Maggie Caris and Sacha McDonald named in Australia's 2021 Netball World Youth Cup squad

Horsham Saints' Caris and Edenhope-Apsley product McDonald are members of a 24-strong squad selected in preparation for the world cup, to be held in Fiji.

"I was in a bit of shock...I didn't really know too much about it. It's pretty exciting. I'm a bottom-age player, and obviously it's still a squad of 24, but it's really exciting to be up there and be able to train and play with really incredible girls," Caris said.

"It's interesting because Sacha and I have been in different age groups all the time. But now it's under-21's we get to cross paths, and it's nice to be able to have another country girl there."

McDonald will be a top-age player at 21 by the time the world cup arrives.

"It (squad) was discussed when we were at the national 19-and-under camp but there were no deadlines or news that we were made aware of," she said.

"It's super exciting (for Maggie). It's really nice to see another rural girl at the level we are at now. I'm super excited for her and it's nice that there's more country involvement in sport, where we're at."

The pair were members of National Centre of Excellence training programs this year, after solid performances for Victoria at the National Netball Championships.

McDonald captained the 19-and-under state team to a fourth-place finish, while Caris achieved the same result with her 17-and-under side.

Selection in the squad is a significant step in the national system, with 10 of the current 18 Australian Diamonds squad members featuring at a Netball Youth World Cup, and caps off a whirlwind year for the pair.

McDonald won the Australian Netball League with the Victorian Fury and made her Melbourne Vixens debut in the pre-season, before being called up to the matchday squad for a Super Netball clash in August.

Caris was named in the Victorian 19-and-under netball team this week and earned selection in the AFLW Academy for a second year running.

Caris said she was learning to juggle the two sports, with a trip to the Western Bulldogs with the AFLW academy coming up soon.

"I've just had footy on, even recently. I've been doing pre-season with the GWV Rebels and a bit of stuff with the academy. But, netball is definitely still on the mind, and there's always some form of training coming up," she said.

McDonald recently returned to pre-season training with Netball Victoria.

The squad starts its world cup campaign with a training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in February.

A second squad will be announced in August, which will embark on a tour of Fiji later next year.

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