Big off-season signing to watch as ‘ridiculous’ rule scrapped: Super Netball Talking Pts

Super Netball’s official pre-season tournament, the Team Girls Cup, begins on the Gold Coast today (Friday), bringing together all eight teams for matches across three days.

Australian Diamond star turned Fox Netball commentator Bianca Chatfield breaks down the big talking points ahead of the first centre pass.

Thunderbirds are go to ‘show their seven’

After arguably the biggest recruiting coup of the off-season – landing England shooter Eleanor Cardwell – the Adelaide Thunderbirds look set to make a splash in season 2023. And Chatfield expects Tania Obst’s team to hit the Team Girls Cup hard.

“I’m really intrigued as to what they can do this season. I can’t wait to watch them, as I think they’re going to take on Team Girls a little differently to a lot of other teams,” she said.

“They’ve got that core of players, but they’ve needed to input somebody that’s going to help them down in the attack ... and they have that now,” Chatfield added, referencing Cardwell, who is tipped to play at goal attack, with Lucy Austin at shooter.

“I think they’re really gonna go in and work hard at their combinations early; the ones that we will see in Super Netball. They’ll want to set their mark and get their seven playing well so they can really have an impact once the season starts. I think they’ll show their seven,” she said.

While Austin and Cardwell present a formidable front end, Obst also has Georgie Horjus and Tippah Dwan to call on. “That’s a lethal attack line. The versatility there is going to be a big strength and challenge to lots of defensive ends,” Chatfield said.

Moore pressure for Bueta’s replacement at Firebirds

Shooter Emily Moore – signed to the Queensland Firebirds just a few weeks ago to replace superstar Gretel Bueta – will be one to watch on the Gold Coast, Chatfield said.

“I’ve not seen her live but have heard big wraps on her from two Diamonds, (Firebirds coach) Bec Bulley and Kim Green, who have both coached her at Premier League level, about just how awesome she is,” Chatfield said of the 25-year-old who has moved through the NSW pathway.

“The fact Bec has given her this opportunity at Super Netball level speaks volumes. She knows exactly what she’s getting.

“I don’t want to heap any more pressure on her, because she’s already stepping into a quality side like the Firebirds and in the place of someone like Bueta, but I am definitely going to keep an eye on her,” Chatfield added.

Able to score at the post or from distance, 180cm Moore is known for her “vocal encouragement” and can play goal attack and goal shooter, giving first-year Firebirds coach Bulley plenty of flexibility.

Bulley also has First Nations star Donnell Wallam, who plays shooter at the domestic and international level, and Mia Stower, a specialist goal attack.

Depleted Collingwood has chance to experiment

Collingwood heads into the pre-season tournament without shooters Sophie Garbin, Nyah Allen and midcourter Molly Jovic.

Garbin picked up a minor calf strain at training last week, Allen is still recovering from off-season surgery to correct a musculoskeletal chest condition and Jovic is managing an ongoing calf injury.

But while coach Nicole Richardson would no doubt prefer to have her contracted 10 at her disposal, there could be a silver lining, according to Chatfield.

“Of course, it’s hard to not have your best, but it’s also a chance to test out some other combinations, to see who can get out there on the court and make it work,” she said.

Richardson has the luxury of “very much knowing” what 25-year-old Garbin, who played in two of the Australian Diamonds’ four Tests in January’s Quad Series in Cape Town, has to offer.

“They will have been playing plenty of pre-season games anyway, so this will just be another chance for (the Pies) to keep testing,” Chatfield said.

Collingwood’s Australian Netball Championships goaler, Tongan international Uneeq Palavi will replace Garbin on the Gold Coast, while Pies’ training partners Casey Adamson and Olivia Wilkinson will step in for Allen and Jovic respectively.

Good riddance to ‘ridiculous, rigid’ uniform rules

After changes to Netball Australia’s uniform policy late last year designed to “recognise the various individual preferences and religious beliefs of netballers”, several teams will wear inclusive uniforms at the Team Girls Cup.

The Queensland Firebirds will choose from a traditional dress, shorts, long or short-sleeved T-shirts, long pants, leggings, skorts or singlets, the Sunshine Coast Lightning players will wear a singlet and a choice of skorts, tights or bike pants and the Adelaide Thunderbirds will also have tights, shorts and singlets to select from. It’s a move Chatfield praised.

“It’s been a long time coming. Our sport has been very rigid in the past around what you have to wear, when you have to wear it, how everyone has to look ... and of course we know that’s not the most important thing in the world,” Chatfield said.

“We shouldn’t let something as ridiculous as uniforms and the rules that we have around it stop anybody from being able to enjoy playing netball. And that’s what it’s about; enjoyment.

She congratulated the clubs leading the way.

“To take a big barrier, like outdated uniforms, out of the way, is a really special thing, and that’s a credit to the teams. They’re role models, showing everybody who wants to play our sport, and be comfortable playing our sport, they can.”

Fit, firing Pretorius a key for Sunshine Coast

The return of Karla Pretorius for the Lightning will thrill fans and terrify shooters in equal measure, Chatfield said.

Pretorius, widely regarded as the best goal defence in the world before she stepped away in 2021 to have a child, made her much-anticipated return to top-flight netball in January’s Quad Series and showed she’s well and truly back to her best.

“It’s fair to say everyone is keen to see Karla back out there. She adds so much to the game and her team. She plays defence really differently to what we normally see and that’s what excites me … to see what she’s going to bring to Super Netball this year,” Chatfield said.

The 32-year-old somehow plays defence like an attacker, she added.

“She attacks the ball, hides behind her opponent almost and comes through at the exact moment. Rather than setting up certain plays to allow herself to fly at the ball with space, she does it with minimal space and very cleanly,” Chatfield said.

“The way she can come around the body … It’s like she has these twinkle toes that allow her to sneak around the outside of the body of her attacker and the feeders just have got no idea where she’s going to come from. She’s so elusive. I can’t wait to see that athleticism and instinct back on the court.”