Despite having a predominantly bottom-age side Orange put their Netball NSW Under-17 State Championship rivals on notice with this year’s eighth finish, after which coach Mikayla Riley said she was “hopeful” the majority of her troops would return for a title tilt in 2019.
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They’ve done just that.
Following a gruelling trial process Orange Netball Association revealed its squad for 2019’s championship division campaign on Thursday morning, one that boasts eight of the stars that helped the young Thunder side to 10 wins from 17 games back in June.
Headlined by Alex Emerson, who’s progressed through to the camp stage of NSW under-17 selections, the squad also includes incumbents Ally Kaufman, Lucy Nagle, Rhiannon Dennis, Farrah Staniforth, Ella Robins, Sophie Brisbane and Em Williams.
This year’s Toyota Cup grand final hero Milly Wilcox is one of the side’s newcomers, along with Poppy Keegan, Tabua Tuinakauvadra and Annalise Maier.
That quartet boasts a wealth of representative experience and will provide plenty to the group, while the three shadows named are a huge nod to Orange’s depth in the age group.
Lily Mitchell, Bailie-Rose Miller and Emily Provost will all act as reserves for the side, with the two latter also named in Orange’s division two side for next year’s Netball NSW West-Central West Regional League campaign.
Once again the young Thunder will be pitted against sides largely based in or around the city, with reigning champions Manly-Warringah and the rest of 2018’s top four in Penrith, Illawarra and Northern Suburbs expected to be strong again.
Of the other country-based sides Gosford and Wagga Wagga, who finished 10th and 12th this year, should once again provide stiff competition too.
Orange Netball Association is still advertising for representative coaches for 2019, experience is essential and anyone interested can get in contact on orangenetball1@bigpond.com.
- ORANGE: Poppy Keegan, Lucy Nagle, Milly Wilcox, Ally Kaufman, Em Williams, Sophie Brisbane, Ella Robbins, Farrah Staniforth, Alex Emerson, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Rhiannon Dennis, Annalise Maier; SHADOWS: Lily Mitchell, Bailie-Rose Miller, Emily Provost
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
