All five will play key roles for both the Melbourne Vixens and the Victorian Fury in 2019 and, according to Vixens coach Simone McKinnis, are a testament to the development avenues available to young netballers around the country.
“Rahni, Lara and Jacqui have already been exposed to the Vixens environment this year and have really embraced what the team is about, while we welcome Rudi and Allie who have impressed us not only on the court but also in their dedication to their own development, which allows them to be a great fit for the Vixens environment.
“Victorian netball is fantastic in the development of athletes to prepare them for the elite competition, and by exposing them through training partner and Victorian Fury programs, we’re allowing a smoother transition into the team.”
Native of Geelong, Allie Smith is a talented young defender who has progressed through the Netball Victoria pathway.
ith a resume that includes selections in the Australian and Victorian U/19 squads, Smith has plenty of high-level netball under her belt and played a pivotal in the Victorian Fury’s 2018 season.
Rudi Ellis is the other newcomer to the Vixens training squad and joins the team after spending 2018 as a NSW Swifts training partner. The young defender will be keen to continue developing her skills under arguably two of the competition’s best defensive pairing in Jo Weston and Emily Mannix.
After dominating the Deakin University Australian Netball League in 2018, shooter Rahni Samason returns for her second year as a Melbourne Vixens training partner. With a busy international and domestic schedule ahead of teams in 2019, look for Samason to push for a place in the Vixens starting line-up in the near future.
Victorian Fury captain and midcourt star, Lara Dunkley also returns to the Vixens training squad. Dunkley’s game went to another level when she was elected to the leadership group of the Fury and should enjoy another opportunity learning from Vixens captain Kate Moloney and Diamonds leader and fellow midcourter Liz Watson.
Defender Jacqui Newton, who got vital experience in the Suncorp Super Netball Vixens starting last season when she was brought up to replace an injured Emily Mannix, will also return as a training partner in 2019.
Pre-season training kicks off this week for the Vixens as they prepare for the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball season which kicks off in April against the Firebirds in Melbourne. Find the full fixture here.
