The Victorian Fury’s defence of their 2019 Deakin University Australian Netball League (DUANL) title has taken another step forward, with Netball Victoria announcing the team who will compete in the feeder competition to Suncorp Super Netball in 2020.
The team of 15 will be supported by two Training Partners and have been selected by a panel which included returning Head Coach of the Victorian Fury, Di Honey.
Honey said that the mix of old and new faces will continue to allow all athletes the opportunity to develop and learn, introducing some them to the elite phase in the Netball Victoria pathway for the first time.
“I am very excited to have a team that is made up of a blend of youth and experience and the next generation of Victorian talent,” Honey said.
“Six of the 15 athletes are part of the Melbourne Vixens training squad, and another six athletes are members of the inaugural Vixens Academy, which shows the calibre and potential that some of the best coaches in Australia see in our players.
“We will continue to work closely with the Vixens to emulate the way they train and play and to fully support and integrate the Vixens squad members, so they are playing their best netball possible.”
As well as the six Melbourne Vixens squad members, Rahni Samason, returns to the Victorian Fury line up, after rupturing her ACL in 2019 when training with the Melbourne Vixens as a squad member.
While the squad has been training together since January, Honey said the next few months of preparation for the ANL season will focus on the team of 15’s dynamics and game play, including match play against the Melbourne Vixens.
“Our approach from here on in will be to emulate what we did last year - hard work, lots of it, so they will become a well drilled team.”
The DUANL competition is scheduled to commence the same day as the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball Season; Saturday 2 May. Fixture details to follow from Netball Australia.
2020 VICTORIAN FURY TEAM
Ruby Barkmeyer* (Boroondara Express)
Maggie Caris (Melbourne University Lightning)
Gabby Coffey (Melbourne University Lightning)
Jordan Cransberg* (Melbourne University Lightning)
Tori Honner (Geelong Cougars)
Elle McDonald* (North East Blaze)
Sacha McDonald* (Casey Demons)
Hannah Mundy (Boroondara Express)
Jacqui Newton* (City West Falcons)
Melissa Olamanu (City West Falcons)
Uneeq Palavi (Boroondara Express)
Maddi Riddley (Melbourne University Lightning)
Rahni Samason (Ariels)
Allie Smith* (Geelong Cougars)
Tegan Stephenson (Boroondara Express)
*denotes 2020 Melbourne Vixens squad member
TRAINING PARTNERS
Sarah Szczykulski (City West Falcons)
