KANGAROO Flat goal shooter Ruby Barkmeyer's netball season continues to go from strength-to-strength, after her naming in the Australian Merit team at the end of the 15-and-under championships in Adelaide.
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Her selection was reward for a stand-out performance for the bronze medal winning School Sport Victoria team at the six-day tournament.
The honours did not end there for Barkmeyer, who is in her first full-season of BFNL A-grade netball with the top-of-the-ladder Roos.
She was named Victoria's recipient of the Amy Safe Award.
The award is presented to the player who had exemplary on court behaviour, outstanding contribution to their team and competent execution of skills.
Barkmeyer's selection has earned her trip to Fiji next May with the Australian team, for a tournament involving teams from New Zealand, England and Oceania.
The goal shooter was naturally pleased with her performance, despite Victoria being unable to get over the top of Western Australia in a tough semi-final encounter.
"I think as we started to play some of the tougher teams, we really stepped up and played better netball," Barkmeyer said.
"Even the three games we lost during the tournament, we still played very well.
"(But) it was good to get the win in the last match we played against South Australia to win that bronze medal.
Western Australia went on to win the grand final, securing their first title since 1988.
The tournament involved a hectic fixture of nine 40-minute round robin matches.
Combined with light duties for Kangaroo Flat against Kyneton a fortnight ago and a full-game against reigning premiers Golden Square last Saturday, it meant Barkmeyer played 11 games in eight days.
Though it's nothing the ardent and accomplished netballer isn't used to, after this season taking part in a rigorous schedule of BFNL and Victorian Netball League games for the Geelong Flyers, school matches for Geelong Grammar, and dozens of a state team training sessions.
She also represented the BFNL at the at the Association Championships in Melbourne during June.
Barkmeyer hopes to cap off an unforgettable 12 months with a premiership with Kangaroo Flat, who meet second-placed Sandhurst this week in a potential grand final preview.
It would be teenager's third consecutive flag win with the club, after being a key player in the Roos' back-to-back 17-and-under premiership wins.
She was confident the Roos had the talent and were playing well enough to challenge for grand final honours.
"We'll see how we go this weekend, the game against Sandhurst will probably determine who finishes on top of the ladder," she said.
"It will be a close game like last time, but we'll have to be at our best to beat them.
"They're a very strong team."
Longer-term, Barkmeyer said she looked forward to representing Australia next May.
"It's very exciting, though it's still a while away," she said.