NSW Swifts: Audrey Little, Sophie Fawns, Chelsea Mann, Dakota Thomas, Laura Towell, Lili Gorman-Brown trainining partners

They were members of the first ever NSW Swifts Academy. Now these six young netballers - including a shooting star and daughter of a rugby legend - have been set free to fly high.

Their trajectory might have taken a hit due to covid cancellations of major competitions and state titles in 2021 but these six netballers are still making the grade as our Generation Next stars.

In a stunning result for the NSW Swifts Academy set up in 2019, six of their first intake have now graduated to be training partners for the 2021 Super Netball champions in 2022.

It’s a tick of success for the program designed to feed young talent into the top teams in NSW and eventually the Australian Diamonds.

Young midcourter Audrey Little is the daughter of former Wallaby Jason Little.

“Training partners are vital to how we operate and recent history shows what can happen if you get a chance,’’ said Swifts coach Briony Akle.

“Tayla Fraser was a training partner and an Academy athlete not that long ago and now she is a two-time Premiership winner and a key member of our senior squad.

“It’s not just her. A few years back we had Sophie Craig (nee Halpin) who was a training partner and worked hard, got a chance and also won a premiership.’’

Manly Warringah and the Sutherland netball associations have two players each elevated to training partners.

Tayla Fraser and Lauren Moore celebrate victory after their semi-final against the Giants last season.

Manly midcourters Chelsea Mann, with GWS Fury, and Audrey Little, daughter of Wallaby Jason Little and from the Manly Warringah Saphires, have made the cut along.

Country talent Sophie Fawns from Wagga, who was playing for the Panthers in Premier League before its cancellation, is also in and considered a rising star of the shooting circle.

Sutherland have attacking player Laura Towell and midcourter Lili Gorman-Brown who both play with the Sutherland Stingrays in Premier League.

Newcastle’s Dakota Thomas, playing for Central Coast Heart in Premier League, is another regional athlete making the leap to train alongside some of the biggest names in the game .

Dakota Thomas. Pic: Netball NSW

Laura Towel.

“I can’t wait to see the likes of Chelsea, Lili and Audrey learn from Paige Hadley and Maddy Proud, and Sophie and Laura won’t get a better netball education than training alongside Sam Wallace and Helen Housby daily. And who better to teach Dakota than the Diamonds pairing of Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner,” Akle said.

All six youngsters will train with contracted players at the NSW Swifts ahead of and during the 2022 season of Super Netball.

Being a training partner is a key to success for young netballers with the likes of Fraser, Kelly Singleton and Teagan O’Shannessy all using the opportunity to impress and earn full-time contracts. The last two have been elevated into the Swifts 10 for 2022.

Sophie Fawns.

Chelsea Mann.

Backed by Netball NSW and QBE Insurance, the Swifts Academy underpins the senior side and looks to produce a constant flow of talent to the elite levels of the game.

The Swifts begin their Super Netball championship title defence in March 2022.

NSW SWIFTS TRAINING PARTNERS

Audrey Little (Manly Warringah)

Sophie Fawns (Wagga Wagga)

Dakota Thomas (Newcastle)

Laura Towell (Sutherland Shire)

Chelsea Mann (Manly Warringah)

Lili Gorman-Brown (Sutherland Shire)

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