Live stream: Netball Australia 17&U, 19&U National Netball Championships 2024 day two live blog
It was a historic moment that had some players in tears while others tore through the crowd to celebrate with loved ones. Read more about NTs breakthough win in the NNC day 2 blog.
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While some players had to choke back tears, others ran jubilant into the grandstands to celebrate with loved ones.
It had all the emotion of a gold medal triumph, but in reality it was just the first session on the second day of the National Netball Championships.
If you ask anyone in the Northern Territory though, it may as well have been the big one.
The under-19s team from the Territory, made up of highly-committed players who travel 100s of kilometres just to play as well as a motely crew of misfits from other states, broke through for its first win at the tournament in years.
In reality, it has been so long, that no one at Netball NT or Netball Australia could truly pinpoint the last time they had won a match at the tournament.
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It certainly hadn’t been in head coach Chelsea Coleman’s time, which is why she was moved by the emotional moment which she described as years in the making.
“I’m just so proud of them,” Coleman said.
“I’ve travelled through with this cohort and they have not had a win in their three years. It’s very emotional and every exciting.
“Resilient is the word I’d use (to describe them), as you can imagine. To get a win on the board after three years is just fantastic.”
Last year’s nationals were held in Darwin, but for many, the behind-the-scenes of getting to this event can be near impossible while living in the Territory.
“A lot of people don’t understand the logistics and the challenges we face,” Coleman said.
“From flight cancellations to logistics in terms of distance and separation.
“In this cohort, we have athletes living across six states and territories, so that has really made it difficult to organise training before even coming to nationals.
“Geographically, it’s been a challenge.”
Having spent two campaigns with the under-17s, Coleman said this win is one many have been dreaming of for years.
“I definitely shed a few tears on the sideline.”
With imports from Victoria and New South Wales and Queensland in their ranks, NT are proud that their history-making win stretches far and wide.
One player all too familiar with NT’s victory hunt is co-captain Hannah Torsely, who is this year a bottom-age talent in the under-19s division.
One of the youngest captains in the tournament, Torsely represented the state in both 2022 and 2023.
“It just feels so exhilarating,” she said after the match.
“I’m so ecstatic and proud of all the girls, especially being part of it for three years now.
“It’s great to get that win finally, especially since it’s always been a close battle with ACT.”
Torsely said having family travel to the event and witness the win in person adds even greater significance.
“I know it’s hard for families, especially living in the Territory, but it’s great to be able to run over there and give them hugs,” she said.
“Clapping along all the way, we can hear them screaming from the court,” she said.
Just like her coach, the mid-courter touched on how difficult it can be when your teammates live thousands of kilometres away.
“Half of our team don’t even live in Darwin.
“We only got together once before the competition, so that’s quite difficult on the whole team.
“Yesterday on court it felt like we had no connection, so having a win today is just so great and I’m so proud of all the girls.”
The historic final scoreboard had NT three goals in front when the final whistle sounded.
NT 28 d ACT 25.
’We fight to the end’: The mentality driving Tassie’s young gun
Tasmania’s Paige O’Neill refuses to let age define her at the National Netball Championships.
At only 16-years-old, the defender is not only the youngest player in her squad, she is the youngest player across the entire Under-19s tournament.
While for some it might become a target on their back, for O’Neill she wears it like abadge of honour.
It’s unsurprising with the hungry ball-winner already breaking her way into the Australian Institute of Sport squad last year as a bottom ager at the NNC.
Despite her lofty success, O’Neill said she was taking lessons off the rest of her older teammates.
“All these girls are my best friends. Tassie is only small so we’re all pretty connected,” she said.
“I obviously look up to them and they are my role models.
“They’re just a great bunch of girls on and off the court.”
There may be the lingering pressure for O’Neill to perform above her age, but after two in Frankston, it hasn’t impacted her ability to stay focussed.
“There’s definitely pressure, but we have a great team of staff and coaches who are encouraging and push me,” she said.
The 16-year-old debuted in 2023 and has carried that experience with her, learning along the way what it means to represent the island state.
“Wearing the dress for Tasmania, we obviously have an underdog mentality,” she said.
“We are trying to push the other state’s, and I think we did that against South Australia.
“Tassie has a fight and we fight to the end, so carrying that through the tournament is important.”
Tasmania came up against reigning champions South Australia in Round 1 on Tuesday, where they went down by just a narrow three goals before defeating ACT later that night.
‘Underdog’ Maroons embracing title defence pressure
Queensland may be the defending 17/U champions, but as vice-captain Sarah Joyce stresses, it doesn’t mean any team can be taken for granted.
The maroon lineup had a mixed bag of results on day one, defeating Tasmania 43-27 before going down to Victoria 38-31 in the afternoon.
Joyce, who returns for her second national campaign this week, said the pressure to bring home another gold is a good thing, despite what others may think.
“It helps make sure we do everything right, from warm up to games,” she said.
“Wearing the Queensland dress, there is always the expectation to place highly.
“Other teams recognise that as well.
“If we keep our heads high, it can be intimidating for them, too.”
After game two, Joyce said the side’s loss to Victoria was just a step towards being better.
“I like to be the underdogs anyway, so it was good to get that one out of the way,” she said.
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“It’s really important that we learn from it.
“Having that loss was good for us to whip into shape and get our heads together.
“All the teams we come up against are going to be hard.
“There are no teams where you can be complacent with, so it’s important for us to stick to the basics and go from there.”
Joyce made her debut for Queensland in 2023, following in the footsteps of older sister, Erin, who was part of the state squad in 2022.
Joyce describes the nationals as the perfect environment to gain experience as a bottom-ager.
“I think it was really good to have the opportunity to play with those girls and win last year… being able to train in that environment even though I didn’t get on as much,” she said.
“Coming back this year I know what to expect, which is good.”
As one of six top age players in the squad this year, Joyce can now hand down some of that knowledge to her teammates.
“Everyone is going to be a little nervous, but I think what’s important is that we don;t let the nerves control us,” she said.
“It’s a very daunting thing if you haven’t experienced it before.
“Even girls from the other teams will be nervous, so it’s important to just get out there and play.”
No Lily Graham, no worries as late Victoria call-up slips in seamlessly
A last minute call-up just weeks out from showtime has gifted Victorian netballer Holly Adams-Alcock a dreamy nationals debut.
The 17-year-old received the phone call from coach Tracey Brereton three weeks out from the competitions start date, when star shooter Lily Graham was named a permanent replacement player for the Melbourne Vixens (Suncorp Super Netball).
“When Tracey rang me I was so surprised, but also so happy to get the opportunity after training with the girls when Lily wasn’t able to,” she said.
Having never been in a state team - or training partner for one - Adams-Alcock couldn’t believe her luck.
The good news proved that her hard work had all been for a cause, having attended most training camps in her TP position.
“It’s a massive step up for me,” she said.
“There were a couple of training sessions I didn’t get called up for, but I worked with the girls most of the pre-season and leading up to nationals.”
But dreaminess aside, the GS/GA knows her role in this team comes with pressure.
“It’s a hard role,” she said.
“Having to fill Lily Graham’s shoes is kind of crazy for me to think about.
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“But it’s just amazing.”
Adams-Alcock said the support from coaches and teammates has been brilliant from day one, and was a big driver in getting through round one on Tuesday, despite the nerves.
“They (the team) have always gotten around me, helped me and they’ve allowed me to succeed,” she said.
“I was nervous getting onto the court, but I knew the girls would have my back and I had theirs.”
With little experience under her belt, the teen said her ‘newbee’ status could be both an advantage and disadvantage this week, given no competitor has seen her game style before.
“The struggle for me is not knowing who I’m playing against,” she said.
“At home and in the Victorian Netball League, I’ve always known my opponent and how they play.
“At nationals I have no clue.”
Regardless, she said the most exciting match-up to come will be South Australia, given their success in 2023 and the chance to play against some of the country’s best defenders of her age.
Originally published as Live stream: Netball Australia 17&U, 19&U National Netball Championships 2024 day two live blog
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