19/U Coach Karly Guadagnin said it was important the team was competitive as soon as they hit the court in Round One.
“We have been talking about our campaign in stages, phase 1, phase 2, the rounds then finals. The best preparations and results in the rounds will be vital to our success,” she said.
“Who can execute and stay to their game plan under pressure and who can adapt the quickest in the moment will succeed. We will need to be at our best against New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.”
The team has been preparing since January and are looking to break a long drought with WA’s last success at the championship back in 1987.
Guadagnin said the key purpose for the program centred around winning Nationals and their development into Fever Future Athletes.
“We hit the ground running and jumped straight into building our relationships as a team on and off the court and developing our brand of netball,” she said.
“There was a lot of collaborative and growth opportunities with the group, and we are looking forward to our last few sessions to finalise our preparation. Our team needs follow and execute our brand of netball under pressure by keeping possession and having high conversion rates.”
Leaders Indiana Squiers and Jasmah Haywood headline as the returning players, combined with Lily Anderson and Riley Burd who was part of WA’s fourth placing last year. There is an injection of talent from last year’s 17/U athletes with Georgie Cleaver, Aitaua Enari, Scarlet Jauncey, Maya Kenny, Charisse Rond and Tayla Styles.
Guadagnin said the team’s leaders, Squiers and Haywood, would be key players on the court as they have experience from last year and will play a big role in demonstrating to teammates what it takes to be competitive at a national competition.
“I am very proud of our players that have transitioned from the 17/U team from last year as two-year players. They have fitted in well and have taken a step up which was needed for the 19/U competition.”
The National Netball Championships will be held from 11 to 16 April at CDU Stadium in Darwin. Selected matches will be available to watch live, on-demand and free via Kayo Freebies.
19/U WA State Team
Lily Anderson, Riley Burd, Georgie Cleaver, Aitaua Enari, Jasmah Haywood, Scarlet Jauncey, Maya Kenny, Sophie Main, Asha Parsons, Charisse Rond, Indiana Squiers and Tayla Styles
