Dads’ girls have Ella of future
BUDDING state netball stars Ella Cooney and Ella Marsh have more than a name in common.
Both girls, who are heading off for the Under-15 School Sports Australia Netball Championships this Saturday, are already dual state reps — Cooney in touch football and Marsh in cricket, They also have outstanding sporting pedigrees — as well as enthusiastic and expert support from their champion sportsmen dads.
Cooney’s father, Gavin, played 314 games with Clarence Football Club and is an inductee of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame. Marsh’s father, Dan, is a former Tasmanian Tigers player and coach and current Tasmanian Roar assistant coach.
ELLA Cooney and Ella Marsh will represent Tasmania when they depart for the U15 School Sports Australia Netball Championships this Saturday.
No strangers to state representation, both are dual representatives, with Cooney representing Tasmania in touch football and Marsh rep- resenting the state in cricket, with neither able to state a preference.
“I can’t choose which one is my favourite. I love them both so much, just different aspects of each,” Cooney said.
“I love them both, they are so fun to play, it’s good,” Marsh said.
Both athletes have also grown up with excellent sport- ing inspirations at home and are following in the footsteps of successful sporting fathers.
Cooney’s father, Gavin, played 314 games with Clarence Football Club and is an inductee of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.
Gavin was full of praise for his daughter’s achievements.
“It’s good, very proud obviously, and the way she goes about it.” And on giving Ella advice, Gavin leaves it up to her. “I just let her go out and play.”
Marsh’s father, Dan, is a former Tasmanian Tigers player and coach and current Tasmanian Roar assistant coach but, like Gavin, allows Ella to go about her business.
Dan is no stranger to the netball court, having watched Ella play for many years. “I’ve watched a lot of netball over the years,” he said.
“I don’t know much about the rules in netball, so I don’t say much but just enjoy going out and watching her.”
Both girls are in no rush to choose a sport, with their fathers agreeing that, at this early stage, they have the capacity to play both.