Culnane boosts Jets’ shooting firepower

The Souwest Jets finalised their squads for the 2019 WANL season on Monday afternoon, which heralded two massive signings for the club.

Proven WANL veteran and 2017 Western Sting ANL championship player Lisa Millman and rising star Sloan Burton have both been added to Erin Culnane’s quality shooter stable as the Jets aim to play finals in a year which the club will celebrate their 30th season.

Millman, who has played 298 games at WANL level, is hoped to take on a player-assistant coach role in a bid to provide an extra set of eyes on court.

“We are really excited to welcome Sloan and Lisa to our front line,” Culnane said. “Lisa bringing a wealth of experience and hopefully take on a partial coaching and mentorship role for the younger girls, similar to what Maia Bratton did last year — and Sloan, who is at the start of an exciting career and is on the national talent pathway.

“She is looking for an opportunity to shine, to get court time and really dominate. And I think we will find that when she finds confidence in herself here.”

Burton, who is based in Perth, will commute to Bunbury for training and matches, however Culnane confirmed there is a unique arrangement between the girls — such is their friendship and confidence amongst each other.

“Riley (Culnane) has been in State teams with Sloan since she was 12,” Culnane said. “And I also used to play with Sloan’s mum Julie-Ann.

“They’ve been instrumental in our girls when they are in Perth, with up to 17 people staying at their house while attending netball training sessions on a weekend.”

The Jets will report to a pre-season training camp over the March long weekend, which will kickstart formalised training for 2019.

Souwest Jets squads

Open: Ella Taylor, Paris Newman, Riley Culnane (defenders); Brooke Repacholi, Jessica Repacholi, Harmony Sutherland (midcourt); Giselle Taylor, Brooke Gibson, Lisa Millman, and Sloan Burton (shooters).

20&U: Claire Jennings, Jasmine Nielsen, Serena Nandapi, Shaye Skraha (defenders); Elycce Webb, Georgia O’Neill, Georgia Whittaker, Mia Pethybridge (midcourt); Jessi Whitehead, Matilda Cann, Mickashia Watts, Sophie Bell (shooters); and Sophie Stratford (training partner player).

Jets Academy: Haley Abbs (Leschenault), Jenna Begley (Quindalup), Jaymee Dahlenberg (Busselton), Ella Dowsett (Dalyellup), Tauri Freeman (Dalyellup), Abbey Hall (Manjimup), Arielle Hockey (Vasse), Asha Hughes (Dunsborough), Emma Jackson (Dunsborough), Hilary Ladhams (Deanmill), Isabel Legros (Busselton), Imogen Milner (Busselton), Dakota Nelmes (Quindalup), Phoebe Pethybridge (Busselton), Amber Shepherd (Leschenault), Ruby Simonetti (Quindalup), Sophie Stratford (Ambergate), and Cate Williamson (Augusta).

Jetstars Development Program: Kalani Bate-Henry (Margaret River), Lucy Burge (Busselton), Sally Conroy (Busselton), Cherise Edwards (Australind), Klara Field (Bridgetown), Ashleigh Goodwin (Australind), Karla Hall (Bridgetown), Georgia Henden (Bridgetown), Rachel Kilchenmann (Bridgetown) Tessa Kilchenmann (Bridgetown), Jaimee Lyons (Broadwater), Molly Miller (Bridgetown), Susannah Moore (Qeudijinup), Milly Oldmeadow (Dunsborough), Megan Phillips (Australind), Abbey Pitts (Bridgetown), Hope Thom (Margaret River), Emily Trewarn (Dardanup), Felicity Wilson (Busselton), Dana Whatford (Eaton), and Larnie Williams (Capel).