Future stars set to take up residence at netball centre of excellence

The athletes will take up residence at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra for a full-time intensive individualised daily training environment from August.

Jill McIntosh, who played 29 Tests for Australia and coached two world championship victories and two Commonwealth Games gold medals, has been appointed Head Coach of the four-week residential program, which runs from 24 August – 18 September.

The athletes have been selected from the Australian 19/U and Australian 21/U pathway programs and include Melbourne Vixens’ Emily Mannix and Alice Teague-Neeld as well as Victorian Fury’s Emma Ryde.

“The athletes attending the Netball Centre of Excellence program are very exciting. The talent covers a nice spread across the different positions,” McIntosh said.

“It’s hoped their involvement in the Netball Centre of Excellence program will see these athletes quickly progress through to ANZ Championship teams, if not already there, as well as become Australian Diamonds’ squad members in the not too distant future.”

Australian Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said some of the athletes have been noted as potential members of Australia’s 2017 World Youth Cup squad so the opportunity to work in a high performance environment will benefit their preparation.

“Having the opportunity to work with and learn from one of our best ever Australian coaches in Jill McIntosh, who has a wealth of international experience, will ensure that our up-and-coming young talent are educated in the most current and elite skills of our great game,” Alexander said.

Along with the residential program, the Netball Centre of Excellence is offering four assistant coaches and four apprentice coaches the opportunity to spend a week working with McIntosh and the athletes.

The assistant coaches selected are Kylee Byrne, Jenny Brazel, Tania Obst and Michelle Wilkins while Kristy Keppich-Birrell (Victoria), Melinda Clarke (ACT), Tasha Richards (WA) and Ronelle van Dongen (Northern Territory) are the apprentice coaches.

“This opportunity will not only be of benefit to the coaches working within this High Performance Program but also allow the athletes to experience different styles of coaching,” McIntosh said.

“I very much look forward to the opportunity of working with the Netball Centre of Excellence athletes and coaches and hope that this year’s program will be a successful one.”

Netball Centre of Excellence Athletes Name (Origin/ANZ Championship team):

Toni Anderson (NSW)
Kaitlyn Bryce (NSW)
Emily Burgess (SA)
Mahalia Cassidy (QLD/Queensland Firebirds)
Taylah Davies (NSW/NSW Swifts)
Hulita Haukinima (QLD)
Sarah Klau (SA/Adelaide Thunderbirds)
Cara Koenen (QLD)
Chelsea Lemke (SA)
Emily Mannix (VIC/Melbourne Vixens)
Emma Ryde (VIC)
Alice Teague-Neeld (VIC/Melbourne Vixens)
Maddy Turner (SA)