Cairns-based athletes Ciarn MacBride, Charlotte Jonsen and Daniel Statton were all members of the initial cohort of regional talent announced last October in the QFFA intake.
MacBride and Jonsen were both named in the Australian 17/U National Squad last week after successfully representing Queensland in the National Netball Championships in Victoria.
Statton meanwhile has been named in the invitees for the Australian Kelpies and Fast5 selection camp from which the final Australian team for 2024 will be named in June.
Statton’s selection comes after a stellar performance for Queensland at the Australian Mens and Mixed Netball Championships in Brisbane where he was named MVP in the Men’s 20/U competition.
“The Firebirds Futures Academy has helped me with the tactical side of netball,” Statton said.
“My game has changed a lot for the better. The trainings are a smaller squad which has been great as I get to work in a group with other talented netballers.
“There are more opportunities to spend one-on-one time with the coach to work on individual aspects of my game and mum and dad love that they don’t have to pay for airfares just so I can go to trainings.”
Regional Coach Kelly Hynes says the selections show the value in the QFFA program, which goes beyond those athletes involved and into local competitions as their high performance learnings and behaviours spread across the regions.
“Being able to ensure we are working in line with metro-based athletes in regards to not only technical and tactical skillsets and physical competencies but also on performance behaviours and wellbeing means we have been able to put forward well rounded athletes who can compete with the rest of the state and nation for high performance positions,” Hynes said.
“Having these three athletes selected into national squads means we are doing the right things here in Cairns in preparing them for their future pathways.
“It is of course a credit to the exceptional talent and skill of the athletes and to their hard work and dedication in our training environment and is a significant milestone in their journey and opens up opportunities for them to compete at higher levels.
“Being able to achieve all of that from Cairns lets us know that our programs are working and in fact working very well.”
Hynes said the achievements of MacBride, Jonsen and Statton would inspire other athletes in the region and their selection ensures regional talents aren’t being overlooked when it comes to national team selections.
“This inclusivity will strengthen the overall competitiveness of national teams and include more fans from all regional areas,” she said.
