Five rising Great Southern netball players make first cut in West Coast Fever 17-and-under State squad

Five emerging Great Southern netballers have made it through the first phase of trials for the West Coast Fever 17-and-under squad on the back of brilliant performances through their development program. The Fever in Time program brought some of the best young netballers together from across the State for an eight-week training regime before participating in the State Cup earlier this month. More than 200 athletes took part in the Fever in Time program where 54 players were then selected for phase two of the trial process. Albany’s Keely Berry (Kangas), Sophie Panizza (Kangas), Natalie Simpson (Denmark), Courtney White (Narrikup) and Denmark’s Mia Dominiak were all selected after their State Cup triumphs with their respective sides and are part of just 11 regional-based players picked. Phase two trials will be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Gold Netball Centre in Perth. Selected players will play matches on Saturday and the final squad will announced on Sunday. Netball WA’s membership and development coordinator for the Great Southern Kelly Dominiak said the impressive results were a testament to the five players’ hard work and made possible through crucial funding from the Great Southern Netball Association and Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries. “It’s been amazing from the girls and it really showcases the athletes we have in the region,” she said. “They have put a lot of time and energy to get there and particularly with travel to participate. “It is hard for regional athletes and the commitment is massive. “We were lucky to have funding from Great Southern Netball Association and DLGSCI funding to provide the girls assistance to travel. “It’s quite an expensive process for regional players, so to get that funding from them is massive. “It’s such a huge commitment and it’s amazing for the girls.”