YOUNG East Point goaler Lauren Jew will get a chance for interleague netball on her home court.
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Jew is named among an experienced Ballarat Football Netball League squad preparing to meet Bendigo in the AFL Victoria Country Championships this month.
The BFNL has named 10 open players, with an option to add two more by the May 23 clash at Eastern Oval.
This season, the BFNL has the luxury of selecting state league players due to the early finish to Victorian Netball League rounds.
BFNL coach Kate McMahon said having a shooter such as Jew playing on her home court was a big advantage.
Jew will step into the goal circle with captain Georgia Cann, the Sebastopol playing-coach and former state league player.
McMahon’s squad mixes the league’s Regional State League talent – such as Cann, Mel Allen, Molly Boyle, Kara Hart (Lake Wendouree), Stacey McCartin (North Ballarat City) and Emma Henry (Redan) – with Sovereigns VNL players in Atkinson, Jordyn Bibby (North Ballarat City) and Erin Riley (Redan).
There is plenty of versatility.
“The most exciting thing is that the VNL wraps up the week leading into interleague, so we can access those players, which we haven’t been able to do much in the past,” McMahon said. “I’m really happy with the squad.
“I am confident, in terms of training, that because already a lot know each other, we can draw from there – mix things up and combinations will be nice and strong.”
Ballarat will wait until Bendigo announces its squad before fine-tuning its tactics.
The BFNL has also yet to name a second open-age interleague team that will travel with a 17/under team to play against Maryborough Castlemaine and District netballers on Country Championships weekend.
Maryborough Castlemaine is scheduled to play Ellinbank.
OPEN TEAM: Georgia Cann, captain (Sebastopol), Lauren Atkinson, Lauren Jew (East Point), Melanie Allen, Molly Boyle, Kara Hart (Lake Wendouree), Jordyn Bibby, Stacey McCartin (North Ballarat City), Emma Henry, Erin Riley (Redan).
Coach: Kate McMahon. Assistant coach Kirsty Walsh. Team manager Narelle Perkins.
17/UNDER (to play Bendigo): Emily Bettio (Bacchus Marsh), Chelsea Amarant, Ellie Breuer, Celie Hay, Faith McKenzie (Lake Wendouree), Rene Caris, Sophie Draffin, Elonie Hooper, Matilda White (North Ballarat City), Megg Collins (Redan).
Coaches: Katie Williams and Sheree Collins.
17/UNDER (to play Maryborough): Fiona Bayly, Brianna Pawlowicz (Bacchus Marsh), Jaymie Saunders (Ballarat), Ashlee Smith, Ciane Van Dyken (Mount Clear), Abby Gilbert, Abby Simpson (Redan), Tameka Clinton, Toni DeGrandi, Molly O’Loughlin (Sebastopol). Coach: Nat McGrath.
• MARYBOROUGH Castlemaine District Football Netball League has named its open team for the AFL Victoria Country Championships at Maryborough’s Princes Park on Saturday, May 23.
Rachel Phelan and Kimberley Roberts (Lexton) are coaching the squad of Jess Williamson (Navarre) captain, Julia Coates (Lexton), Alex Dempster (Maldon), Sarah Fisher (Lexton), Taylor Mason (Navarre), Naomi Medlyn (Natte Bealiba), Amanda Parkinson (Maryborough Rovers) and Jess Parry (Navarre).
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au