Bond Bull Sharks netballers will have a little extra pep in their step at pre-season training this week with the announcement that four of Bond’s brightest young talents will wear the highly coveted maroon dress at the National Netball Championships in April.
The hotly contested tournament brings together Australia’s brightest netballing prospects for a week of intense competition.
Many a Suncorp Super Netball career has been launched off the back of a strong showing in state colours.
Superstar shooter and Bond University Bachelor of Health Sciences student Kaylin Van Greunen returns to the Queensland U19s after an outstanding effort last year.
Midcourt sensation Sasha-May Flegler, a new arrival at the Bull Sharks, will line up alongside Van Greunen in the main squad. Powerhouse mid Jayden Molo - another fresh face at Bond - also made the cut. Dakota Newson is a training partner.
Bond’s Sapphire Head Coach Bec Stower will coach the Queensland U19s after steering the Queensland U17s to national championship glory last year.
Bond Bull Sharks Head of Netball Operations Kim Boland was thrilled.
“This is a very talented Queensland outfit,” Boland says. “The training and trialling process is long and demanding so to crack the squad is an incredible achievement. We are delighted for all four girls. It’s a richly deserved reward for incredible effort.”
Despite an overwhelming sense of pride, Boland acknowledged a tinge of bittersweetness at Dakota Newson’s relegation from the last year’s main squad to training partner status in 2024.
“Dakota is an incredibly hard-working and committed player and we have a lot of faith in her talent. She’s a genuine WA with a natural flair and athleticism with exceptional delivery of the ball into the circle.
"Genuine WA prospects are quite rare which makes her non-selection a bit surprising but sometimes these choices come down to the most miniscule points of difference. I know she’ll be disappointed, but I’ve every confidence she’ll find a way to turn a negative into a positive and she’ll pounce on any opportunity she’s given.”
Although for some, one eye will be stuck firmly on the National Netball Championships, for the remainder of Bond Bull Sharks netballers it’s business as usual ahead of the start of the Hart Sapphire and Ruby Series next month.
Boland says preseason has pushed all players to the limit, but she’s been thrilled at the determined application shown by every squad member.
“They knew there was work to be done and they’ve knuckled down and haven’t flinched for a second,” she says. “I’m starting to get really excited about what we can achieve this year.”