Seasoned leader Ellie Brice, who hails from Gympie, has been named captain of the 19 and Under team while Sunshine Coast’s Samaya Cook will lead the 17 and Under squad.
Brice will be supported by Tully product Sasha Flegler as the 19U vice-captain while Darling Downs athlete Simone Botha will share vice-captaincy of the 17 and Under team alongside Ipswich’s Ruby Stanford.
Brice is no stranger to leadership positions having led Queensland to gold as captain of the championship-winning 17 and Under squad in 2023 before being vice-captain of the 19U team last year.
A tenacious midcourter, Brice currently competes with the Brisbane North Cougars in the HART Premier Netball League and is also a key member of the Firebirds Futures squad, preparing for the 2025 Super Netball Reserves competition.
Flegler, who moved to Brisbane for university studies after finishing high school in Townsville at the end of 2023, has already made her mark by playing for Bond University Bull Sharks in the HART Premier Netball League and was a member of Australia’s gold-medal winning team at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games.
19U coach Linda Peterson said the process to appoint both leaders had been exhaustive.
"Aspiring leaders had to write an expression of interest with a cover letter outlining their leadership qualities and any previous experience in similar roles,” Peterson said.
“They were then interviewed and asked a number of questions about situational leadership.
“Ellie and Sasha were chosen as they are role models for the team and operate with respect whilst living the professional behaviours required in such a position.
“Ellie invests deeply in her trade, believes in fairness, integrity and self-improvement, and always demonstrates great sportsmanship and integrity.
“Sasha is up-front and honest in her interactions and her work rate is inspiring to all. She believes in preparation, teamwork and has a never-say-die attitude.”
17U coach Erin Byrnes said Cook, Botha and Stanford stood out as leaders in her group of young athletes.
"These players have showcased strong leadership through clear communication, teamwork, and resilience,” Byrnes said.
“Their ability to inspire and unite the team, both on and off the court, drives success and sets a positive example for their teammates.
“Their team first mentality will be crucial to our success.”
The 2025 NNC will be contested during the week of April 10-16, featuring representative teams from every state and territory across the country battling for titles across both age groups.
Tickets for the National Netball Championships are on sale to the general public through INTIX.
