Five City West Falcons players could feature for Victorian Fury in next year’s Australian Netball League competition.
Netball Victoria named a squad of 15 players who will be looking for a spot in the Victorian team which competes in the second strongest netball competition in Australia.
The final list will also include all four Melbourne Vixens training partners, including Falcons’ Jacqui Newton. Newton played one game for the Fury last season.
Falcons’ Molly Jovic has been named in the Fury’s squad for a second straight year. She played a key role in the Fury’s midcourter earlier this year.
Jovic was the Falcons best player this season in the Victorian Netball League championship division, claiming the club’s most valuable player award.
Jane Cook, who spent last season with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the SunCorp Super Netball competition before playing with the Falcons in the second half of the season, returns to the Fury squad after being part of the team in 2016.
In 2016, she shot 46 goals in the Fury’s grand final against New South Wales Waratahs.
Rudi Ellis, who joined the Falcons earlier this year, after moving from NSW will get her opportunity to represent her new state. Ellis was formally a sign-on player with the Sydney Swifts.
Tahnysha Salanoa rounds out the Falcons players named in the squad. Salanoa, who has been part of Victorian under age teams, stepped up the the Falcons championship team this season.
Fury head coach Leesa Gallard said the alignment of the ANL and Suncorp Super Netball is beneficial to the development of athletes.
Earlier this year, the Fury lost the grand final to Queensland Fusion 55-53.
“Each year the Fury program aims to provide development opportunities and a really strong training environment for future Suncorp Super Netball and Vixens athletes to thrive,” she said.
“We are excited to see some very talented athletes progressing through from our underage programs this year after strong national campaigns. It’s pleasing to see them put their hand up and challenge themselves.
“After a very successful year for Victorian netball on the national stage, and possibly one of the strongest VNL seasons that we’ve seen, it was a tough task for the selectors.
“With ten of the 15 athletes 21 years or under, Victorian netball is in a great position right now.”
The squad will start training in December with the final team named in February.
