Sam Poolman hopes her boyfriend can’t watch the closing stages of this weekend’s Fast5 Netball World Series.
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It would mean she and her Australian teammates have qualified for the tournament final at the same time fellow Hunter product Ben Kennedy is playing for A-League football outfit the Central Coast Mariners.
“Ben’s pretty devastated because they play right at grand final time, otherwise he would have come down for a day,” Poolman said.
“We’ve still got to make grand final, but that’s sport and I’m sure he’ll be running off to check how we went.”
Poolman may be down one supporter but there will still be a travelling Newcastle contingent in the Hisense Arena crowd, including her parents, when the 26-year-old Wests junior wears the country’s green and gold uniform for the first time.
“It’s obviously a huge honour and something I’ve been working towards,” the Greater Western Sydney Giants and Diamonds squad defender said.
“For me, ever since they announced it just after our [Super Netball] grand final it’s all I’ve been training towards.
“So I’m at the point where I know I’ve definitely prepared and done all I can, now it’s just been waiting to play and have the opportunity.
“It’s a really exciting team and competition to be apart of so I’m counting the days.”
Australia have Malawi and Jamaica on Saturday before meeting six-time champions New Zealand that night. The Aussies then host England and South Africa on Sunday followed by play-offs.
Fast5 has modified rules including one, two and three point goals, shorter 24-minute games, power plays and two less players per side.
“It becomes such a high-paced and high-skilled game,” she said. “You have to make decisions quickly.”
AUSTRALIA: Kate Moloney (c), Kaylia Stanton, Sarah Klau, Maddy Turner, Gretel Tippett, Kate Shimmin, Sam Poolman, Tegan Philip, Emily Mannix, Paige Hadley, Ash Brazill.
