Gina McCartin is excited to start playing in championship division netball.
DYNAMIC centre-courter Gina McCartin says she can hardly wait to make her Victorian Netball League championship debut with UB Ballarat Pride tonight.
Championship division selection has been a long-time goal for McCartin, who made her VNL debut with Pride aged 16 in 19/under.
“It is really exciting. Being with the club since the start of the VNL, it’s great to finally make my way up to championship division,” McCartin said.
“Pre-season, I had a taste of it.
“It won’t be a complete shock, but it will still be different playing for points against championship teams, who are playing for points.”
Pride confirmed McCartin’s selection yesterday for its clash against Geelong Cougars at Parkville’s State Netball Hockey Centre.
The 20-year-old was unavailable for Pride’s opening round clash against division heavyweight VU Western Lightning in Bendigo on Saturday night.
Pride spokesman Jordan O’Keefe saying McCartin’s agility would add bite to the mid-court.
“She’s quick, she’s tenacious and a very unassuming player because she doesn’t have a big stature,” O’Keefe said.
McCartin has plenty of VNL experience. She captained Pride’s 19/unders for three years before her senior promotion to division one, which she also captained, last
season.
Meanwhile, Pride is confident defender Kara Hart and centre-courter Toni Lund will be cleared to play tonight after each sustaining ankle injuries in Saturday night’s
game.
Pride’s 19/under are vying to continue their unbeaten season start when they face the Cougars.
Katherine Dickers and Skye Billings were strong under the ring as Pride built on a dominant start for a 42-26 victory.
Pride coaches are also looking forward to seeing more from exciting young defender Maddi Davis, who held strong in her VNL debut at the weekend.