Netball NSW has unveiled the netballers who will represent the State at the 2024 National Netball Championships and among them is Grong Grong’s Emily McPherson, who plays for Wagga Wagga.
Emily has been chosen in the 2024 NSW 17U team Acacia Elers (Newcastle) which comprises Ellie Hart (Campbelltown District), Ellie Stacey (Maitland), Evie Economou (Sutherland Shire), Grace Tracey (Illawarra District), Harlym Jennings (Liverpool City), Kelis Ogle (Liverpool City), Matilda Percival (Newcastle), Monique Johnson (Sutherland Shire), Siulolo Richter (Liverpool City), Skye Thompson (Sutherland Shire).
Emily will travel to Victoria in April for the National Netball Championships.
She has worked extremely hard to make the team and is passionate about netball, representing Wagga Wagga, the Riverina and Regional NSW.
Whilst this is an amazing achievement, it is a very big financial commitment as she will be required to travel to Sydney each week for three to four days from late January 2024 to early April 2024 to enable her to train with the team.
Emily will travel to Victoria in April for the National Netball Championships. She has worked extremely hard to make the team and is passionate about netball, representing Wagga Wagga, the Riverina and Regional NSW.
Whilst this is an amazing achievement, it is a very big financial commitment as she will be required to travel to Sydney each week for three to four days from late January 2024 to early April 2024 her to train with the team.
To raise funds for her accommodation and other travelling expenses a gofundme campaign has been mounted to raise funds to pay for accommodation and other travelling expenses.
The Nationals have provided an opportunity for developing athletes, coaches, umpires and officials to prosper since their inception in 1985, with an array of Australian Diamonds having participated in the pathway event.
In 2024, the 39th edition of the Championship will see two teams (17U and 19U) from each State and Territory compete across six days to be crowned respective age-group national champions at the end of the week.
NSW has a long tradition of success at Nationals with the likes of Liz Ellis, Kim Green, Paige Hadley and Amy Parmenter all coming through the competition.
The NSW 17U Team will be coached by former ex-captain Abbey McCulloch, while another former Swift Nardia Macdonald will be assistant coach with Gima Crowdy travelling as an apprentice.
Amber Cross, who has previously led NSW to Nationals success, will lead the 19U team with Stephanie Harrison as her assistant and another former Swift Samantha May joining as an apprentice coach.
Mardi Aplin, Netball NSW General Manager of Performance and Pathways, said the selection process was very difficult due to the high calibre of athletes who trialled for selection.
“The skills on display were outstanding and that is thanks to the efforts of our pathway coaches within the Regional Academies of Sport and Netball NSW competitions,” she said.
“For example, the 17U selection process had extensive reach over the past few months with trials being held in Newcastle, Queanbeyan, Orange and Sydney across three phases.
“We are also really proud to have five regional athletes in our 17s and two in our 19s, which demonstrates that the pathway is showcasing players from all areas of NSW.
“In the 19s it is really pleasing to be able to select 10 athletes who recently undertook netball camps at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra after they were Nationally Identified this year.”
The venue and dates for the 2024 Nationals will be announced by Netball Australia in the coming months.
This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 14 December 2023.
