Five fine Orange netball stars have been selected to represent the Central West in the Western Regional Academy Squad for 2021.
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Asha Nicol, Talia Opetaia, Mackenzie Wright, Charli Greatbatch and Eva Keegan are the girls who got the nod for the development program that's set to get its first taste of top-flight training on March 13-14.
The squad is set to engage in a series of drills and game simulations at Sydney over that weekend as Suncorp Super Netball players will gather to help give them a taste of what it's like to be a pro.
That training camp will act as a stepping stone ahead of Newcastle's academy games in April that will feature 12 squads from across New South Wales.
Lastly, the academy challenge will be held at Orange in the September school holidays.
Netball NSW regional performance and pathways manager Mardi Aplin has had plenty to do with the chosen players and says the call-up will be hugely helpful to them.
"It's a fantastic program," Aplin said.
"It's a pathway with Netball NSW. They have trials and select a squad of 24. We're lucky to have five of those from Orange.
"All of these girls have great attributes. Keegan and Greatbatch are shooters, Wright and Opetaia are the defence, and Asha is in the mid court."
The program is reserved for 14-16 year-olds and Aplin says it's a perfect way to help teenagers propel themselves towards a potential professional career.
"They get some really important exposure to strength and conditioning sessions, as well as high-intensity training," she said.
"They experience elevated game play which isn't always something they'd receive at their home associations.
"If you want to progress in netball, this is a fantastic opportunity."
Several successful Orange athletes have come through academy programs, including Annie Miller - who is currently a training partner at Giants netball.
The academy's opening weekend at Sydney is just a week after the March 8 SSN match at Orange as the Giants and Thunderbirds will face off at Orange's ANZAC Park.
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