Gunning for glory on home soil

Staged from January 3 to 11, Victoria has accepted the opportunity to field an Invitational XI as the host state, with a further dozen players provided the opportunity to play on the national stage.

Having finished third at the carnival in South Australia last season, Victorian coach Gary Hughes- the brother of former Test quick Merv Hughes – was optimistic ahead of the up-coming tournament.

“It’s a great opportunity to have two teams participating,” Hughes said.

“The depth has been getting better and better over the years…and we’re really looking forward to getting to Bendigo as you would imagine there would be some sort of advantage playing on home soil.”

Milawa’s Amelia Reilly, Malvern’s Annabel Sutherland and St Patrick’s Rosie Wynd return from last season’s carnival, with the trio’s experience invaluable to the remainder of the squad.

“You just want the girls to go back to their clubs as better players,” Hughes said.

Over the years, Commonwealth Bank VicSpirit representatives Emma Inglis (2001) and Anna Lanning (2006 & 2007) are among the graduates of the 12-and-under girls team.

Victorian squad

Courtney Aughtie (Frankston High School)
Teagan Brett (Tallygaroopna Primary School)
Lucy Cripps (Mount Eliza Primary School)
Kate Douglass (Girton Grammar School)
Erika Quinn (Academy of Mary Immaculate)
Amelia Reilly (Milawa Primary School)
Clem Ryan-Fuller (Port Melbourne Primary School)
Scarlett Saxon-Jones (Werribee Primary School)
Holly Spencer (Carey Baptist Grammar School)
Madeleine Stirling (Melbourne Girls Grammar School)
Annabel Sutherland (Malvern Primary School)
Rosie Wynd (St Patrick’s Parish Primary School)

Invitational squad

Imogen Barlow (Sacred Heart College)
Macey Brereton (Gunbower Primary School)
Alannah Dahlsen (Genazzano FCJ College)
Sophie Dyer (Buangor Primary School)
Merinda Hale (Mount Eliza North Primary School)
Keira Morley (St Gabriel’s Primary School – Traralgon)
Thenushi Perera (Vermont Secondary College)
Becky Petty (Ringwood Heights Primary School)
Sarah Sansonetti (St Damian’s Primary School)
Eve Sheehan (North Melbourne Primary School)
Natalie Taylor (Beaconhills College Berwick)
Tahleah Ticehurst (Pentland Primary School)

*Image sourced from The Moyne Gazette.