The Victorian Marie Little Shield squad has been announced with some returnees and first timers ready to hit the court in Sydney in October.
The Marie Little Shield provides an opportunity for women with an intellectual disability to represent their state at a national level. Unfortunately the competition hasn’t run for the past two years due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, making the upcoming tournament an exciting one for all involved.
“It is super exciting! It almost feels like we have been working towards this competition for two years, so to be able to play against other states will feel ever more special this year,” said head coach Naomi Linossier.
“I'm sure there will be an even greater appreciation for the MLS throughout the tournament. I'm really excited to see the players who stayed involved with the online sessions take to the court and show how they have still progressed despite the challenges COVID presented.”
Linossier has a wealth of coaching knowledge and experience in the All-Abilities space, as the representative coach at Waverley Netball Centre and is the All-Abilities co-ordinator at Saint Leonards Netball Club. But representing the state is a whole other ball game, not only for her as a coach but also the players.
“To represent your state is a huge accomplishment and something we are all very proud of. You can feel a great level of energy and drive at our training sessions this year, which is demonstrating the importance that it holds for all players. We are all looking forward to pulling on our team uniforms and showing the tenacity and passion for netball Victoria is known for,” she said.
For some of the players like Bianca Lauricella, Grace Dean, Rachael Potter, Renay Hall and Sky Grace it’s not their first time being selected for the Victorian squad, but the honour doesn’t wear off according to Linossier who highlighted the versatility of this year’s squad.
“This is a really exciting group. We have some experience mixed with some new players who are bringing a different dimension to the team. It was challenging to select the team this year with many players being versatile, having the ability to cover multiple areas of the court. This is also what is going to make this team super competitive.
“The team is looking strong. They have this drive to be the best they can be and have already connected well as a group. I can't wait to see how they continue to progress over the coming months as we build towards the MLS.”
There’s no denying that the anticipation is high ahead of the Marie Little Shield and Linossier is keen to see what her side can put out on the big stage.
“Of course, the highlight will be taking to the court in October, however I am also really excited to see the on-court connections develop over the next few months. Watching the confidence amongst the players grow is the best aspect of coaching, and it leads to the team developing a strong belief of what they are capable of achieving.
“We’ve always been known for having great skills, and this team is no exception. The 2022 team also has an element of athleticism and court awareness which will hopefully elevate us to the next level of performance.”
2022 Victorian Marie Little Shield Squad
Team
Bianca Lauricella
Ehlana Wilkinson
Emma Daffy
Erin Munckton
Grace Dean
Holly O’Sullivan
Sky Grace
Lucinda Harrison-Shore
Rachael Potter
Renay Hall
Training partners
Rebecca Bradford
Darcie Delahunty
Emily Buller
