Victorian Under-18 Country and Metro squads announced

Staged from September 30 to October 2, the multi-format series will feature three Twenty20s and a 50-over game.

Country will be looking to replicate last year’s series win with Commonwealth Bank VicSpirit squad member Sophie Molineux lining up for the team.

Molineux will be joined by last season’s under-18 Victorian teammates Makinley Blows, Hope Irvine and Rhiann O’Donnell.

The Country side also boasts six members from last season’s under-15 Victorian team including Annabel Martin, Georgia Wareham, Claire Wilson, Taylah Vlamenick, Hayleigh Brennan and Holly Whitford.

While for the Metro, under-15 representatives, Melina Ayres, Amy Yates and Madi Wright, will bring their experiences from the 2013-14 National Championships.

Both squads will be looking to impress with the series being used as a key selection tool for the 2015 Championships.

“The coaches have presented two well-balanced squads that will make the final squad for the National Championships very difficult to select,” Victorian Academy Female Chairman of Selectors Kent Hannam said.

“This is a wonderful position to be in, for not only this year’s squad, but for the future of the VicSpirit program and female participation in Victoria.”

Victorian under-18 coach Duncan Harrison noted that there had been a lot of positive signs throughout the under-18 program and that the girls had been preparing well for the series.

“The first phase of the under-18 female academy program has seen 44 players from across Victoria attend six specialist training sessions all held at the MCG,” Harrison said.

“Throughout the program, the girls have experienced over 24 hours of coaching time from high performance coaches, including Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick, VicSpirit coach Barry Neivandt, VicSpirit players Jess Cameron and Kristen Beams as well as former Australian captain Karen Rolton.

“The skill level and attitude displayed by all players has been at an extremely high level and it has been very pleasing to see the development of individual players throughout the program.”

A preliminary training squad will be selected in October with the Under-18 National Championships being held in Ballarat from January 14 to 20, 2015.

Vic Metro Squad
Kyra Black (Melbourne CC & Outer East Eagles)
Elise Collier (Dandenong WCC & Southern Pioneers)
Grace Mills (Ringwood CC & South East Sharks)
Melina Ayres (Melbourne CC & Southern Pioneers)
Taylah Lynn (Essendon Maribyrnong Park LCC & Western Spirit)
Amy Yates (Melbourne CC & South East Sharks)
Madi Clayton (Box Hill CC & Inner East Emus)
Madi Wright (Box Hill CC & Outer East Eagles)
Kiara Jones (Coburg CC & North West Wizards)
Primrose Wohlers (Dandenong WCC & South East Sharks)
True Campbell (Melbourne CC & Outer East Eagles)
Courtney Neale (Dandenong WCC & South East Sharks)
Coach: Nicole Martin

Vic Country Squad
Makinley Blows (Box Hill CC & Mallee Murray Heat)
Annabel Martin (Essendon Maribyrnong Park LCC & Mallee Murray Heat)
Sophie Molineux (Dandenong WCC & Gippsland Pride)
Hope Irvine (Plenty Valley CC & Northern Rivers
Georgia Wareham (Mortlake CC & Western Waves)
Kate Kile (Prahran CC & Central Highlands)
Claire Wilson (Corowa CC & North East Knights)
Jacinta Goodger-Chandler (Napoleon-Sebastapol CC & Central Highlands)
Taylah Vlaminick (Plenty Valley CC & Northern Rivers)
Hayleigh Brennan (Dandenong WCC & Gippsland Pride)
Claire Nolte (Merino CC & Western Waves)
Holly Whitford (Sale City CC, Gippsland Pride)
Rhiann O’Donnell (Plenty Valley CC & Mallee Murray Heat)
Coach: Duncan Harrison