Botswana the goal for Perth netball champ

By Mollie Tracey Netball rising star Jess Anstiss is smashing one goal after another. The young Maida Vale sportswoman has been named in the under 21s Australian team to play at the World Youth Cup just six months after joining Perth’s elite squad West Coast Fever. Anstiss is the only WA netballer to make her Australian debut in next month’s international competition and run out alongside Fever teammate Annika Lee-Jones and fellow West Australian Sophie Garbin. The mid-courter was full of emotions when she found out she made the team for the “netball Olympics” which is held every four years. “It’s an incredible honour to represent Australia. It’s something I’ve always aspired to do,” Anstiss says. “I was very nervous waiting for the call but very excited, happy and surprised.” Selectors had their eyes on her for four years. “We’ve been watching this group of athletes for a number of years through the national underage pathway and have taken into account this year’s National Championships, Australian Netball League, ANZ Championship and the recent under 20s International Netball Series,” Australian World Youth Cup coach Tania Obst says. Anstiss has been playing centre, wing defence and wing attack since childhood and, at 171cm, is one of the shortest in the team. “I just made sure I was skilful enough to be able to make teams and didn’t need the height and I think that’s a real attribute of mine is being able to work hard and doing all the little things to make sure I’m the best athlete I can be,” Anstiss says. The Australian World Youth team will have intensive four-day training before flying to Botswana for the tournament, held on July 9 to 16. See Jess in action: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR-Y43GyChI]