Northern Territory giving four Queensland athletes a second chance to keep netball nationals dreams alive

Four promising Queensland teens have gone to outrageous lengths to keep their hopes of competing in the national netball titles alive, jumping on a plane in a bid to play for a different state after being overlooked by their own. Full details here

Netballer Kiera Heffernan pictured outside Nissan Arena, Brisbane 16th May 2023. Kiera is part of the Australian U19 netball squad. (Image/Josh Woning)

Four promising teenagers have gone to outrageous lengths to keep their hopes of competing in the national netball titles alive, trialling for a rival state after being overlooked by their own.

The Queensland group have jumped on a plane in a bid to trial for the Northern Territory representative sides in the lead up to the 2024 National Netball Championships.

Netball Queensland this week announced their under-17 and under-19 state teams for 2024, with the 12 successful athletes named in each side now preparing for nationals in Melbourne from April 9 to 14.

While 24 players celebrate the milestone, eight are left to sit with the fact they’ve missed out.

It is believed Sophia Dobson, Yasmin Mayall, Kiera Heffernan and Amber Yeates are the athletes vying for a second chance.

Heffernan, a goaler and 2023 AIS squad selectee, has family roots in Alice Springs that allow her to meet eligibility criteria in both Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Netballer Kiera Heffernan pictured outside Nissan Arena, Brisbane 16th May 2023. Kiera is part of the Australian U19 netball squad. (Image/Josh Woning)

The now top-age under-19s athlete hopes to go back-to-back in making the AIS squad.

A three-time Queensland defender, 2024 is the first time Dobson has not been selected in an under-17s or under-19s nationals team.

In 2023 the goal keeper/ goal defender was unsuccessful in making the AIS squad after doing so in both 2021 and 2022.

The cross code volleyballer-come netballer hopes her invite to trial from Netball NT will result in one final nationals hoorah.

Mayall comes from the Sunshine Coast and is a talented top age defender.

She was part of the under-19s state team in 2023 but this year finds herself relying on a second chance in the north.

To complete the quartet, Amber Yeates will fly to Darwin as the final contenter for a spot in the under-19s shooting pod after failing to make the cut of 16 announced December last year.

The bottom-age talent from the Brisbane East Tigers is yet to don a maroon dress and is a fresh face for selectors to consider.

It is rumoured the NT first approached HART Sapphire fill-in Kydan Tuapou, who declined the offer to trial.

Note: Netball NT has been reached for comment.