Mi Mi to lead Firebirds Futures at ANC

Mi Mi followed in her older sister Jemma’s footsteps earlier this year as an SSN player when the Queensland Firebirds training partner debuted as an injury replacement against the West Coast Fever in Perth.

The midcourter would remain a part of the Firebirds squad for the remainder of the 2023 season, playing five matches including First Nations Round wins over Giants Netball and the Melbourne Vixens.

The ACU Brisbane North Cougars star will now lead the rebranded Firebirds Futures team, which was revealed following Sunday’s HART Sapphire Series (HSS) Grand Final at Nissan Arena.

Joining Mi Mi in the 12-strong team are clubmates Rylee Burns, Ashlee Barnett and Lia Woolnough.

The team also includes four players from the Cougars’ HSS Grand Final opponents, the TAE Aerospace Jets, with Abigail Meafou, Chloe Litherland, Elsa Sif Sandholt and Lily Gribble selected.

Meafou and Litherland will form the leadership group alongside Mi Mi.

“These three athletes have already demonstrated the leadership qualities I am looking for to bring our young group up to the standards required at this level both on and off the court,” Firebirds Futures Head Coach Jess Whitfort said.

Firebirds’ training partner Isabelle Shearer is one of four Carina Leagues Club Tigers players that round out the team alongside Annie Lawrie, Jessie Laga’aia and Maddi Ridley.

Selectors have also chosen six players as training partners – Kourtnee Baird, Olivia Dijkstra, Tahlia Evans, Talitah Faifai, Jess Milne and Lillyana Rennie.

“It has been an extremely competitive selection process over the past few weeks as we have been trialling combinations and exposing the athletes to the demands of the ANC training environment,” Whitfort said.

“We have selected a group of athletes, we believe provides opportunity for a variety of lineups and playing styles ready to take on the high quality of teams we will face at the championships later in August.

“This team is completed by a high quality group of training partners who will be ready to support the team in their preparation and lead up.”

The second edition of the ANC will be held from August 21 to 27 between 11 teams from state and territory Member Organisations and Suncorp Super Netball clubs at the Morayfield Sports and Events Centre.

The 2023 Australian Netball Championships will be available to watch free, live and on-demand via Kayo Freebies. 

Kayo Freebies can be accessed by downloading the Kayo Sports app or visiting www.kayosports.com.au/freebies and creating an account. Kayo Freebies are free with no credit card details required.

FIREBIRDS FUTURES 2023

Training Partners: Kourtnee Baird (Gold Coast Titans), Olivia Dijkstra (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Tahlia Evans (Brisbane South Wildcats), Talitah Faifai (Gold Coast Titans), Jessica Milne (Gold Coast Titans), Lillyana Rennie (ACU Brisbane North Cougars).