Sarah Oliver
Emma Winfield has the opportunity to represent her state again after being selected to play in the under-17s in the 2022 National Netball Championships.
The 16-year-old Newport resident from Westside Saints Netball Club said she was ecstatic when she found out she’d made the team again.
“I didn’t know if my netball game was where it was up to before COVID,” she said.
“I am very excited to represent my state again. It’s an experience of a lifetime and the friendships and memories you make are unforgettable.”
Winfield first started her netball journey at Netset Go when she was seven years old, then moved on to play for Newport Power Netball Club at Altona stadium.
“That became the highlight of my week coming to Altona stadium to play a game. As I got older and started to enjoy netball more it also became a lot more competitive and so did I,” she said.
“I wasn’t a fan of losing and that’s what I think helped me push myself to become a better player.”
After playing for Newport for five years, Winfield got the opportunity to show off her skills to Westside.
“I trialled and got in and this is where my netball went up another level,” she said.
“I was surrounded by very knowledgeable coaches like Tracey Wallace and Darren Abela. The Westside training was a step up and helped me develop many skills.
“I played for Westside for five years and in that time I competed in tournaments and association championships.”
Whilst at Westside, Winfield also trialled for the under 12’s, 15’s and under 17’s State Team.
“I was lucky enough to make these teams and make experiences of a lifetime as well as be surrounded by professional coaching helping me to gain additional knowledge including tips and tricks to improve my game,” she said.
She said she’s also wrapped to be a member of the under-19s team at Melbourne University Lightning in the Victoria Netball League.
Winfield plays both in the ring and centre court.
She plays wing attack and centre for Melbourne University Lightning and for the state team, she pulls on the goal attack and wing attack bibs.
“I love goal attack because I love the impact you can have on the game,” she said.
“The flexibility of goal attack has made me love the position more because you do a bit of everything; you have to be able to feed correctly to the goal shooter, can put some shots up and you have space to run on the court.”
Winfield said training has been going very well.
“We have only had a couple of training sessions but we are already building connections on the court with teammates which will enhance how we perform as a team. All girls have come to training with intensity that helps motivate and push us all.”
Joining Winfield playing for state include current Westsider Montaya Sardi and alumni Mikaela Minns and Charlotte Morey with Georgia Shattock as a development player.
The state team has also seen Westsider alumni Mel Oloamanu join the under-19s, with Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs, Claire Oakley and Lucia Fauonuku playing in the development side.
