Netball WA has attempted to calm concerned parents of regional-based Indigenous junior players of being stripped of the opportunity to earn a place in the next crop of players in the state's Aboriginal Development Academy.
Angry words broken out on social media in the past week over the availability and accessibility to attend trials located in Perth to be held on Monday, September 16 and Tuesday, September 17 for 13 to 16-year-old girls.
"How is this accessible for regional players Netball WA?" Justine Adams wrote on Netball WA's Facebook page.
"Holding on weekdays is a barrier. This is three days off work/school to travel."
For a number of West Australian netballers from significant regional centres of Geraldton and Albany, the return drive is nine hours for what is a two-hour session.
Kalgoorlie is a 13-hour trip to and from Perth, Esperance is 15 hours, Carnarvon is 18 hours, Karratha is 30 hours, Port Hedland is 35 hours and Broome is 46 hours on the road.
It was also noted by a number of people that the Aboriginal Development Academy's two trial dates conflict with Mandurah Netball Association talent squad trials.
Netball WA acting general manager of community netball, Kobie Combes, announced contingency plans has been put in place to ensure talented Aboriginal teenagers are not left out of the academy for not being unable to attend.
But multiple proposals do not guarantee that all of the enthusiastic netballers and their families will be at the forefront of selection and satisfied with the processes.
The trial is expected to be extended in Mandurah, 75kms south of Perth, over the conflict of dates, but that plan has yet to be confirmed.
"Netball WA tries to accommodate all athletes, who wish to take part in trials for any of our programs, including the Aboriginal Development Academy," Combes said.
"In the event regional athletes are unable to attend a trial, we do have processes in place to ensure we can identify talent in regional Western Australia.
"For example, regional satellite sites provide an opportunity for those who are more remote and/or regional as we recognise that travel could be a barrier for our Aboriginal Development Academy trials.
"Aboriginal Development Academy trials are taking place on a Monday and Tuesday (rather than on the preceding weekend).
"Athletes do not have to attend both sessions to be eligible.
"However in cases where these sessions may clash with other training commitments, Netball WA will be working with athletes on a case by case basis to accommodate this."
Similar Indigenous development academies have been introduced around several of the Australian states and territory netball associations during the past three years.
Indigenous programs have only been conducted after Netball Australia admitted to a failure of serving players like Wakka Wakka woman Jemma Mi Mi in the aftermath of her tokenistic treatment amid the 2021 First Nations round.
New Indigenous West Australian coach Josie Jansz-Dawson, who was raised in Derby in the state's North West, was sympathetic with First Nations hopefuls from the bush.
"For me, I did come from the country, so coming from a very different netball pathway and a journey, I do understand how hard it can be for some of these families," Jansz-Dawson said.
"I wouldn't have thought when I was doing it that it was so hard because I really had nothing to compare it too.
"It's not until you come here and people say you came from a country town or you didn't play in the state league system from a junior age you do.
"I think one of the good things is that there are some parents that will see the difference and say, 'Oh, my daughter doesn't have these opportunities', but sometimes they also don't know what they don't know."
