Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) netballers Sophie Croft, Shannon Eagland, Sharni Layton, Laura Scherian, Amy Steel and Courtney Tairi represent half of the Australian 21-and-under team going into the Australian World Youth Netball Championships. AIS shooter Kim Borger was also on the team but, due to injury, has been replaced by Victoria’s Teagan Caldwell.

Australian Diamond squad member and West Coast Fever centre court player Madison Browne will captain the Australian team, with AIS athlete Sharni Layton in the vice-captain role. ANZ Championship young guns Caitlin Bassett and Shae Bolton will add strength to the powerful side.

Following their third placing at the last championships four years ago, the Australian team are out for gold and, after such a long build up, the opportunity to regain the title is starting to feel like reality for AIS and Australian 21-and-under coach Simone McKinnis.

‘For a long time it was just talk, I guess because it always seemed so far off,’ said McKinnis. ‘It is reality now. We’re all really excited to leave for the Cook Islands to try and win back the title.’

The young Australian side is regarded as a major threat in the World Youth Netball Championships and will be put through their paces by Jamaica (headed by Queensland Firebirds shooter Romelda Aiken), England and 2005 champions New Zealand.

‘Our form over the last 18 months has probably given us an edge over New Zealand, England and Jamaica,’ said McKinnis. ‘We’ve been good but certainly I see them as the teams that will be there contesting at the end.’

The 2009 World Youth Netball Championships are held in the Cook Islands from 11 to 20 August.

The Australian 21-and-under World Youth Netball Championships team

• Caitlin Bassett — Western Australia (West Coast Fever)
• Shae Bolton — Victoria (West Coast Fever)
• Madison Browne — Victoria (West Coast Fever)
• Teagan Caldwell — Victoria (Victorian Institute of Sport)
• Sophie Croft — Queensland (AIS)
• Shannon Eagland — Victoria (AIS)
• Andrea Gilmore — Western Australia (West Coast Fever)
• Ashlee Howard — Victoria (Melbourne Vixens)
• Sharni Layton — Victoria (AIS)
• Laura Scherian — Queensland (AIS)
• Amy Steel — Victoria (AIS)
• Courtney Tairi — New South Wales (AIS)