ATHLETICISM and versatility best describe this year’s Nelson Bay under-13 years representative netball squad.
On the eve of the 2026 HART Junior State Netball Titles in Sydney, the team is preparing for an intensive three days of elite competition featuring the finest young netball talent in NSW.
Under the guidance of experienced mother-daughter coaching duo Amanda and Taylar Wilks and manager Michele Chadwick, the Bay girls have been chalking up encouraging performances in their age group at recent representative carnivals.
The return of NSW touch football representative and classy midcourter/goal shooter Harlow Colley is a huge boost for the Nelson Bay outfit, which is blessed with speed, agility, tenacity and court craft.
Colley is one of several promising all-round athletes in the squad who can cover a variety of positions.
Other talented midcourt players with shooting skills include the emerging Zara McCaull and Emma Ward while the up-and-coming Shaela Gilbert and Macey Matthews have caught the eye as shooter/defenders.
Top juniors Brynne Dagwell, Maeve Lewis and Emilie Weaver show enormous potential as midcourt/defenders along with defender Indianna Bales and midcourters Mia Wells and Isabella McFarlane.
The Nelson Bay under-13s team will compete in the division three category with fixtures against Kurri Kurri, Woy Woy, Mount Druitt, Great Lakes, Lismore and Quirindi on the opening day before squaring off with Muswellbrook, Cessnock, Macleay, Inverell, Manning Valley and Scone this Sunday and Ballina, Southern Highlands, Lower Clarence, Woolgoolga, Tamworth and Queanbeyan next Monday.
By Chris KARAS
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