Netball NSW has unveiled the athletes which will represent the State at the 2024 National Netball Championships, and four 2023 QBE Swifts Academy athletes are included.
The Nationals have provided an opportunity for developing athletes, coaches, umpires and officials to prosper since their inception in 1985, with an array of Australian Diamonds having participated in the pathway event.
In 2024, the 39th edition of the Championship will see two teams (17U and 19U) from each State and Territory compete across six days to be crowned respective age-group national champions at the end of the week.
NSW has a long tradition of success at Nationals with the likes of Liz Ellis, Kim Green, Paige Hadley and Amy Parmenter all coming through the competition.
The NSW 17U Team will be coached by former ex-captain Abbey McCulloch, while another former Swift – Nardia Macdonald – will be assistant coach with Gima Crowdy travelling as an apprentice.
Amber Cross, who has previously led NSW to Nationals success, will lead the 19U team with Stephanie Harrison as her assistant and another former Swift - Samantha May - joining as an apprentice coach.
Mardi Aplin, Netball NSW General Manager of Performance & Pathways, said the selection process was very difficult due to the high calibre of athletes who trialled for selection.
“The skills on display were outstanding and that is thanks to the efforts of our pathway coaches within the Regional Academies of Sport and Netball NSW competitions,” she said.
“For example, the 17U selection process had extensive reach over the past few months with trials being held in Newcastle, Queanbeyan, Orange and Sydney across three phases.
“We are also really proud to have five regional athletes in our 17s and two in our 19s, which demonstrates that the pathway is showcasing players from all areas of NSW.
“In the 19s it is really pleasing to be able to select 10 athletes who recently undertook netball camps at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra after they were Nationally Identified this year.”
The venue and dates for the 2024 Nationals will be announced by Netball Australia in the coming months.
2024 NSW 17U Team
- Acacia Elers (Newcastle)
- Ellie Hart (Campbelltown District)
- Ellie Stacey (Maitland)
- Emily McPherson (Wagga Wagga)
- Evie Economou (Sutherland Shire)
- Grace Tracey (Illawarra District)
- Harlym Jennings (Liverpool City)
- Kelis Ogle (Liverpool City)
- Matilda Percival (Newcastle)
- Monique Johnson (Sutherland Shire)
- Siulolo Richter (Liverpool City)
- Skye Thompson (Sutherland Shire)
2024 NSW 19U Team
- Charlie Hawkins (Randwick)
- Eugenie Little (Manly Warringah)*
- Freddie Schneideman (Randwick)*
- Grace Whyte (Tumut)*
- Hope White (Newcastle)
- Isabella Degei (Penrith District)
- Katarina Sincek (Penrith District)
- Monika ‘Otai (St George District)
- Nevaeh Matenga (Liverpool City)
- Nicola Barge (Sutherland Shire)*
- Olivia Harris (Penrith District)
- Yasmeen Janschek (Randwick)
*denotes 2023 QBE Swifts Academy athlete
