AUSTRALIAN Diamond player Gretel Tippett who returned home yesterday after a weekend in Fiji as part of the continuing 2016 Grasshoppers Invitational Netball Festival in Suva has offered to help Netball Fiji market players abroad.
She was a guest of the tournament. On Saturday she delivered a motivational speech and conducted a coaching clinic to teams competing in the four-day tournament at the National Netball Centre in Suva.
Tippett said upon retuning to her club, the Queensland Freebirds, she would give names of players she saw on the weekend who could be among their future potential recruits.
She was swarmed with fans, young netters, their parents and fans when she arrived at the tournament — about 30 minutes from the entrance to her seat as a guest after she was stopped for selfies and photograps.
The 23-year-old said she immediately fell in love with Fiji upon touchdown at Nadi International Airport.
“I arrived into the country on Friday and it was so exciting. I am fortunate to be here,” she said.
“It is an amazing tournament with teams from Fiji , Australia and New Zealand.
“I watched the girls. They played so many games and I taught them few little skills that I learned while playing with Firebirds.
“There is a lot of talent here.
“I will look out for some future stars and most probably we could get some Fijian girls to Queensland in the future and give them some exposure.
“I had a look and will report back what I have seen in Fiji.
“In netball it does not matter where you play, as long as there are people watching, so these players are giving their all.”
There are 32 teams competing in the tournament. It ends today.
“Meanwhile, her two brothers, Kurt Tippett and Joel Tippett, play Australian Football League in Australia.
