REBECCA Young is a young netballer but hardly a reluctant leader.
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At just 20 years old, the Nirranda goal shooter has taken on a leadership role in the attacking third.
The extra responsibility is testament to her willingness to stand tall for her lifelong netball club.
But it also highlights another aspect of the Blues’ A grade side — its youth.
Young is three years older than her goal attack sidekick, still-eligible junior Georgia Haberfield.
Together they form one of, if not the youngest, shooting combination in the Warrnambool and District league top grade.
“Our captain this year is Casey Vallance. She’s just turned 18 so I’m helping her, giving her the confidence boost,” Young said yesterday.
“It’s been good. I do like the leadership role, I like helping the juniors and everyone coming through.
“I just feel we’re all the same age, even though there’s a lot of age difference.”
Vallance and Haberfield are the youngsters of the team, almost eight years younger than playing coach Anna Archie, 25.
Midcourters Rose Delaney and Bridget Foster, along with defender Sally Bond, are also in their early 20s.
Being comparatively young has its drawbacks, particularly against more established teams who piled on the goals against Nirranda early in the season.
But there are advantages. Forcing young players to play beyond their years means the future at the club is bright.
Particularly if Archie stays at the helm.
Young said her presence had been the catalyst for the Blues’ mid-season improvement.
“She’s helped me so much with confidence and the way I play, really every aspect of it. Hopefully we can hold onto her,” she said.
“I don’t reckon we would be (as high as 10th) without her, she’s just helped us so much.
“Last year we didn’t have her. I reckon we had better players but we were lower on the ladder.”
Nirranda takes on ladder-leader Panmure at Nirranda Recreation Reserve today in round 11 of the season.
Young said she was confident the Blues would put their best foot forward, knowing their better performances have come against the top sides in the competition.
“Dennington we only lost by 10 goals, they’re second on the ladder,” she said.
“We were only three goals down at three-quarter-time, we let them get away.
“We could’ve had that one, I reckon. We’ve played better against the harder teams.”