Kelly Roberts has reason to leap for joy, after being selected for the under-17 Combined Australian Netball Association championship team. By Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills netballer Kelly Roberts will pack her bags and jet overseas next year, after being given the opportunity of a lifetime to represent her country.
Roberts, 17, was selected for the under-17 Combined Australian Netball Association (CANA) championship team and will fly to Christchurch in May to compete against a New Zealand representative squad.
“I cried when I was told at the airport; it’s the most important thing to me. It is the biggest achievement I’ve ever had,” the pint-sized goal shooter-goal attack said.
CANA runs an annual netball competition that involves netball associations from all over Australia.
Each association is made up of a minimum of four netball clubs and also includes schools and colleges.
It is not affiliated with Netball Australia, but is viewed as a stepping stone to higher honours.
Roberts captained Cranbourne North in the event and it was the first time a Victorian team had entered the competition, which predominantly involves clubs from Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.
South Australian CANA secretary Pat Waterman said they were delighted to have a Victorian team involved and they’d also had a New South Wales team involved before.
Roberts has played netball for nine years, including stints for the City of Berwick and State League side the Gippsland Storm.
“It got too much (the training-load at Gippsland Storm) when I started VCE,” the Year 12 Eumemmerring Secondary College student said.
“I want to do nursing at university, but I am going to defer next year to concentrate on netball.”
The sport is in Roberts’ blood, with both her mother and sister having played netball.
“The whole family has been an inspiration, they have really encouraged me,” she said.
Boosted by her recent success, Roberts has some lofty personal goals in the sport.
“I hope to play for the Melbourne Kestrels. I’m working on getting better accuracy in my goaling and I want to improve in the mid-court,” she said.
In the short-term, Roberts is looking to make either the Gippsland or Melbourne Waverley State League team and will attend try-outs later in the year.
“If I keep my fitness and goaling up, I’m pretty confident of making one of the sides,” she said.
Despite her obvious individual talents, it is her team-oriented attitude that endears her to her colleagues.
Cranbourne North coach Tom Green described Kelly as an inspiration on and off the court and inspired kids to play at a higher level.
“She is a very caring girl. She’s very determined and technically more exact than other players. She has the ability to play at a higher level, but her height will restrict her, particularly in the position she plays,” he said.
Roberts is distinctly aware of her height disadvantage on the court.
“I have to shoot over much taller people. I make up for it with speed and accuracy,” she said.
“I love the fast pace and just the enjoyment of it – when I’m on court it makes me happy.”
