Commonwealth Games netball star hopes others look up to her in Scottish Thistles role

Emily Nicholl hopes she’s done enough to earn the vice-captain title at Scottish Thistles as she prepares to play a leading role at the Commonwealth Games this week.

The Biggar star is second-in-command to Claire Maxwell at the Birmingham 2022 showpiece and is delighted with that honour.

But while Strathclyde Sirens star Nicholl hopes the other girls look up to her, she says it’s important to recognise that the title is hers for a reason.

The 28-year-old – one of six Lanarkshire players in Team Scotland – said: “It really is a fantastic honour, and it’s the first time within the Thistles environment that I’ve had that kind of title, as such.

“But nothing about what I do on my daily basis really changes – I just continue to do what I do, and the title goes with it.

“But it’s great to work so closely with Claire Maxwell and to go to work closely with [head coach] Tamsin Greenway and [assistant] Sara Francis-Bayman.

“It’s such an honour and I’m really proud of it.

“I think it’s one of these things where it’s important to tell yourself that you’ve been given this title for a reason, and what you’ve been doing before is obviously working.

“It’s important to not change what you were doing, but I know I am one of the more senior girls in the squad, so I hope the girls can look up to me.”

Scotland face up to World number one Australia in their opener on Saturday, with Wales the following day.

They continue against Jamaica on August 2, and Barbados the following day, before concluding Group A against South Africa on August 4.

Classification matches are held on Friday, August 5, to determine placings, while the semi-finals take place on August 6 and 7.

Nicholl says the Thistles will aim to at least justify their ranking of eighth,