All smiles: Shepparton young gun Mackenzie O’Dwyer has been selected in the Victoria 17-and-under squad.
Photo by
Zac Standish
Goulburn Valley League has once again solidified its standing as one of the state’s top netball associations, with three of its young stars being selected in Victorian squads for the National Netball Championships in April.
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Shepparton’s Mackenzie O’Dwyer and Shepparton Swans’ Harriet Gall will fly the flag in the 17-and-under side, while Rochester young gun Teal Hocking will suit up for the 19-and-under team.
These selections come after a rigorous selection process where they were initially identified as top 50 players in their age groups before having to showcase their skills on two separate trial days.
The three girls had standout 2022 seasons, with O’Dwyer and Gall making their A-grade debuts at the age of 14 and 16 respectively.
While Hocking had a brilliant campaign for Rochester where she announced herself as one of the best young attackers in the region.
Reward for effort: Harriet Gall will be joining Mackenzie O’Dwyer in the 17-and-under side.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Shepparton Swans A-grade coach Courtney Simpson said having three girls from the GVL selected in state squads showed how strong the game was in the region at the moment.
“To see three girls from our region make the state team, which has typically been very challenging for country kids to make, is just incredible for our league,” Simpson said.
“This result just shows what exciting times we have ahead of us, the last few years have been tough for clubs to put everything together and provide these kids with development opportunities.
“The Goulburn Valley League is heading in such an exciting direction and being able to attract and keep kids like this in our league is incredible.
“We’ve had quite a few kids go on to play VNL and even Super Netball, and the with the way things are going I think we can expect more and more.”
Star on the rise: Rochester's Teal Hocking will suit up for Victoria in the 19-and-under squad.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
Being the woman in charge at Gall’s home club, Simpson has had a major hand in nurturing her development into a top class player.
Having watched the hard work she has put in during her time at the Swans, Simpson said she was thrilled to see Gall receive some reward for effort.
“It’s so fabulous and I honestly couldn’t imagine a more worthy kid to get this opportunity,” she said.
“Harriet is easily one of the most hard working, dedicated and quietly driven athletes I have come across at the club.
“She gets up very early in the morning and works so hard to get the best out of herself, so she deserves this on every level.”
Joining Gall in the 17-and-under team is O’Dwyer.
The young talent plays under Jacinta Todd at Shepparton, with her coach labelling O’Dwyer’s selection as “amazing’’.
“I know our club is super proud,” Todd said.
“It means a lot (to the club), girls that then come here to play can see that pathway.
“She has worked so hard, not only when she made the Victorian Schoolgirls team, but she’s just had her eyes on the prize in a way.”
Training alongside Victorian Netball League club City West Falcons — where Todd is a coach — O’Dwyer has gained further high level netball experience in recent months.
“She’s been in the pre-season program there working really hard, she’s been working super hard up here, all with the goal to make that state team and it’s come through,” Todd said.
There will also be a distinct flavour to the coaching staff of both teams, with distinguished Bears mentor Tracey Brereton set to lead the 17-and-under squad and Todd taking on an assistant role with the 19-and-under team.
Both sides are due to compete in Darwin at the National Netball Championships in April 2023.
