In line with the current arrangement with Collingwood Magpies, the 2019 Tasmanian Magpies will be made up of the recently announced Magpies Netball Training Partners, along with five Tasmanian based athletes. Included in the Magpies Training Partners is Tasmanian Kelsie Rainbow – who retains her SSN training partner position after elevation during the 2018 season.
This a departure from previous years where a larger selection of Tasmanian athletes have been named, from whom a number were selected to travel weekly. This year only five Tasmanian based athletes have been named, along with four training partners. This means that these five athletes will travel every week during the competition, with Training Partners training with the group periodically to ensure preparedness in the event of being called up due to injury or illness.
Of the five Tasmanian squad members, two premiership players will return [Jodlowska & Miller], along with squad member elevation [Johns] and two new additions [Probert-Hill & Claridge). Claridge was a part of the inaugural Tasmanian Magpies Team in 2017, whilst Probert-Hill has worked her way through the Tasmanian pathway to be rewarded with selection.
Newly appointed head coach Elissa Kent is looking forward to seeing the group come together.
“We have some experience now in this team after a successful 2018 season, as well as some fresh faces, and I am excited to see what our new faces bring to the group dynamic on the court.”
“It will be great to see the new faces get exposure at this level and see the team and individuals develop their technical and tactical skills throughout 2019” she said.
Player pathway for Tasmanian athletes is becoming clearer through the Tasmanian Magpies evolution.
Netball Tasmania CEO Aaron Pidgeon said 2018 was an exciting year with the Tasmanian Magpies winning the ANL premiership.
“We look forward to continuing to offer a pathway into SSN for our Tasmanian Athletes in a program where they can experience competitive netball at an elite standard, and we’re excited that the players are proving that they can hold their own at that level.”
“Netball Tasmania looks forward to continuing to work closely with Collingwood to drive our partnership to new levels of success in 2019” said Pidgeon.
The Tasmanian Magpies will come together for the first time for a training camp in Melbourne in the new year.
2019 Tasmanian Magpies Squad:
Brooke Allen (Magpies Training Partner)
Vanessa Augustini (Magpies Training Partner)
Melissa Bragg (Magpies Training Partner)
Zoe Claridge (Northern Hawks)
Jane Cook (Magpies Training Partner)
Sam Gooden (Magpies Training Partner)
Zanna Jodlowska (Karana Flames)
Emma Johns (Kingston Blues)
Sharni Lambden (Magpies Training Partner)
Shelby Miller (Cavaliers)
Ashleigh Probert-Hill (Cripps Waratah)
Kelsie Rainbow (Magpies Training Partner)
2019 Tasmanian Magpies Training Partners:
Lucy Dennis (Cavaliers)
Laura Elliott (Kingston Blues)
Hayley McDougall (Devon)
Alex Vinen (Cripps Waratah)
