Emily Thompson of Tocumwal and Jasmine and Sienna Burke of Finley completed their last training session for the program at Wangaratta on November 14, and competed in the Netball Victoria Inter Academy Games at the weekend, in Gisborne, Victoria.
The Inter Academy Weekend is a competition where 100 athletes played matches to improve their skills and gain a feel for the technique of their peers.
The Burkes were invited to the academy trials in March after participation in the Bendigo Academy of Sport North East program last year.
The 15 year-olds have shown impressive talent on the court, with Sienna playing in midcourt, GD and GK, while Sienna favours midcourt along with GA.
Emily said the Inter Academy Games were a ‘‘great opportunity for all the players to get together, have fun, make friends, and play at an elite level’’.
The Netball Talent Academy comprises six regions, including Central East, Central, West, Eastern, North East, Northern, and Western.
The program aims to develop the technical, tactical, and physical to allow young athletes to reach their full potential.
It is also a pathway to state and national representation.
The academy consists of five training sessions across five months, with two specialist days in Melbourne at the State Netball Centre and the
Academy Games which are usually held at the State Netball Centre at the end of the year.
Players travel across the region to Shepparton, Benalla, Wangaratta, and Albury-Wodonga to take part in training days.
Despite disruptions from COVID-19, the academy was ‘‘quick to pivot’’ on opportunities when borders came down, and offer remote training when they were up.
Emily, Jasmine and Sienna played in the Goulburn Valley League in 2021 for Mooroopna, and have been invited to trial in next year’s NV Talent Academy, which can be a pathway to the Netball Victoria under 17s state squad.
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