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Zali Anderson off to Canberra in Netball Australia Under 21 squad

Netball Australia has named a 17-strong cohort of promising athletes in the 2023 Australian 21/U Squad set to hone their craft this week in Canberra. And Wonthaggi Power’s Zali Anderson is among them. Of course, since her Power days, Zali has gone...

by Michael Giles

Published September 06, 2023

Zali Anderson off to Canberra in Netball Australia Under 21 squad — Kongwak’s Zali Anderson, front second left, was a member of the Australian Championship winning Collingwood Magpies Academy team, and is now off to Canberra after being named in the Australian Under 21 squad.

Netball Australia has named a 17-strong cohort of promising athletes in the 2023 Australian 21/U Squad set to hone their craft this week in Canberra.

And Wonthaggi Power’s Zali Anderson is among them.

Of course, since her Power days, Zali has gone on to play for the Boroondara Express in the Victorian Netball League and the Collingwood Magpies Academy Team.

And it was while competing in one of the Collingwood club’s swansong events, the Australian Netball Championships, won by Collingwood, that she caught the eye of the Australian selectors and she was named last Saturday, August 30 and will be on a plane on Thursday, this week, headed for Canberra and the AIS for four days of gruelling tryouts and training.

The Australian Netball Championships is one of the best pathways for athletes from around the country to hit the court to represent their state or territory and to show their stuff.

The Collingwood Magpies were crowned champions after a thrilling Grand Final win over the QBE Swifts Academy.

Netball Australia Pathway Chair of Selectors, Michelle Wilkins commended the athleticism displayed at this year’s Australian Netball Championships.

“The talent we witnessed was of high skill across all the states and territories,” Wilkins said.

“With eleven teams competing, it gave teams the opportunity to experience varied playing styles which contributed to the level of competition which grew each day the competition, culminating in a skilled and physical Grand Final.

“There is tremendous potential in our pathway to inform a strong future in the Suncorp Super Netball and Origin Australian Diamonds.”

Wilkins also commented on this year’s selected Australian Squad.

“The talent within this year’s 21/U pool demonstrates a good variety of athletes and skillsets,” she said.

“The athletes coming through the system are incredibly strong and conditioned. To compete at such a high level and sustain that form across a weeklong competition is always impressive.”

This year’s selection marks the second call up for athletes Maggie Caris, Matisse Letherbarrow and Amy Sligar who were in the 2022 Australian 21/U Squad.

The 2023 line up also boasts seven athletes who took the court across Suncorp Super Netball this year, including Ava Black (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Ashleigh Ervin (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Sophie Fawns (NSW Swifts), Georgie Horjus (Adelaide Thunderbirds, Matisse Letherbarrow (GIANTS Netball), Erin O’Brien (GIANTS Netball) and Amy Sligar (GIANTS Netball).

The selected squad will complete a four-day training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport from Thursday 7 September. A pivotal development tool, the camp will provide athletes with specialist coaching, match play and off court education.

Anita Keelan, Netball Australia Pathway Head Coach and Selector, will lead the upcoming camp, focusing on building connections on and off the court and understanding team dynamics.

“I am very excited to work with the selected athletes in the 2023 squad,” Keelan said.

“Specialist coaching will be provided at camp in all areas of the court with a particular focus on player connections and the idea of working with and for their teammates.

“This theme will be implemented in mentoring both on and off the court as our athletes learn what creates a great team, what the individual brings to a team, what being your best version in a team looks like.”

Keelan will be joined by specialist coaches Kylee Byrne (shooting), Christine Voge (midcourt) and Cathy Fellows (defence) to continue each athlete’s individual growth and development.

2023 Australian 21/U Squad Athletes are as follows: