Netball
3 August, 2024
Wimmera netballers named in state squads
Five talented Wimmera netballers, including one former, have been selected for the Victorian Netball State teams: Jorja Clode, Maddison Bethune, Indy Ward, Bridie Price, and Eva Manserra. Bethune and Price are in the U17 squad, while Clode, Ward, and Manserra are in the U19 squad.
All netballers invited to try out for the squad had a screening day at the State Netball Centre in Parkville on Sunday, July 21. Fifty for each age group were selected from across Victoria.
The squad will be narrowed down over the coming two weeks before a final 12-man squad is decided on Sunday, December 15.
The final 12 will then train together before playing in the National Netball Championships, which will be held from Monday, April 7, to Sunday, April 13, 2025.
Jorja Clode made it to the last stage in 2023, narrowly missing the final selection. This season, she has represented the Bendigo Strikers U23 side in the Victorian Netball League.
This year, in A-grade netball for the Horsham Saints, Jorja has shot 397 goals in eight games as a goal-shooter. Clode suffered an injury in round eight and only returned last Sunday, July 27, against Ararat, where she shot 70 goals. She has also played in the 17 & Under, scoring 177 goals.
Due to her injury, she has only played two games for the Strikers and scored 27 goals.
Considering her injury and the fact she couldn't try out, Clode put in an exemption but was still surprised she was selected.
"I wasn't expecting to get in since I didn't try out, and I am grateful they accepted the exemption as they didn't have to," Clode said.
After experiencing the training last year, Clode has taken the feedback and implemented it into her game this season, and she feels that she has improved her netball.
"I have been working more on my goal attack role and learning where I am meant to be on the court and the areas they want to see certain skills," Clode said.
"It's crazy the things they tell you that you haven't heard of, such as keeping the ball up high. I was never taught that, and also turning the hips completely. I have definitely implemented little things like that into my game."
Clode will give advice to her team-mate Maddison Bethune on what to expect.
"One of the first things in my tryouts last year is that I never understood what they were looking for, and now I know that I know what I can do, so I will be telling her tips and tricks that should help her," Clode said.
Maddison Bethune has been playing goal defence predominantly in both U17 and A-grade but occasionally plays goalkeeper or wing defence.
Despite being one of the favourites to win the Under-21 senior league best and fairest, after having an outstanding season for the Horsham Saints, she was surprised.
"I was shocked when I found out, but I am grateful to have had the opportunity to try out," Bethune said.
"I look forward to playing with new players, getting more experience and training and playing at a higher level. I will just have fun and try my best."
While Eva Manserra plays for Redan in the Ballarat League, the former Horsham Demon is still a Wimmera girl at heart and has been outstanding this season in that league.
Manserra plays in the U19, where they are undefeated, and plays wing, goal-shooter or goal attack. In A-grade, she plays a combination of goal shooter and goal attack. Manserra has scored 306 goals this season
Manserra was selected in the 50-person squad last year when playing for the Demons, and she believes she has used her experience to grow as a player. She admitted she was a little bit lazy last year.
"I definitely think I have progressed as a player and have gotten stronger physically this year. I have been to the gym a lot more this year and am not as lazy as I was last year," Manserra said.
"It's pretty exciting considering I am a bottom ager, and it's a nice reward. The experience and putting my name out there is good, and I will have a real crack at it this year and hopefully in the next couple of years."
"I feel like I can now hold my ground a bit better, as when you are stronger, you can be a bigger, physical presence. Also, I think I am a smarter netballer, which probably comes with growing up."
Indy Ward is a top ager who plays for Dimboola in both the U17 and A-grade. She plays goalkeeper and goal defence and can also play wing defence.
Ward is excited about the opportunity.
"It's pretty exciting, and I look forward to seeing where it takes me," Ward said.
"I am going to learn as much as possible, and from the experience, I will look to implement it at DImboola and become a better player.
"This year, I have improved my game by keeping my eyes up and sticking to my opponent."
Ward explained the tryout last week.
"It was a quick and easy warm-up with a simple drill, then we had 16 rounds of gameplay and had three to four goes in our chosen position."
Bridie Price is an underager for the U17s, being 14 years old, which makes it more incredible that she was selected.
This is her second year playing U15 for Ararat, and she also played B-grade for the first time this season. Price is predominately a goalkeeper but can also play goal defence when required. It is her fourth year of playing netball.
She only started playing representative games for the Wimmera Football Netball League last year.
Price was excited and thanked her coaches for helping her.
"It's really exciting, and I am really thankful for all the coaches along the way and the talented girls who have helped me," Price said.
"I look forward to all the coaching I will get and how it will improve my game."