Ivanhoe duo Grace Markovic and Dakota Blade and North Heidelberg’s Tara Watson have been named in Victoria’s squads to compete at the 2022 National Netball Championships.
After an intense trial period, Markovic was selected in the under-19 squad, while Blade and Watson were included in the under-17 squad.
Markovic has represented Ivanhoe in the NFNL since 2018 and took the Section 1 competition by storm in 2019, at just 15 years of age.
She finished fifth in the league best and fairest count and won the best on court medal in the Section 1 grand final, despite Ivanhoe 1 falling to 61-46 defeat to the all-conquering Diamond Creek 1.
Markovic also represented the NFNL in its 2019 interleague clash with the Geelong Football Netball League at Highton’s Queens Park. Despite the NFNL suffering a heavy loss, Markovic was a standout performer and claimed the medal as the NFNL’s best player.
Blade sensationally took out the NFNL Section 4 best and fairest last year while competing as a 15-year-old for Ivanhoe 3, helping to steer the team to the minor premiership during an undefeated campaign.
She polled 21 votes and featured in the umpies’ votes in eight of ten appearances, which included six best on court performances.
Watson made two appearances for North Heidelberg 5 during the 2021 Section 2 season, featuring in the team’s Round 5 and Round 6 victories.
The 2022 National Netball Championships will be held in Hobart from 18-24 April, 2022.
The NFNL congratulates Grace, Dakota and Tara on their selection in their respective squads and wishes them every success at the National Championships.
