QAI discusses the Dropbears team with the reserves
The Australian Dropbears had five reserves who all attended the training camps with the team, including Leslie Fox who has already joined the team, following Tash Keehan’s injury. The other four; Carolyn Themel, now team manager, Oscar Cozens, Nicola Gerter, and Samantha Chittenden; having trained as part of the team, have great insight into their inner workings.
On the strengths of the team, Gertler said that they lie “across the board, however … are greatest in the Dropbears chaser line. With great athletic skill, each player is adaptable but as a team have developed a strong passing game which should be able to break down any defence. The female chasers in particular are incredibly strong; making them indispensable to the team and genuine threats.”
Having players from three different states and thousands of kilometers apart has proven a difficult task for organising training. Cozens said that the team’s “lack of frequent and consistent training sessions will really come through in our harder games against more experienced units.” While Chittenden commented that “the main struggle … will still be adapting to the different play styles of their new teammates”.
All the reserves have said that attending the training camps was a rewarding and challenging experience. Chittenden calling them “intense”, though she is excited to bring what she’s learned “back to the club team [to] see improvements there as well”. Gertler commented on team cohesion, stating “the pride every member of the squad feels to be representing Australia and our Quidditch community has brought together an amazing group of players”, and Cozens remarked that the camps have “first and foremost, been a whole lot of fun” and has allowed him to gain “greater respect for the best quidditch athletes in the country” and to “learn from the best to become one of the best.”
All of the reserves wish the team good luck next weekend, and are confident in their ability to show the world what Australia is made of.
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