Chelsea Pitman announced as first nominee for ANZ Championship's 2011 Best Young Player award

2011 Queensland Firebirds recruit Chelsea Pitman has been announced as the first nominee for the ANZ Championship’s Best Young Player award.

Born in Paddington, NSW, 22-year-old Pitman is one of the growing pool of athletes to have gained netball experience at the highest level in both Australia and New Zealand.

After a two year stint with the AIS Netball Program in 2008-09, including representing Australia at the World Youth Cup in 2009, Pitman was snapped up by the Mercury Energy Tactix for her ANZ Championship debut in 2010. With a New Zealand passport (courtesy of her NZ-born mother), Pitman leapt at the opportunity to develop her skills in a different environment, immersing herself in the Kiwi style of play.

However, her season in Christchurch was cut short when she suffered a serious knee injury against the LG Mystics in Round 6. After working hard on her recovery, she was thrilled to be invited to play with the promising Mission Queensland Firebirds in 2011.

It has certainly proved to be a smart move on both sides, with Pitman gaining court time at all eight rounds of the ANZ Championship so far, contributing to the Firebirds’ record-breaking winning streak. She currently sits third for her team in goal assists, right behind Diamonds stars Lauren Nourse and Natalie Medhurst. She trails just behind Medhurst for centre pass receives, sitting tenth for the competition overall.

When told of her Best Young Player nomination, an understated Pitman joked, “It’s an honour to think that someone thinks I’m still young!”

She then went on to acknowledge her teammates and coaching staff in Queensland.

“It’s just such a great environment and team to be a part of; people always talk about ‘team’, but really, all twelve of us are striving for one goal. We don’t care about which seven are on (court), we’re all out there doing our job, doing our role as part of the team”.

When asked about her experience with the Tactix, Pitman is full of positives. “I just wanted to venture out and get more variety, more experience. My year in New Zealand was all about putting myself out of my comfort zone; when I arrived in Christchurch, I didn’t know a single person. It made me grow up not just as a netballer, but also taught me a lot about myself. I feel as though I really improved on everything after that experience”.

While Pitman is very clear about her netball goals (“next – to win the ANZ Champs; then – to represent Australia with the Diamonds”), she is also firmly focused on developing other aspects of her life.

She currently works full-time as a Sales Manager with Mission Foods, Principal Sponsor of the Firebirds, and looks forward to a long career with her super-supportive employer. “I’m a Firebird first and foremost, but as a naturally competitive person, I want to do everything to the best of my ability. I’m very fortunate that Mission allow me to work around my Firebirds commitments during the season”.

The remaining four nominees for the 2011 Best Young Player award will be named during Rounds 9 to 12, with the winner to be announced during ANZ Championship Grand Final week in May.

To be eligible for Best Young Player nomination, players must be aged 25 years or under as at 1 January of that year, must have taken the court at no more than five games in total across any previous ANZ Championship season/s, and must not have taken the court to represent their country in more than five test matches.