Netball
30 November, 2024
Netballers selected for Talent Academy
Ruby Gordon (Kaniva Leeor), Ilze Van Zyl (Rupanyup), Zarli Knight (Horsham), Lena Marshman (Horsham Saints) and Bridie Price (Ararat) have been selected for the Netball Victoria Talent Academy for 2025. Three umpires have also been selected: Brianna Luciani (Horsham), Tegan Ward (Horsham Saints) and Tess Thompson (Ararat).
The Talent Academy is a development program for athletes aged 14-16 that provides an avenue in the high-performance pathway towards state and national representation.
Netball Victoria runs six academies across the state to ensure identified talent in all regions has access to pathway coaches and resources to further their tactical and technical skills and grasp the importance of athlete well-being and physical preparation required to transition to elite pathway opportunities.
Athletes are talent identified at Netball Victoria’s major competitions, the Association Championships and State Titles, and invited to trial for their region’s academy.
From there, they train together as a region, preparing for the Inter-Academy tournament in August, where they can be selected into the top 50 for the Victorian state team trials.
The five were in the final 22 selected for the Western Region.
Gordon plays for Kaniva Leeor and played 15-and-under and A-grade netball this season, and plays goal defence or goalkeeper but can also play in the attacking ring.
She won the best and fairest in the 15-and-under and was awarded the most accurate shooter in the A-grade.
Ilze Van Zyl made her A-grade debut this year for Rupanyup and was consistent in the 15-and-under, shooting 480 goals in 17 games, and also in the B-grade, where she scored 326 in 15 games. Van Zyl was part of Rupanyup's 15-and-under premiership against Kalkee and was awarded best on the court.
Bridie Price played 15-and-under for Ararat and made her B-grade debut, playing nine games. Price is predominantly a goalkeeper. This is her second time selected after being selected for the Talent Academy this season.
Zarli Knight shot 548 goals in the 17-and-under this season for Horsham and played 11 A-grade games. Knight predominately plays goal attack.
Lena Marshman had a terrific year for the Horsham Saints. Marshman played goal attack and won the 15-and-under league best and fairest and was best on the court for the Horsham Saints in their grand final win, scoring 22 goals. Marshman also played in the 17-and-under premiership.
In 18 games in the 15-and-under, Marshman shot 338 goals.
The netballers start training for the Academy in March.