There'll be plenty of black and green mixed into Tasmania's under-17 and under-19 state teams for the upcoming National Netball Championships in July.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Cavaliers will be sending seven players across two teams of 12 to Hobart for the tournament.
Coaches Dan Roden and Katie O'Neill were also named as assistant coaches to the under-19 and under-17 squads respectively.
"It's fantastic for the Cavaliers Netball Club to have players reaching the highest level they can for their age groups," Roden said.
"That goes down to the hard work we put into our junior programs and our own pathways."
I was hoping and striving to achieve this level so it's a good opportunity
- Ellie Marshall
COVID-19 canned the 2020 nationals, but Hobart remained the destination of choice for the championships, which will be played at the Hobart Netball and Sports Centre between July 6 and 11.
For under-17s player and Cavs defender/centre Ellie Marshall, the chance to represent her state on home soil was an accomplishment unto itself.
"I was hoping and striving to achieve this level so it's a good opportunity," the 15-year-old said.
Cavaliers opens centre/winger Hayley Older will captain the state's under-19s squad.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT:
This is her third time representing the state, Older said it was good to still be able to play for Tasmania one last time in the junior competitions.
"Last year, we didn't get to do anything ... this year, it should be good and exciting," she said.
"It's great to be playing at home, lots of family and friends who can come down and support us."
Older added that having Cavs coaches such as Roden on the sideline provided an added boost to the players.
"You see him [Roden] in two different perspectives: he's good at bringing variety to the Cavs and transferring it that to the state team with a group of younger players than what we have in opens," the 19-year-old said.
Roden himself has been a member of four nationals coaching staffs, with 2021 being his second as assistant.
He said Tasmania hasn't had the best nationals track record of late, but was optimistic the state's multiple development programs has provided a boost in local young talent.
"We have been behind the eight-ball; in the last several years we haven't performed as well as well as we would've hoped," Roden said.
"Now, Netball Tasmania has changed the systems which underpin our state teams enormously with the elite development squads.
"We've identified the areas we need to improve on, we've looked at that and set up the programs hopefully to support a more elite pathway into our state competitions.
"Hopefully, that'll lead to better results at nationals."
Do you know someone who is contributing to Northern Tasmanian sport, whether through participating or assisting?
The Examiner's Junior Sports Awards, sponsored by Woolworths, provide acknowledgement of accomplishments by players, coaches, volunteers, teams and clubs across the region.
Nominations are open from Wednesday, April 14, and will close at midnight on October 4.
Entries must include a photograph of the entrant.