Last year’s winning ENA 16 and under team went undefeated, winning the grand final 27-24 against Albany Gold. Photo: ENA.
Representative Esperance netball players are fine tuning their skills ahead of the Great Southern Championships in Albany this month.
Six sides will compete against Southern WA regional teams from July 18-20.
Esperance Netball Association development officer Abbie Jones said several of the Esperance teams had a chance of making finals this year.
“I think our 14s are a really strong age group — they actually made the grand final in division 4 in Perth against Fremantle which is extremely good competition,” Jones said.
“Our 20s are also a really strong group, and they were also in division 4 in Perth which is really good comp and they would have a good chance of doing quite well.
“It’s hard to know with the other age groups, but I guess all of the teams are going over hoping to make the finals and they’re all very competitive and capable of getting to the grand final.”
Jones said the Esperance Netball Association participated in the carnival every year and it was a great opportunity for players to progress their netball careers.
She said several Esperance girls had been selected for representative sides this year and the competition in Albany was another opportunity to perform in front of scouts.
“Netball WA came in April this year and they had a selection development day, so they’ve already identified some players,” she said.
“They looked at them in Perth at the Member Association Champs and they’ll look at them again at the Great Southern Champs.
“It really improves the quality of netball in our local area and it’s great for the girls too, aspiring to be the best they can.
“Even if they don’t make grand finals or don’t have wins, the development they get from playing against really good opposition means they come back better netballers.
“They just improve so much — and not just physically and as players — but for them as people.
“You can just see how much growth it gives them, it’s fantastic.”
Jones said Esperance was taking an open ages “all-stars” team and junior sides ranging from U12 to U20.
