U18 Vic Metro Teams Announced
The 2010 Victorian Metropolitan Under 18 State Teams who will contest the Australian Championships in Terrigal, New South Wales in April this year, have been selected after a tough selection process.
Continuing in the tradition of other Vic Metro State Teams, both U18 teams have a proud history at the National Championships. The Men’s Championships have been running since 1954, and in that time Vic Metro has won 22 of the 53 Championships. Our women’s team have an equally strong record with 21 titles from 44 since the Women’s Championships began in 1966.
Adding to the strength of both teams are 5 returning players from the 2009 campaign. For the Men’s team, Sam Gilmore (Diamond Valley) and Owen Odigie (Dandenong) will be bringing all the skills and knowledge from last year’s Championships with them to assist Vic Metro’s pursuit of a fourth U18 Mens Championship in a row. Similarly, Sara Blicavs (Melbourne), Rosie Fadljevic (Dandenong) and Jacinta Vandenberg (Dandenong) will be full of determination with the aim of adding another Gold medal to their collections.
The Men’s team has been training at a high rate and have improved in certain key aspects of the game. “When the squad returned from the East Coast Challenge Tournament, the team was selected after two practice games”, said Head Coach Alan McAughtry. “I’m happy with the balance of the team. It was a difficult selection process and some very good players missed out on making the team.”
“At the Nationals in April we will be dealing with good quality teams coached by ex NBL and State coaches, so preparation is critical.” McAughtry is also looking to play an up-tempo, versatile game. “This year’s team is very talented and I expect all players to play a role”, he said.
The Women’s team also came together shortly after the East Coast Challenge where they performed with distinction. Since then they have been working on a fast paced game on both offence and defence. “This is a team with many options available to it”, said Head Coach Wayne Pollock, “we have strengths in all positions and a team that will have a very strong bench”.
Both Vic Metro U18 Men’s and Women’s teams have won the past three titles in a row. With the talent and commitment of this year’s players and coaching staff, all eyes will again be firmly set on replicating the previous success of our state and bringing the National Championships back to Victoria for the fourth year in a row.
The teams consist of:
U18 Vic Metro Men (name/association)
Jack Blackburn | Waverly |
Taylor Dyson | Knox |
Sam Gilmore | Diamond Valley |
Michael Harper | Waverly |
Venky Jois | Dandenong |
Pat Mockiewicz | Knox |
Owen Odigie | Dandenong |
Greg Page | Diamond Valley |
Sean Preston | Melbourne |
Mitchell Riggs | Frankston |
Emergencies | |
Lucas Barker | Dandenong |
Drew McKenzie | Diamond Valley |
Josh Oswald | Werribee |
Ryan Orbairns | Melbourne |
Kristian Rocci | Werribee |
Staff | |
Alan McAughtry | Head Coach |
Simon Giovanonni | Assistant Coach |
Ross Wignell | Assistant Coach |
Wayne Carr | Team Manager |
Jenni Allen | Physiotherapist |
U18 Vic Metro Women (name/association)
Sara Blicavs | Melbourne |
Olivia Bontempelli | Eltham |
Aimie Clydesdale | Dandenong |
Sam Donald | Knox |
Rosie Fadljevic | Dandenong |
Shanae Greaves | Knox |
Carley Mijovic | Dandenong |
Lauren Pearce | Bulleen |
Tenaya Phillips | Dandenong |
Jacinta Vandenberg | Dandenong |
Emergencies | |
Bianca Babic | Melbourne |
Georgi Lovelace | Dandenong |
Rebekah O'Donnell | Kilsyth |
Kiara Phillips | Dandenong |
Jaclyn Smith | Eltham |
Staff | |
Wayne Pollock | Head Coach |
Jeremi Moule | Assistant Coach |
Kelly Breazeale | Assistant Coach |
Robyn Houghton | Team Manager |
Megan Roy | Physiotherapist |
