The team of 15 will combine some of Tasmania’s most talented netballers, as well as the six training partners from Collingwood Magpies Netball.
The Tasmanian Magpies will boast seven returning faces from their inaugural campaign, including local standout Shelby Miller and up-and-coming Victorian shooter, Samantha Gooden.
The team will welcome new faces to the program in 2018, including former Melbourne Vixens training partner Kelsie Rainbow, Geelong mid-courter Melissa Bragg, former Queensland Fusion player Vanessa Augustini and Tasmanian goaler Dannielle Pickett, who are all set to represent the Magpies for the first time.
The Pies’ coaching staff, led by Victorian coach Kate Upton and assisted by Tasmania’s Claire Dennis, will also have 23-year-old Cody Lange available in the shooting circle once the goaler returns from injury.
Although a newcomer to the Tasmanian program, Lange played an important role in Collingwood’s SSN campaign last year, before succumbing to her second serious knee injury in two years.
The Tasmanian Magpies will be looking to better its sixth-place finish in 2017, with Upton highlighting the important balance of youth and experience in her 2018 squad.
“This is a young group, but it’s filled with talented and determined athletes who are eager to make an impact on the netball court,” Upton said.
“With the mix of our Tasmanian players and the Magpies training partners, we expect this team to be very competitive in 2018.
“Our program is important for the future of netball in Tasmania, and we are committed to setting the right standards for our athletes under the umbrella of the Collingwood Magpies Netball team.”
The Tasmanian Magpies will begin its 2018 campaign against the Western Sting in Perth. The team will split its home games between Hisense Arena and Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne and the Silverdome in Launceston.
Collingwood, Netball Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government continue to strengthen their ongoing partnership, with Magpies Netball having recently spent a week of its pre-season in Hobart.
The team faced the Giants in a practice match during the trip, where 2000 fans packed into The Derwent Entertainment Centre to watch the two sides compete.
The Magpies will return to Tasmania in June, when they host the Queensland Firebirds in its round six SSN match in Launceston.
2018 TASMANIAN MAGPIES SQUAD
Vanessa Augustini (Magpies Training Partner)
Melissa Bragg (Magpies Training Partner)
Madeline Carter (Melbourne Uni Lightning)
Samantha Gooden (Magpies training Partner)
Zanna Jodlowska (Karana Flames)
Emma Johns (Kingston Blues)
Sharni Lambden (Magpies Training Partner)
Cody Lange (Magpies Training Partner)
Hannah Lee (Karana Flames)
Mary Livesey (Magpies Training Partner)
Shelby Miller (Cavaliers)
Kaitlin Petrie (Karana Flames)
Dannielle Pickett (Northern Hawks)
Kelsie Rainbow (Melbourne Uni Lightning)
Alex Vinen (Cripps)
TASMANIAN MAGPIES 2018 FIXTURE
Round One (May 5-6) – West Coast Fever vs. Tasmanian Magpies, State Netball Centre (Perth)
Round Two (May 12-13) – Tasmanian Magpies vs. Southern Force, State Netball Hockey Centre (Melbourne)
Round Three (May 19-20) – Tasmanian Magpies vs. Territory Storm, Margaret Court Arena (Melbourne)
Round Four (May 26-27) – NNSW Waratahs vs. Tasmanian Magpies, Genea Netball Centre (Sydney)
Round Five (June 2-3) – Tasmanian Magpies vs. QLD Fusion, Silverdome (Launceston)
Round Six (June 15-16) – Canberra Giants vs. Tasmanian Magpies, Solarhub Netball Centre (ACT)
Round Seven (June 23-24) – Tasmanian Magpies vs. VIC Fury, Margaret Court Arena (Melbourne)
