A PREMIERSHIP-WINNING Saint, star Seagull and an emerging Cats defender will vye for a spot in the Victorian 17 and under state team.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Koroit's Zahli Adams, Port Fairy's Ava Pierce and Allansford's Emma Stacey are part of the 51-player squad that will hunt state team opportunity in 2020.
The Western Region representatives have been invited to participate in the trials at Melbourne's State Netball and Hockey Centre on November 10.
The trio recently went through a rigorous weekend of screening as part of the zone academy matches in Melbourne during at the end of September.
Adams, who heard the news of her selection on a Facebook post by Cobden and Western Region coach Mel Starr, hoped a recent overseas trip would play a key role in a possible selection in her first state team.
"I have just got back from an amazing tour to LA with NETFIT and I believe anything is possible if I'm prepared to work hard and believe I can do it," the 16-year-old told The Standard.
"As local netball is over I'm continuing to use the NETFIT app to keep me focused and on track, it's been so helpful."
Pierce said having familiar faces in Stacey and Adams would help when the heat turns up at the selection trials.
"It's really nice to have familiar faces around you when you are at trials so it will be terrific to have Em and Zahli there too," she said.
"Trials can be intense and it's great if we can be supportive of each other on and off the court during them.
"I'm trying not to focus on thinking I have control over the outcome of the trial as I don't, but rather being satisfied with myself if I put my best effort in.
"If we all get court time together, it will be a good opportunity to look for each other and bring each other into the game if we can though."
READ MORE:
Adams said more time playing in the Hampden league's open grade has helped her "become more comfortable and confident at playing such a high level of netball."
"The speed and physicality in the open grade is possibly similar to that of the state teams." she said.
Emmanuel College classmates Stacey and Pierce have also both been selected in the Geelong Cougars' 19 and under side for the 2020 Victorian Netball League season.
Pierce, 16, was part of the 2019 side coached by Mel Savage and has regained her spot under incoming coach Damian Stephenson while Stacey, 16, will feature for the first time in the 12-player squad.
Stacey, who played for both Allansford's A grade side and for South Warrnambool's 17 and under side this season, was eager to take the next step up in her blossoming netball career.
"I feel really excited and really lucky to have been selected when there were so many talented players to be chosen from," she said.
"The Cougars have some the best coaches in the VNL and I am looking forward to working with them."
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.