Seven QBE Swifts Academy athletes in Aussie squads

Netball Australia has announced its Netball Centre of Excellence Squads for 2020, including the Australian 21/Under squad selected ahead of the 2021 Netball World Youth Cup.

In total, the QBE Swifts Academy - which underpins the NSW Swifts - has seven athletes included across the Aussie 21/U, 19/U and 17/U squads. 

NSW Swifts training partner Olivia Coleman has made the 21/U squad and will aim to make the team which is planning to contest the Covid19-delayed Netball World Youth Cup at some point in 2021.

Meanwhile Leilani Rohweder, who is currently in the Suncorp Super Netball hub in Queensland with the senior side, headlines a list of Swifts pathway players included across the Australian 19s and 17s.

While the Netball World Youth Cup has been postponed, preparation of the Australian squad will continue to ensure ongoing technical, tactical, physical and psychological development of the group as they approach the benchmark event.

Selection of these squads was conducted differently this year after the National Netball Championships, where selection is normally made, were cancelled due to COVID-19.

National selectors have since worked closely with state representatives within the National Institute Network to finalise the squads, assessing each athlete based on a range of attributes, focusing on current and potential performance.

With squad selection now complete, Netball Australia aims to deliver training camps in late 2020 (dates to be confirmed) to ensure players maintain access to competition and development opportunities.

The 2020 17/Under and 19/Under camps will be led by Netball Centre of Excellence Head Coach Michelle Wilkins and the 21/U camp will be led by Australian 21/Under Head Coach Kylee Byrne.

Wilkins spoke of the immense talent within the Netball Australia pathway this year.

“Selection of these squads wasn’t an easy process due to the depth of talent we have coming through our system. We have even seen some of our athletes within this group starring on the Suncorp Super Netball court this season,” she said.

“While it has been a challenging year, it is our priority to ensure we are constantly nurturing and developing the talent coming through the Netball Australia pathway and we look forward to bringing everyone together later in the year for our training camps.”

Dates for these training camps will be confirmed in coming weeks.

The International Netball Federation is yet to confirm a re-scheduled date of the Netball World Youth Cup but it is expected to be in late 2021 or early 2022.

2020 21/U National Squad

2020 19/Under National Squad

2020 17/Under National Squad

*Denotes: QBE Swifts Academy athlete