Scherian wants more

FORMER Western Districts Netball Association prodigy, Laura Scherian has declared she intends to be back playing for the Queensland Firebirds next year. The diminutive wing attack got a small taste of the ANZ Championship in 2010, making her debut off the bench against Waikato BOP Magic in round 11, and then starting for the Firebirds for their final two matches of the season. The 22-year-old is no certainty to be back in Firebirds colours next year, but the former Australian 19-and-under representative says she will look to emboss her Firebirds selection with strong performances during this year's Australian Netball League. Scherian was named vice-captain of the Queensland Fusion team, which also features Chelmer's Rachel Forbes. Scherian said she was honoured to receive the role and was expecting Queensland to challenge for the title. “I definitely think we have an opportunity to make the grand final and win,” she said. “We have a great combination of players and support staff that each offer individual qualities that I think will create a successful team.” The Fusion will play it's first ANL game in round three on August 14, in South Australia.Fusion's home matches this year will be held at Logan Metro Indoor Sports Centre during round five of the competition, where they will play New South Wales Waratahs, Canberra and New South Wales Blues.

 Jefferis off to Delhi

WESTLAKE-born Josh Jefferis is shaping up to be possibly one of the great comeback stories at this year's Delhi Commonwealth Games after recently gaining selection to compete at his second successive Games. The dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist has endured a shocking run of injuries since his outstanding four-medal haul at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. The 24-year-old had to undergo extensive shoulder and elbow surgery and then surgery on his forearm. Last October the Y-West Gymnastics Club (Jamboree Heights) member competed at his first all around contest in 18 months at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London. He then declared he was back by finishing overall sixth at the Valeri Liukin Invitational in Texas, United States in December 2009, placing first on the parallel bars, coming second on rings and judged third-best on vault. But Jefferis' 2010 Commonwealth Games preparations were thrown into complete disarray when he had to go under the knife again in January to repair his injured elbow. The doctor told him he would not be able to compete again until October, but against the doctor's advice, and in a last-ditch effort to convince Gymnastics Australia selectors he was fit, Jefferis competed at the Queensland State Gymnastics Titles in June, then the Australian Championships earlier this month. And while Jefferis didn't compete in every event, the selectors showed faith in by naming him in a 13-strong team that will represent Australia at this year's Commonwealth Games. Just two days earlier, Jefferis was confirmed in the Australian Team that will compete at the 2010 World Championships to be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, which begins just two days after the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony on October 14.

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Email: griffith.thomas@qtcn.com.au.