ELLA Sevior is one of the most promising youngsters in the entire Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) open netball competition and will represent the league tomorrow following her most recent achievement.

The young Hamilton Kangaroos’ open captain was selected to represent the HFNL open team at the Netball Victoria Association Championships and will travel to Melbourne with the team tomorrow to compete – the goal being to win the whole thing.

The 17-year-old is the latest of a host of Kangaroos players to represent the HFNL in what has been a successful few weeks for the club.

The grand final winning junior teams from the Western Zone championships in Ballarat will also take part in the state titles tomorrow with a number of Hamilton juniors in action.

Sevior is the only Hamilton player who was selected in the open side which will be coached by South Warrnambool’s Will Jamison - a two-time premiership coach in the HFNL.

Sevior was surprised to hear of her selection a few weeks ago with the incredible calibre of players around her and couldn’t wait to test herself at a higher level.

“I was shocked when I was told I’d made the team, being quite young still and especially looking at all the other players that were selected,” she told The Spectator.

“The team has lots of big names and I’m just so excited to have the opportunity to play with the likes of Carly Watson, Ally O’Connor and the rest of the team.”

The 17-year-old has made a smooth and successful transition into Hamilton Kangaroos’ open team and been a key contributor across the court.

While Sevior says she is a natural defender, she started the season in the attacking goal ring for the Roos playing in goal shooter and goal attack– scoring 34 goals across three games.

“Now we’ve got Em (Sommerville) and Mim (Chun) injured, I’m now back playing defence alongside Grace Cleaver, I am very happy to be back in defence again,” she laughed.

“I’ll be down the defensive end at goal defence and goal keeper (for the championships).”

It is Sevior’s first time being part of the HFNL open team and taking on the state titles at a senior level, but she wants to be part of the redemption that many returning players are searching for.

The team has made the final four in the last two years of the championships but hasn’t been able to win it and the young gun said the girls were hungry for success.

 “I’m really excited to see how our team goes this year as the open team has been competitive in previous years, just falling short … the obvious goal for the tournament is to win,” Sevior said.

“But the overall aim for the day is adapting to who we’re working with and thinking tactically and strategically as a team.

“I hope to learn as much as I can from Will … I know that he is very knowledgeable, so I hope to learn different strategies, so I know how to react and deal with individual situations on court.”

While Sevior has adapted well to the increased intensity and pressure that HFNL open netball brings, the teenager said she was expecting another big step up.

“Playing against the metro teams is just a whole different standard of netball, it’s a very fast-paced game up in Melbourne,” she said.

“To have the opportunity to play on players at such a high level is such an awesome opportunity and will hopefully allow me to further develop my own netball.”

“Lots of players in other teams are (also) looked at by VNL (Victorian Netball League) clubs.

Sevior wanted to showcase her leadership at the championships and continue to work on improving certain areas of her game.

“I’m a very vocal player and can usually adapt my game style to the attacker I’m on,” she said.

“Although, I do need to get back into the groove of committing to an intercept and not pulling out halfway through, and also going with the flight of the ball when reading a pass.”

Sevior’s development has been immeasurable in 2024 as she continues to take strides and discover her way of leading the side.

Captaincy at the age of 17 is a big ask and a big responsibility to take on, especially when on-court success is not coming as quickly as hoped.

However, Sevior has relished the opportunity to lead her young Kangaroos’ open side under the guidance of coach, Emma Sommerville.

“I’ve enjoyed being captain this season, especially because it’s a very young side, it’s such a great group of girls,” she said.

“It has been tough this year not having a win thus far, but seeing everyone improve week in week out is a reward in itself.

“It’s not the four points on the board but it will be in years to come.”

Other players selected in the 12-player HFNL open team include Emma Buwalda, Meg Carlin, Meg Kelson, Ally O’Connor, Gen O’Connor, Isabella Rea, Carly Watson (South Warrnambool), Lily Eldridge (Camperdown), Millie Jennings (Koroit), Eva Ryan (Warrnambool) and Grace Taylor (Cobden).