
- Ali Miller (Eastwood Ryde/ERNA Hawks)
- Teigan O’Shannassy (Manly Warringah/MW Sapphires)
- Charlotte Raleigh (Armidale/North Shore United)
- Freddie Schneideman (Randwick/ERNA Hawks)
- Dakota Thomas (Newcastle/ERNA Hawks)
- Lauren Woods (Blacktown City/North Shore United)
- Grace Whyte (Tumut/MW Sapphires)
COACHING TEAM
- Head Coach: Lenore Blades
- Assistant Coach: Sharyn Hill
- Team Manager: Mele Tiauli
- Strength & Conditioning Coach: Daniel Johnson
- Physio: Kandice Goodwin
HOW TO WATCH
The 2023 Australian Netball Championships will be available to watch live, on-demand and free via Kayo Freebies.
Kayo Freebies can be accessed by downloading the Kayo Sports app or visiting www.kayosports.com.au/freebies and creating an account.
Kayo Freebies are free with no credit card details required.
