Giants’ big chance to hook stars of the future

Giants defender Sam Poolman knows first-hand how much of an impact seeing the best netball players in action can have on aspiring juniors.

SUNSHINE COAST, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Poolman of the Giants defends against the shot of Gabrielle Sinclair of the Magpies during the round 11 Super Netball match between the Giants and the Collingwood Magpies at University of Sunshine Coast Stadium on September 9, 2020 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Glenn Hunt/Getty Images)

Giants defender Sam Poolman knows first-hand how much of an impact seeing the best netball players in action can have on aspiring juniors.

The Giants will take on the West Coast Fever in Cairns on Saturday afternoon, with a win crucial for both sides as they look to secure their spot in the upcoming finals series.

While the match will showcase of some of some of the best netball talent in the country, it also presents an opportunity for the region’s juniors to soak up the highest level of the sport.

Poolman said it would be a privilege to play in front of Far North Queensland’s netball fans, in particular young players that might not have had the chance to experience this calibre of netball up close before.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 29: Sam Poolman of the Giants pressures Gabrielle Sinclair of the Magpies during the round eight Super Netball match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Giants at Nissan Arena on August 29, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“I think that’s where role models really start for young females,” she said.

“I’m from Newcastle and back in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy days we had a team and watching them live made me aspire to be a ­professional netballer.

“I’m sure the faces of all the young girls that come and watch will light up and hopefully we can be positive role models and show them that if they have a dream to play professional netball, they are certainly capable to do so.”

Poolman said she couldn’t wait to take the court wearing this year’s Indigenous Round dress, designed for a third year in a row by young Newcastle netballer and Kamilaroi Nation artist Krystal Dallinger.

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“I have a program called Aspire Netball back in Newcastle and coached Krystal through the program,” Poolman said.

“She painted a Giants hat and gifted it to me and that’s where our journey started.

“Not only is this year’s dress visually creative, but it also has some real meaning behind it.

“The main piece of the dress is the Rainbow Serpent, which was the first book her mother read to her as a child to share her knowledge of the Dreamtime, while the dot patterns represent her journey and the opportunities she’s had with us at the Giants.”

Originally published as Giants’ big chance to hook stars of the future