Swifts athletes selected in Aussie 21U Squad

Three Swifts athletes have been selected in Netball Australia's 17-strong cohort of promising athletes for the 2023 National 21/U Squad.

The selection comes after last week’s Australian Netball Championships where the best pathway athletes around the country hit the court to represent their state or territory.

The QBE Swifts Academy contested the Grand Final of the ANC, just going down the Collingwood Magpies by two goals in a thrilling decider.

Sophie Fawns, a standout player for both the NSW Swifts and the Academy across the Club's Suncorp Super Netball and ANC campaigns, has been selected alongside 2023 Swifts Training Partner Audrey Little and Academy athlete Jess Conlan. 

Netball Australia Pathway Chair of Selectors, Michelle Wilkins commended the athleticism displayed at this year’s ANC.

“The talent we witnessed was of high skill across all the states and territories,” Wilkins said.

“With 11 teams competing, it gave teams the opportunity to experience varied playing styles which contributed to the level of competition which grew each day the competition, culminating in a skilled and physical Grand Final.

“There is tremendous potential in our pathway to inform a strong future in the Suncorp Super Netball and Australian Diamonds.”

Wilkins also commented on this year’s selected Australian Squad.

“The talent within this year’s 21/U pool demonstrates a good variety of athletes and skillsets,” she said.

“The athletes coming through the system are incredibly strong and conditioned. To compete at such a high level and sustain that form across a weeklong competition is always impressive.”

This year’s selection marks the second call up for athletes Maggie Caris, Matisse Letherbarrow and Amy Sligar who were in the 2022 Australian 21/U Squad.

The 2023 line up also boasts seven athletes who took the court across Suncorp Super Netball this year, including Ava Black (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Ashleigh Ervin (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Fawns (NSW Swifts), Georgie Horjus (Adelaide Thunderbirds, Letherbarrow (Giants Netball), Erin O’Brien (Giants Netball) and Sligar (Giants Netball).

The selected squad will complete a four-day training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport from Thursday 7 September. A pivotal development tool, the camp will provide athletes with specialist coaching, match play and off court education. 

Former Premiership-winning Swifts Assistant Coach Anita Keelan, now Netball Australia Pathway Head Coach and Selector, will lead the upcoming camp, focusing on building connections on and off the court and understanding team dynamics.

“I am very excited to work with the selected athletes in the 2023 squad,” Keelan said.

“Specialist coaching will be provided at camp in all areas of the court with a particular focus on player connections and the idea of working with and for their teammates.

“This theme will be implemented in mentoring both on and off the court as our athletes learn what creates a great team, what the individual brings to a team, what being your best version in a team looks like.”

Keelan will be joined by specialist coaches Kylee Byrne (shooting), Christine Voge (midcourt) and Cathy Fellows (defence) to continue each athlete’s individual growth and development. 

2023 Australian 21/U Squad Athletes: