Super Netball’s Next Gen identified for World Youth Cup as player market hots up and legends say farewell

The next generation of Australian netball has been identified ahead of the World Youth Cup - and we can reveal who the Diamonds-in-waiting will be.

Australia has named a 22-woman preliminary squad brimming with Super Netball experience ahead of the World Youth Cup in Gibraltar in September.

Adelaide Thunderbirds assistant coach Cathy Fellows and her selectors will trim the group to a squad of 15 next month, with the group going into camp in Canberra before the final 12 athletes heading to Gibraltar, plus three reserves are named.

It will be a difficult job for Fellows, whose preliminary squad includes seven players on Super Netball lists – either as full-time contracted athletes or 11th players – and another handful who have made their Super Netball debuts.

Adelaide Thunderbirds assistant coach Cathy Fellows in 2023. Picture: Sue McKay/Getty Images

Among the names that will be familiar to most fans are Adelaide Thunderbirds swing playmaker Kayla Graham and 11th player Sophie Casey, Melbourne Vixens goaler Lily Graham and 11th player Tara Watson, Fever shooter Olivia Wilkinson, Swifts midcourter Grace Whyte and Giants teen tyro Hope White.

Kayla Graham in action for the Thunderbirds. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Fever’s Olivia Wilkinson has also been selected in the squad. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

“We started the (selection) process probably 18 months ago but nearly all the athletes now are in some sort of SSN (Super Netball) environment,” Fellows said.

“They weren’t when they started, but they all are now so it tells us they probably picked the right ones. So we’re excited.”

After Covid forced the cancellation of the last World Youth Cup planned for 2021, a wave of top players including current Diamonds Sophie Dwyer, Georgie Horjus and Sunday Aryang missed their opportunity to play at the tournament.

Australia is likely to head into the event as favourite but nations such as New Zealand and England have had extensive time together and will be no pushovers.

“Both of those groups have (put time and resources into their teams), especially probably England with this cohort of athletes,” Fellows said.

Fellows, architect of the Thunderbirds’ outstanding defensive unit, has extensive coaching experience, including as an assistant for Fiji at the last World Cup and an assistant for Australia’s Fast5 side and is relishing the opportunity to take a lead role for the 21U side.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for me to coach at the international level, because it’s just such a different challenge,” she said.

“I know in SSN you get lots of challenges against international athletes but to actually go away and coach in that environment with best athletes from Australia against the best athletes from the rest of the world, as a coach, it’s just a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“So it’s a great challenge as a coach, and challenging for the athletes as well – but it’s an exciting challenge for all of us.”

Ruth Aryang was eligible for selection in the 21 and Under squad, but injury ruled her out. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

West Coast Fever defender Ruth Aryang (achilles), Fever reserves player Clara Wrigley (ACL) and Swifts Academy midcourter Nevaeh Matenga (ACL) were all unavailable for selection due to injury.

PLAYER MARKET HOTS UP

The season will be done for half the competition after this weekend but there will still be plenty of action off the court.

The Firebirds, Mavericks and Giants all have positions up in the air and will be active in the player market ahead of the 2026 competition.

Having a coach locked in is a key part of attracting players and the Firebirds – who extended the contract of mentor Kiri Wills earlier this season through to 2027 – are the only one of the three with their leader locked in at this stage, with both Tracey Neville (Mavericks) and Julie Fitzgerald (Giants) off contract at the end of the year.

Firebirds’ head coach Kiri Wills will be with the club until at least 2027. Picture: Getty Images

Clubs can negotiate with their own players at any time but cannot approach players from opposition clubs until the official signing window opens after the grand final next month.

THANKS AND FAREWELL

The impact of some of the retirements from the code this week stuck home when we stumbled across this pic taken by News Corp snapper Liam Kidston ahead of the inaugural Super Netball grand final in 2017.

The shot of Giants captain Jo Harten and Lightning leader Geva Mentor, who both retired this season, showed the enormous impact the English pair has had on the Australian game.

Geva Mentor and Jo Harten pose ahead of the inaugural Super Netball Grand Final in 2017. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mentor, who played for the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Vixens, Sunshine Coast Lightning and Collingwood Magpies, winning premierships with the first three, retired last month after playing the last two seasons for Leeds in the English Super League after the collapse of the Magpies.

Harten plays her final match for the Giants on Saturday after more than 200 ANZ Championship-Super Netball games for the Giants and Bay of Plenty Magic in New Zealand.

Another member of that inaugural premiership team, now Lightning captain Steph Fretwell is off contract at the end of the season and could be drawing close to the end of her distinguished career as well.

Originally published as Super Netball’s Next Gen identified for World Youth Cup as player market hots up and legends say farewell