![Dunedin under-18 netball players (clockwise from back left) Lucy Morrison, 17, Ruby Flannery, 18,...](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2024/07/u18_netball.jpg?itok=37NDK-Gc)
But that does not mean the talented bunch are not forging careers of their own.
Dunedin under-18 netballers Perri Hore, Lucy Morrison, Ruby Flannery, Teuila Tasi-Cordtz and Millie MacKenzie, who are competing at the national tournament in Dunedin this week, have blue and gold running through their veins after their mothers and sisters also represented the region.
Perri’s mother, former Silver Ferns shooter Belinda Colling, played for Otago — before the centre was restructured as Dunedin in 2013 — and is now coaching the Dunedin under-18 team.
Ruby’s mother, Nic Jones, who sits on World Netball’s coaching panel, also coached Otago, as did Teuila’s mother, Deb Tasi-Cordtz, who is a national under-18 selector.
Lucy’s mother, Jo Morrison, played for Otago as well as the Silver Ferns and England, and is the assistant coach of the Southern Steel and the national secondary schools team.
Lucy’s brother, Jack, 15, is also part of the Dunedin men’s under-18 team competing this week, while Millie’s sister, Ella, played for the Southern Blast in the national netball league.
"I feel like it’s cool," Perri said.
"Obviously our mums and sisters all come and support and love to cheer us on."
Their family members also provided a great deal of netball knowledge for the group to tap into and they all made great mentors outside of their regular coaches.
"Personally, I love it," Lucy said.
"Someone’s always there for good advice."
The group have been making a name for themselves on their own with all five players selected for the South Island national development camp in Ashburton earlier this year.
They have brought that form into the national tournament this week.
Dunedin, who finished fifth last year, thumped Marlborough 59-16 and beat Hawke’s Bay 38-30 yesterday to top their pool with four straight wins. They will play Wellington Gold today.