Western Region 15 and under coach Sharon Kenna is buoyant about her 12-player squad’s prospects entering the two-day tournament at Werribee this weekend.

Port Fairy trio Eloise Swarbrick, Laura Coffey and Ava Pierce played in a Hampden league junior flag together two weeks ago.

South Warrnambool’s Meg Kelson was on the opposing team that day.

Hampden league best and fairest winner Madeline Casey (Hamilton Kangaroos) and runner-up Jessica Thwaites (Warrnambool) will join those four players in the Western Region line up.

Krystal Baker – the Camperdown prospect who played in the open grade decider – is also a member of the high-quality team, which was picked following three tryouts. 

“I feel quite comfortable we’ll be very competitive, it’s just whether we put it together on the day having not played together before,” Kenna said.

Kenna, who is Camperdown netball director, said the Seagulls’ represenatatives were handy inclusions.

“They just play with a lot of confidence,” she said.

“Eloise is very skilful and a really good athlete, Ava is a real worker and works so hard on the court, and Laura uses her height and foot work well in defence.”

Kenna said Casey, who also played football for the Roos’ female outfit in 2017, was “a real little surprise packet”.

“She was centre in under 15s but when I was umpiring a game she stepped up to the division one competition and played wing defence and had a run in goals,” she said.

“She is just so versatile and reads the ball well. She’s a really smart little netballer.”

Isabella Rea, Laura Ritchie, Indiana Ryan, Katie Zeunert and Tara Elliott, who will be used at both ends of the court, make up the 15 and under team.

Kenna said she would rotate players, given Western Region’s heavy workload across the two-day competition.

Western Region will also send 17 and under and all-abilities teams to the tournament.

An open grade side, featuring Hampden and Warrnambool and District league players, will be coached by Cobden’s Nadine McNamara. The open side’s draw is condensed into a one-day fixture due to a smaller amount of teams entered.