SA netball's top young talents for 2022 including Kayla Graham, Poppy Gilfillan-Silk, Paris Sinclair (Netball SA Premier League)
Who are SA’s next Thunderbirds and Diamonds players? We’ve identified the state’s next generation of top netball talents. See the full list.
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From sharpshooters to athletic talents and daughters of former greats South Australian netball’s next generation of stars is on the rise.
Following Friday night’s Premier League netball grand final which was exclusively live streamed by KommunityTV, we’ve identified the state’s top players of the future.
South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) head netball coach Jenny Borlase said the current talent pool was exciting.
“I’ve been in the SASI netball head coaching role for six years and we definitely have peaks and troughs in terms of talent coming into our program,” Borlase said.
“But I have to say, at the moment, we are excited with the quality of athletes we have in our training environment.”
Listed in no particular order, see the full list of rising SA talents from the under-19 and under-17 ranks below.
Players who have already progressed to Super Netball clubs were not included.
WATCH THE GRAND FINAL LIVE STREAM REPLAYS HERE
KAYLA GRAHAM
Club: Contax
Position: GS/GA
Named MVP at the Under-19 National Championships in April, Kayla Graham was outstanding for SA in a critical role at the tournament.
The attacker has also become a key member of Contax’s Premier League side recording 204 goals from 240 attempts in her 12 appearances this season.
She will be looking to make her mark for the Blues when they play Matrics in the grand final on Sunday.
Borlase says:
“Kayla has a lot of natural athleticism and is also able to shoot well under pressure.
“She’s in her final year of school and has a really big load this year, but it hasn’t impacted her development as a netballer and has responded really well to being in the high performance environment at SASI.”
POPPY GILFILLAN-SILK
Club: Metro Jets
Position: GS/GA
Metro Jets goaler Poppy Gilfillan-Silk has had a big 2022.
The 18-year-old sharpshooter has shown strong development in a busy season of Premier League, National Championships, Australian camps interstate and training with the Thunderbirds back home.
Borlase says:
“Poppy’s had an interesting pathway. She’s got a basketball background and moved into netball more seriously three seasons ago.
“I would describe her as slightly unorthodox in the way that she plays because she brings a different skill set to her game, which makes her a real challenge for defenders and offers something different on court.
“She has a really good sense of timing, where to be there and when, and she’s really mobile for her height.”
AMELIA OLECH
Club: Matrics
Position: GS/GA
While the Matrics young gun unfortunately injured her ACL last month, Amelia Olech is sure to make her mark in SA netball in the coming future.
The St Ignatius College student was named in the Australian under-17 squad despite playing in only one day of competition at the national championships, due to being a close contact.
Her short but impressive performance was enough to catch the eye of selectors.
Borlase says:
“Amelia is a tall goaler, quite mobile for her size and is able to play at both goal shooter and goal attack.
“One of her great strengths is her ability to be accurate under pressure.”
PARIS SINCLAIR
Club: Oakdale
Position: WA
A key part of an Oakdale side which just missed out on finals, Paris Sinclair’s strong play was rewarded with selection in the Southern Force team for the Australian Netball Championships later this month.
The versatile midcourter swapped clubs from Tango to Oakdale in the search for greater opportunity and has featured in every Premier League game in 2022.
Borlase says:
“Paris is a really dynamic midcourter, can play all three positions across the midcourt and has exceptional speed and elevation.
“She’s still developing her court craft but is an exciting talent.”
SOPHIE CASEY
Club: Matrics
Position: WD
A national under-19 representative, Sophie Casey has developed into a strong player for powerhouse club Matrics.
A state captain, SASI athlete and Scotch College student, she has bright future in netball with her athleticism and ability to read the play outstanding as a mid-court player.
Borlase says:
“Sophie has a great ability to cause turnovers and get ball.
“She’s very competitive by nature and as a youngster coming through the system her athleticism has been outstanding while still developing her court craft.
“As a wing defence she has an eye for an intercept, is able to cover repeated efforts and really wear her attacker down.”
LUCY DENTON
Club: Garville
Position: WA/GA
From Millicent in the state’s South-East, Lucy Denton moved to Adelaide at the beginning of this year after finishing Year 12 and hasn’t looked back.
Denton has featured in every top level match for Garville this season as well as gaining selection in the national under-19 squad as a bottom-ager.
Borlase says:
“She’s come into the SASI program as a mature athlete and has responded really well to a daily training environment.
“Her strengths are her speed and agility, but also puts in some amazing balls into the shooters and is able to really make a goal shooter look fantastic.”
TABITHA PACKER
Club: Contax
Position: GD/GK
Rising defender Tabitha Packer was named joint MVP at the Under-17 National Championships earlier this year, underlining her credentials as one of SA’s top rising talents.
The Contax product is a long, tall defender who has the ability to guard both attacking positions in the goal circle.
Borlase says:
“She had an outstanding carnival, is naturally very athletic, has great ability to read the play and is a really strong attacking player as well.
“She’s a huge asset and has an exciting future coming her way. She’s quietly very competitive.”
LUCY VOYVODIC
Club: Matrics
Position: C
Also a talented rower, Lucy Voyvodic was selected in the Australian under-17 squad after a strong display at the national championships.
The very athletic centre has been one of the stars for Matrics’ reserves in 2022.
Borlase says:
“Lucy has amazing closing speed and is really adept at reading the play.
“She’s developing her role as a centre and is an exciting product in our pathway.”
POPPY SCHOLZ
Club: Oakdale
Position: GD/GK
The daughter of former Australian international and Thunderbirds player Peta Squire, Poppy Scholz has shown promise in two sports.
She is an Australian under-17 netball squad member but also a talented footballer in SANFLW with Glenelg.
Borlase says:
“Her natural disposition is to be a defender but she has also shown great attacking qualities.
“She’s able to read the play, very athletic and loves to take a high-ball intercept.
“At the moment we’re encouraging her to enjoy all sports but of course we hope she eventually develops a really strong passion for netball.”
AALEYA TURNER
Club: Matrics
Position: GD/GK
A circle defender who shows plenty of promise, Aaleya Turner suffered a setback when she ruptured her Achilles at the national championships.
The time off in rehab has given the Matrics talent time to work on further parts of her game.
Borlase says:
“She’s been in the SASI program up to 12 months now and I think this time (injured) has been a great opportunity for her to work on other areas.
“Aeleya loves to pick off intercepts, read the play and is developing her craft in one-on-one defence.
“She’s exciting to watch because she has a knack to take an intercept when you least expect it.”
SIENNA BURNS
Club: Newton Jaguars
Position: WA/WD/C
Sienna Burns is a crafty midcourter for Newton Jaguars who won selection in the Australian under-17 squad earlier this year.
While telling The Advertiser she was shocked by the call up the young gun deserved inclusion after stellar performances at the national championships.
Borlase says:
“Sienna is studious, a great learner and she’s developing her ability to create good angles to the ball and find good depth in second phase.
“She’s a really exciting prospect moving forward.”
OLIVIA NICHOLLS
Club: Oakdale
Position: C
Olivia Nicholls put together a breakout season running centre for Oakdale and was also part of the SA midcourt at the Under-19 National Championships.
Her strong physical attributes and all-round play make her one to watch for the future.
Borlase says:
“Olivia’s very courageous and is able to play one-on-one defence relentlessly and wear down her opponent.
“She’s really developing her game as a centre and starting to find spaces in the attacking third and the shooters.”
BROOKE IRLAM
Club: Garville
Position: GA
Brooke Irlam is a regional talent from Moonta on the Yorke Peninsula who is making waves at the Greys.
The young attacker has plenty of upside.
Borlase says:
“She’s been playing goal attack at Garville and is a really accurate, smart shooter who can work well in combination with those around her.
“We’re looking forward to seeing how she develops in the coming years.”
TAHLIA DNISTRJANKI
Club: Contax
Position: WA/WD/C
Tahlia Dnistrjanski is a diverse midcourter for Premier League powerhouse Contax who has played every game for the Blues this season.
She previously co-captained SA’s under-19 state side.
Borlase says:
“Tahlia’s been in the SASI program, is a year out of under-19s and a part of the Southern Force squad.
“She’s got amazing timing onto circle edge and the ability to run both ends of the court in defence and attack.”
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Originally published as SA netball's top young talents for 2022 including Kayla Graham, Poppy Gilfillan-Silk, Paris Sinclair (Netball SA Premier League)
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