BEACONSFIELD has been a leader in netball since the formation of the Casey Cardinia League and much of that strength is due to the club’s superb junior development.
A product of that system is the fourth nomination for this year’s Young Rising Netball Star, 16-year-old Danni-elle Llinares.
From the age of seven in the Netta program at the Cranbourne Indoor stadium, Danni has demonstrated her talent.
Since then she has since moved on and up to play with the CSWNA, St Francis Xavier school team, Melbourne Waverley, Gippsland Storm, Eastern interleague and the MPNFL 15-and-under tournament team, together with her ongoing commitment to Beaconsfield.
Her representative record includes the MPNFL tournament side, Waverley Nights and Gippsland Storm, while she has also demonstrated her leadership potential by being nominated as captain of the CSWNA together with the Eagles 17-and-unders this year and the 15-and-unders in 2007.
Danni lists her highlights as playing in and winning premierships with Melbourne Waverley and Beaconsfield and her list of personal achievements is extraordinary for a young player.
Her best-and-fairest wins include the 2006 CCFNL award, the Beaconsfield 13 and under award in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, the Melbourne Waverley 13-and-under award and the St Francis Xavier award in 2003.
She has also won the Best Finals Player award for Beaconsfield in 2005, together with numerous runner-up best-and-fairest awards.
Danni has high ambitions and said she would love to play for and represent Victoria and also maybe one day play for Australia.
Her 17-and-under coach and star Beaconsfield mid-courter Kellie Holland said that she was an exciting prospect with a huge future ahead of her.
“Danni is a standout in every way, from her natural leadership skills, to her confident way of playing fast-paced, intense netball,” she said.
“Her greatest assets are her speed of foot, hand and mind. Danni is already taking A-grade games in her stride and watching her play is very exciting.”
A-grade coach Shona Osborne supported that opinion.
“Danni plays with maturity beyond her years and is a strong asset to the A-grade team,” she said.
“She works well with her team-mates and is keen to learn and develop.”