Coach on how Capricorn Claws are paving way for Qld’s netball talent

The Capricorn Claws have made a triumphant return to competition in the Ruby North series but coach Anna Young explains how the focus remains on providing a valuable pathway for the region’s rising stars.

The Capricorn Claws are scoring goals on and off the court on their return in the Ruby North netball series.

As much as they’re about on-court success, the Capricorn Claws are equally focused on player development and providing pathways for the region’s up-and-coming netballers.

That emphasis is already reaping results, with a teenage trio starring on their weekend road trip and another identified for higher honours.

Schoolgirls Charlotte Thomas and Jaya Dyne, both 16, along with Ellie-Mai Brandenburg, 18, were among the Claws’ best in Round 2 of the Ruby North series played in Townsville.

Meanwhile, their teammate Kaylee Acton was making her mark after being called into the Sunshine Coast Thunder for their Round 3 fixture in the higher-level Premier Netball League Sapphire Division.

Capricorn Claws' shooter Kaylee Acton impressed in her call-up to the Sunshine Coast Thunder.

The 17-year-old carried on the brilliant form she showed for the Claws in their Round 1 clean sweep, more than holding her own in a match-up against former Australian Diamonds’ defender Demelza Fellowes.

Acton played the full 60 minutes and shot at 92 percent.

Despite her best efforts, the Thunder went down by 10 goals to the Carina Leagues Club Tigers.

Claws’ coach Anna Young said it was incredibly satisfying to see the young brigade thriving and taking their chances with both hands.

“That’s what it’s all about,” she said.

Schoolgirls Charlotte Thomas and Jaya Dyne have been outstanding for the Capricorn Claws.

“A big part of us getting back in the mix was to give the young ones these sorts of opportunities.”

After their blistering start to the season in which they won all three games, the Claws were brought back to the field on a testing northern pilgrimage.

They won one of their three games to now be sitting second on the ladder behind North Queensland United.

Young said they were outmuscled in a physical contest in their opening game loss to the Mackay Monarchs before bouncing back to beat the Far North Flames, with that win soured by an ankle injury to tenacious defender Abbie Buchholz.

Ellie-Mai Brandenburg.

Further injuries and illness meant the Claws went into their third game “down on troops” and they were soundly beaten by the NQU.

Young applauded Thomas, Dyne and Brandenburg who, along with Madi Day, really stepped up and led the way despite several of them having to play out of position.

The Claws will be back in training in preparation for Round 3 in Mackay on July 12-13.

Young said a key focus would be nursing the injured players back to full strength.

“That will be a focus of course, but we’ll be working on staying in the game under pressure and not getting caught up in the uncontrollables,” she said.

“We just need everyone to get their brains switched back on and not be worrying about all the outside things.”