Port Fairy teenagers Zahli Adams and Ava Pierce taking flight in Hampden netball's top grade

Zahli Adams and Ava Pierce are earning court time under first-year coach Sarah McCorkell.

They have their differences – Adams lives in Koroit, goes to Warrnambool College and plays wing defence and goal defence and Pierce moved to Port Fairy from Torquay three years ago, attends Emmanuel College and wing defence and goal attack.

But the 2017 Hampden 15 and under premiership teammates are both enjoying the challenge of playing in the top-tier.

A chance to play in finals at both junior and senior levels this year “would just be amazing” with both teams fighting for top-three finishes.

“That would just be like a dream come true,” Adams said of a potential flag double.

Pierce said the Seagulls’ depth at junior level meant there was pressure to retain her open grade spot.

“I don’t think that (playing finals) is certain yet because there’s a lot of other junior girls that might have the opportunity to do so too, like Ash Evans and Laura Coffey and maybe Vic Jewell or Chelsea Adams,” she said.

“All of our juniors are really good down in Port Fairy.”

Adams and Pierce both made their senior debuts this year and are immersing themselves in the Gardens Oval-based club’s program.

Adams, who recently returned from a two-week family holiday to America, said the senior players had made the transition easy.

“I think it was against Camperdown and I loved it,” she said of her first game.

“The girls were so encouraging and it was just a great atmosphere to be playing in.

“I think I always try my hardest and I think I am pretty good at reading the play and staying tight on my player.

“I really look up to Sarah McCorkell as the open coach.

“She has great passion and commitment to the open team.

“You’ve been given the opportunity to play with such good players. Coming up against such good players and them being so physically strong is a good challenge and I like a good challenge.”

Pierce, who is also a sprinter and a Warrnambool junior squad basketballer, is tackling the challenge with confidence too.

She said the support from the coaching group and players had been integral to her development.

“(I am focusing on) intensity on the court and keeping my mental toughness strong and just being positive on and off the court, being kind and being really driven,” Pierce said.

“It’s a lot faster (than juniors) but I like the body (contact), it’s much better than juniors, you can use your body more.”

Port Fairy, which sits fourth on percentage, plays sixth-placed South Warrnambool on Saturday.