Victorian honours for Cougars netball youngsters

Bradley Green - February 9th, 2010 - Geelong Advertiser

 
 
HAPPY TRIO: Emma McKie, Sophie Barr and Rebecca Scott are three of four Geelong players picked for Victoria. Photo: TONY KERRIGAN
 

A THIRD of this year's Victorian 19 and under netball team is made up of Geelong region players.

South Barwon premiership midcourt star Kelsey Browne makes the step up from the under 17 state team while Geelong Cougars trio Emma McKie, Sophie Barr and Rebecca Scott also make up the squad of 12 heading to Adelaide in April for the national titles.

While it's Scott's first taste of state representative duties, McKie was part of the team last year, while Barr represented the under 17 team two years ago.

McKie plays in the Cougars' championship side in the VNL, while Barr is part of the division one squad with Scott in the 19 & under team.

Netball Victoria's high performance co-ordinator Nicole Richardson said the quartet's selection highlighted the depth of talent coming through netball competitions in Geelong and the Western District.

McKie and Scott both play with Colac in the Netball Geelong competition, while Barr is from Mortlake.

"The depth of talent across the 17 and under and 19 and under age groups is very good, particularly in the Geelong and Barwon region and that's indicative of the football-netball competitions they play in," Richardson said.

"The girls play against adults from a young age and that's a great experience for them in being able to handle the intensity of the game when they step up to national competitions in their age groups."

Browne is one of eight players in the team stepping up from the triumphant Victorian 17 and under side two years ago along with the coach Robin Pymm.

The 18-year-old, who plays for VU Western Lightning in the VNL, said this year's team was keen to make amends for Victoria's disappointing third placed finish in last year's 19 and under national championships.

"Our defence is really strong and we've got a bit of height in goals," Browne said.

"For us to have four girls from the Geelong region (in the team) is pretty awesome."

Richardson said both McKie and Scott would play key roles in the team.

"Emma's really come on in leaps and bounds in 12 months," she said.

"What caught the selectors' eyes at the trials was her ability to create turnovers. She has a strong attack on the ball as a defender and the bonus of having someone like Rebecca Scott in the team is that she's really agile."
 

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