Emily to spend time at Fever

Netball Scotland today confirmed that Scotland’s Goal-Defence, Emily Nicholl will spend the next three weeks with West Coast Fever.

The Perth franchise, led by Head Coach Dan Ryan and Captain Courtney Bruce made history last season by securing their first Suncorp Super Netball premiership, defeating Melbourne Vixens 70-59 in front more than 13,900 fans at Perth’s RAC Arena.

Travelling straight from the SPAR Diamond Challenge in South Africa, Emily headed to Perth, Australia.

“I am so fortunate to be given the opportunity to go to Australia for 3 weeks and train with West Coast Fever. To experience life as a full-time athlete is a dream come true for me. I’ve known about this for a long time and when I was first told about it, I just cried. My mum asked what was wrong and I told her my dreams are coming true.”

“Waking up in Australia the day after playing South Africa was a bit of a whirlwind but it was great to get involved straight away. I headed to the Netball Centre where I met all of the Fever girls who were so welcoming. I am really looking forward to getting thrown into a new environment, new pressures, new challenges and bring that experience back to the Thistles group.”

“I want to measure myself up against the best, so it is going to be a big challenge and humbling experience to see what it’s like to play against those girls.I am here with the purpose of finding out what we need to do as Scottish Thistles to push to that higher level, but I will also be a fan-girl at the same time.”

“It’s fortunate having Dan Ryan as head coach as I know him a little from playing in the Netball Super League and Sue Gaudion also came into the Sirens environment a few years back. I am exciting to completely immerse myself in their culture and get to know all the girls.”

While the rest of her teammates flew home to focus on Netball Super League pre-season Scottish Thistles head coach, Tamsin Greenway explains;

“We have really tried to be creative about the whole programme at Netball Scotland. Back before the Suncorp and ANZ existed lots of UK players used to be pushed out there to go and train and get some exposure.”

“This is the start of the journey for us, it’s great for Emily and great for the other players that will get opportunities over the next few seasons.”

“We are always looking for new ways to expose them, to help them experience and understand different environments, different cultures, different ways of playing, different coaching. Understanding that I am not a mean coach all the time and that there are people out there that will be just as direct and strong in their opinions in the ways that they want you to play.  “

“If we don’t create these opportunities how on earth are we going to get better and bridge the gap and actually go to places like South Africa and say ok we are here to win. This is about improving our players, and something we want to build on in terms of relationships with clubs and players.”

“It will also be a new start for Netball Scotland to push forward on where they want to be on the world stage.”

Scottish Thistles will compete in the Netball World Cup 2023 in Cape Town South Africa.

Strathclyde Sirens league will kick off February 2023.

Fixtures and tickets are available to buy now.

Netball Scotland :https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures?fanstoreType=Fixtures

IMG: West Coast Fever