Ally Mellblom is celebrating her biggest netball achievement yet.
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The goal keeper/defence has been selected for the Ariels' 19 and under Victorian Netball League team for 2021.
VNL is the state's premier netball competition and Ariels are based at Heathmont in Melbourne.
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It's a significant step towards her goals of representing Victoria and playing for Melbourne Vixens in the Super Netball league.
"I'm hoping to become a lot better netballer," Mellblom said.
"I'll get a lot out of it, we have such a great coach, Steph Norton.
"I'll get to meet new girls and play with new players at a high level."
I'll get to meet new girls and play with new players at a high level.
- Ally Mellblom
Mellblom also plans to try-out for the state's 19 and under representative netball team.
She was selected to try-out for Victoria in the 17 and under grade in past years.
The promising youngster will be playing for Ariels at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on Wednesday nights next year.
She also wants to play Saturday mornings with her Wesley College team in the Associated Public Schools of Victoria competition.
Mellblom, who started her netball with Warrnambool City and played juniors with South Warrnambool, boarded at Wesley in Glen Waverley this year.
She was offered a netball scholarship after impressing in competitions such as the 17 and under state titles.
The teenager represented the Western Region.
The 17-year-old, a former Emmanuel College student, has gained plenty from her boarding experience.
She took on strength and cardio sessions with the school's personal trainer in the lead up to Ariels' try-outs.
"We have a PT (personal trainer) at Wesley College so I've been doing a lot of sessions with her and Ariels training started back up so I've done pre-season with them as well," she said.
Mellblom has been part of the Ariels' program for the past year as she was selected to play with one of the club's squad teams for 2020.
She explained the squad sides were made up players that didn't make the 2020 19 and under team.
The young gun got to play a handful of matches with her squad team this year before the competition was brought to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite no matches and in-person training, the Ariels pushed on with online fitness sessions which Mellblom enjoyed.
The defender played in the Roosters' Hampden league 17 and under premiership in 2019.
She has played for the club since 12 and under and played open and division one matches for the red and white in 2019.
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