Molino follows pathway to the Hawks

At just 15, Gippsland Storm defender Eliza Molino has a very bright future in the game after recently signing with Hawks Netball VNL. 255151 Picture: SUPPLIED

By David Nagel

The enviable reputation of Gippsland Storm for developing exciting young netball talent continues to grow stronger with gun defender Eliza Molino signing with Victorian Netball League (VNL) club The Hawks.

Molino, 15, from Pakenham, is the latest player to enjoy the fruits of the exciting pathway being created between the Gippsland Storm Elite Development Netball Club and its sister club – The Hawks.

Just recently, Keeley Burgmann was announced as an Australian Squad member in the 17-Under age bracket after currently working her way through the Storm/Hawks system.

Molino is also showing outstanding promise and will can look forward to some exciting times ahead after signing with the Hawks in their 19-under program under new coach Sophie O’Shea.

Molino began playing netball in 2013 as a seven-year-old after begging her mum to let her play netball with her friends from school.

She played with a school team for two seasons before moving to Pakenham Lions Netball Club in 2014 where she played in their stadium teams.

In 2017 she was selected as an 11-year-old in the Pakenham Lions Netball Club 13-under team playing Saturday competition in the South East Football Netball League (SEFNL).

At that stage the most exciting part for Eliza was that she got to wear a ‘netball dress’…but her development since has been outstanding.

Her progress in 2017 led to her being selected in the School Sports Victoria (SSV) under-12 team. This gave her the opportunity to travel to Darwin in 2018 and compete against the other states in the School Sports Australia (SSA) National Tournament.

In 2018 Eliza also started her journey with Gippsland Storm, being selected in the 13-under development team. During this year she was also given the opportunity to train and occasionally play with the Storm’s 13-under one squad.

Her time at Storm has seen Eliza develop quickly and realise some fantastic achievements in 2021.

She was selected in the SSV 15-under state team and the Netball Victoria Talent Academy Program and she was also selected in the Next Generation Program at Hawks Netball VNL.

Just recently Eliza received the fantastic news that she has been signed to the 19-under squad at Hawks.

Head coach for Gippsland Storm Simon O’Shanassy believes there is on end to what Eliza can achieve.

“Eliza has a great work ethic to go with some natural talent and we look forward to seeing her continued development over the coming years,” O’Shanassy said.

“It’s a great time for our club with our annual tryouts coming up and it’s exciting to see the next crop of potential stars walking through our doors.”

“On behalf of Gippsland Storm, I congratulate Eliza on her achievements and wish her all the very best for the future.”

Gippsland Storm’s annual tryouts will be held on back-to-back Sundays on 14 and 21 November at the Officer Community Hub, 2 Parker Street, Officer.

Tryouts will be held in three sections, 13-under, 15-under and a combined 17-under/open squad.

Details and application forms are on the Storm’s Facebook page.

To register go to https://netballtrials.com/…/gippsland-storm-netball-club/