Under 15s Territory netball players compete in Perth school sport championship

A team of 12 netball players will be the NT’s first travelling school sport team since Covid. Here’s where they’re headed and what they’ve overcome.

The Territory’s first travelling school sport team since Covid is stepping up to its first challenge at the national Under 15s netball championships in Perth.

Team captain Ada Whiteside said she was excited – and nervous – to take the national court on Sunday and learn from other players throughout the competition.

With players selected to represent the Territory from Darwin, Palmerston, and Alice Springs, Friday was the first opportunity for the team to train together as one group.

“It’s nerve-racking because we haven’t really played together yet, but we’re hoping it will be all good,” Ms Whiteside said.

“We’re friends with everyone, so we know it will be fine in the end.”

Team manager Sophie McConnell, vice-captain Natalie Mupamhadzi, student umpire Hannah Torsney, captain Ada Whiteside and vice-captain Jade Moir are excited to play on the national court in Perth for the first time since Covid. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Hannah Torsney is travelling with the team as a student umpire.

The B-badge umpire was selected at the NT Championships as one of the Territory’s top umpires.

She said she had always wanted to be a part of the ‘whites’ team rather than taking the court herself.

“There’s about 700 things that we need to process in our head each game because you have to be focusing on the player, the players around the player, and you need to be focusing on the bench as well,” she said.

The group is formally known as SSE Netball Team but calls itself the Frillies. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Coach Sharon Freeman said the team was well prepared for the competition.

“We’ve had some good games against some premier league teams as well as being lucky enough there’s quite a few of the girls in the same team for NT Championships,” she said.

“They’re all switched on and ready to go and give it a crack.”

The NT's Under 15s netball team attended the championship’s opening ceremony in Perth on Sunday.

Team manager Sophie McConnell said it was exciting for Territory students to be able to travel for sport again but she was disappointed for the cohorts that missed out.

“It’s going to be a big challenge for the girls but I think we’ve got a really strong and talented group and it’ll be really great to see how the Territory tough can show up against the rest of Australia,” she said.

“Their resilience over the last few years, still playing at their club level and all the other competitions that have been happening to try and make sure that they keep up their skill level is really good to see.”

The team is formally known as the School of Sport Education Netball Team but unofficially calls itself the Frillies.