Keane, whose national championships in Tasmania were cancelled this year due to COVID-19, was recently announced as one of 36 athletes in Australia's under 17s representative squad - which was selected by Michelle Wilkins (National Centre of Excellence head coach), Jenny Borlase and Nicole Cusack.

"Selecting a squad is always challenging, especially when you look at the quality of athletes who are progressing through the Netball Australia pathway," said Wilkins, who is also an Australian Diamonds squad selector.

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"In spite of the challenges to elite sport with COVID-19, we know there is plenty of promise in these squads that we look forward to igniting at training camps and other opportunities over the next year."

Netball Australia's head of pathway Kristen Barnes spoke to the significance of these pathway opportunities.

"Former athletes who have taken part in these programs have gone on to achieve the highest rank of netball at a national and international level," Barnes said.

"We will continue to nurture all involved in the pathway to reach the same levels of success."

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Netball Australia will work to deliver training camps later this year for Nowra High School student Keane and the other selected athletes, as an opportunity to develop their abilities and provide elite training.

Those aforementioned athletes include Keane's NSW teammates Papi Alaalatoa, Jade Dawson, Eloise Egan, Allanah Gilbertson, Amelia Kirgan and Frederika Schneideman, as well as South Australia's Sophie Casey, Kaili Cook-Shakles, Lucy Denton, Cameron Golding, Kayla Graham, Aaleya Turner and Lucy Voyvodic, Victoria's Keeley Burgmann, Dee Dee Deng, Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs, Charli Nicol, Tara Watson and Olivia Wilkinson, Queensland's Baylee Boyd, Kiara Condon, Losa Niumata, Elsa Sandholt and Kaylin Van Greunen, Western Australia's Ruth Aryang, Georgie Cleaver, Jasmah haywood and Maya Kenny, Tasmania's Esther Kidmas and Ashlea Turner, Northern Territory's Emma Noblett and Laura Roy and ACT's Samantha Bondietti and Hayley Matthew.

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