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It could be a case of deja vu for the unloved NSW Swifts, but the defending trans-Tasman netball champions have at least one prominent supporter heading into the new season starting on Saturday.
As was the case last year, the Swifts are not rated the favourite for the 10-team tournament, with most online betting institutions rating them down in third spot behind the Silver Ferns-studded Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic and Melbourne Vixens.
Those three teams along with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, who have enticed former Australian players Laura Von Bertouch and Jane Altschwager out of retirement, are the only franchises most people expect to have a fighting chance of winning the second competition.
Australian national coach Norma Plummer wasn’t buying into the argument that the Swifts weren’t poised to make a strong defence of the title.
“I think (Swifts captain) Cath Cox said the Swifts haven’t been ear-tagged again this year, but I wouldn’t be saying that,” Plummer said.
“I’ve got a big interest in that team, six of them are in the national squad, so I would be expecting that group of players to stand up against any line-up during the season.
“You can’t underestimate Swifts, but with Thunderbirds getting Jane Altschwager and Laura Von Bertouch back and Mo’onia Gerrard free of injury, they have to be looking quite good with their depth.”
NSW will again be mentored by one of Australia’s most successful coaches, Julie Fitzgerald, who won four domestic titles with the Sydney Swifts before master-minding last year’s ANZ Championship triumph.
Fitzgerald was under no illusion about how tough it would be to defend the title successfully.
“I think a lot of the teams have built across the year and it will be a much stronger competition,” Fitzgerald said.
She retained the majority of her championship-winning squad apart from midcourt stalwart Selina Gilsenan, who retired.
Plummer expected a better showing from most of the five New Zealand franchises.
No New Zealand team won in Australia last year, something which Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken hoped would change this season.
“We do have to challenge those Australian teams more often and I’m very much looking forward to seeing that this year,” Aitken said.
“The four franchises our Silver Ferns came out of each had success against the Australian teams at some point in time, it was just consistency they were lacking.
“Now with the added experience I’m really hoping for more consistent good performances.”
Magic have supplemented their already powerful line-up by adding New Zealand Test defender Leana de Bruin and Samoan midcourter Frances Solia.
Southern Steel have also built up well, adding Silver Ferns’ Sheryl Scanlan, Adine Wilson and Donna Wilkins plus promising former Swifts shooter Leah Shoard.
“Apart from Pulse, who I think still might struggle again, I think each of those (other NZ) teams have pulled back players,” Plummer said.
The two Australian teams who missed out on last year’s finals, Queensland and West Coast have also beefed up their rosters.
Firebirds have added former Australian team defender Demelza McCloud (nee Fellowes).
West Coast recruited former Phoenix players Jo Curran and Madison Browne, but English Test defender Ama Agbeze moved in the opposite direction.
That should add some spice to the opening round clash between the two teams in Melbourne on Saturday, while in other opening round fixtures, Steel host the Pulse, the Firebirds entertain the Thunderbirds, Mystics play Magic and Swifts start their defence at home to Tactix on Monday.
ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS: Jane Altschwager, Emily Beaton, Georgia Beaton, Kate Beveridge, Mo’onia Gerrard, Natalie Medhurst, Geva Mentor, Bianca Reddy, Joanne Sutton, Laura von Bertouch, Natalie von Bertouch (captain), Sheree Wingard. Coach: Jane Woodlands. 2008 record: 9-4, 3rd, lost preliminary final.
Adelaide’s already powerful defence will be supplemented by notable additions to both their midcourt and frontline after the Thunderbirds enticed Laura von Bertouch and Jane Altschwager out of retirement. Promising midcourter Jo Sutton will also add value to arguably the strongest roster of all the Australian teams.
CANTERBURY TACTIX: Maree Bowden, Jodi Brown, Phillipa Finch, Ellen Halpenny, Charlotte Kight, Sonia Mkoloma, Julie Seymour, Victoria Smith, Anna Thompson, Kahurangi Waititi, Larrissa Willcox. Coach: Helen Mahon-Stroud. 2008 record: 5-8, 8th.
Tactix start their season away to the defending champion Swifts, with their defence boosted by England Test star Sonia Mkoloma. They were the only NZ team to beat the Swifts last year, but again probably lack the depth to make a sustained charge of their own.
CENTRAL PULSE: Te Amo Amaru-Tibble, Hannah Broederlow, Althea Byfield, Paula Griffin, Jamilah Gupwell, Larrissa Harrison, Katie King, Camilla Lees, Cushla Lichtwark, Bessie Manu, Ngarama Milner, Neesha Weiser. Coach: Yvette McCausland-Durie. 2008 record: 0-12-1, 10th
It looks like being another season of stuggle for the Pulse who lost defensive linchpin Mkoloma to Tactix and midcourt stalwart Frances Solia to Magic. They recruited Silver Ferns shooter Paula Griffin from Mystics and Jamaican Test defender Althea Byfield, but they are unlikely to boost the youthful side sufficiently to stay clear of the bottom.
MELBOURNE VIXENS: Ama Agbeze, Bianca Chatfield, Natasha Chokljat, Renae Hallinan, Ashlee Howard, Wendy Jacobsen, Kathleen Knott, Sharelle McMahon, Chelsey Nash, Julie Prendergast, Brooke Thompson, Caitlin Thwaites. Coach: Julie Hoornweg. 2008 record: 9-4, 4th losing minor semi-finalist.
Vixens lost Madison Browne and Johannah Curran to Fever, but England defender Ama Agbeze travelled in the opposite direction. Vixens will be looking to improve on a slightly disappointing 2008 with the shooting combination of Sharelle McMahon and Caitlin Thwaites likely to be prominent.
NSW SWIFTS: Erin Bell, Catherine Cox (captain), Rebecca Bulley, Kimberlee Green, Emma Koster, Ashlee Mann, Jessica Mansell, Samantha May, Susan Pratley, Kimberly Smith, Vanessa Ware, Amy Wild. Coach: Julie Fitzgerald. 2008 record: 10-3, 2nd, won grand final.
Master coach Julie Fitzgerald has retained most of her championship winning squad apart from retired midcourt star Selina Gilsenan. The shooting duo of Catherine Cox and Susan Pratley is among the competition’s best and their blossoming defence and centre lines should seem them mount another strong title challenge.
NORTHERN MYSTICS: Stephanie Bond, Pamela Cookey, Vilimaina Davu, Rawinia Everitt, Temepara George, Keshia Grant, Catherine Latu, Finau Pulu, Grace Rasmussen, Rachel Rasmussen, Jade Topia, Debbie White. Coach: Te Aroha Keenan. 2008 record: 5-8, 7th.
Mystics were one of the disappointments of 2008 and will be looking for improvement under new coach Te Aroha Keenan. They have added England Test shooter and wing attack Pamela Cookey to their squad, but have lost Silver Ferns Leana de Bruin, Paula Griffin and Sheryl Scanlan to domestic rivals and don’t appear to have the depth of some of those teams.
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS: Romelda Aiken, Alissa Castrisos, Carla Dziwocki, Demelza Fellowes, Laura Geitz, Tamsin Greenway, Janelle Lawson, Clare McMeniman, Lauren Nourse, Jenny O’Connor, Peta Stephens, Keirra Trompf. Coach: Vicki Wilson. 2008 record: 7-6, 5th
Firebirds will again lean heavily on their prolific Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken. They have lost centre Katie Walker, but have added former Australian Test defender Demelza McCloud to their roster, which is not quite as deep as some of the other Australian franchises.
SOUTHERN STEEL: Liana Barrett-Chase, Erika Burgess, Katrina Grant, Megan Hutton, Julianna Naoupu, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Sheryl Scanlan, Leah Shoard, Wendy Telfer, Donna Wilkins, Adine Wilson (captain), Daneka Wipiiti. Coach: Robyn Broughton. 2008 record: 7-6, 6th.
Steel had built up impressively, adding Silver Ferns Donna Wilkins, Adine Wilson and Sheryl Scanlan and promising former Swifts shooter Leah Shoard. Look for them to improve significantly and push for a finals spot after under-achieving last year.
WAIKATO/BAY OF PLENTY MAGIC: Leana de Bruin, Joline Henry, Laura Langman, Halana Leith, Nicola Pettit, Elias Shadrock, Frances Solia, Jodi Tod, Jess Tuki, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk, Casey Williams. Coach: Noeline Taurua. 2008 record: 10-3, 1st, lost grand final.
The pre-season competition favourite again looms as New Zealand’s major contender after adding to more internationals, Leana de Bruin and Frances Solia to their already powerful line-up. If they can find the key to winning in Australia, they will be hard to beat for the title.
WEST COAST FEVER: Caitlin Bassett, Emma Beckett, Shae Bolton, Madison Browne, Johannah Curran, Bianca Franklin, Susan Fuhrmann, Andrea Gilmore, Josie Janz, Jasmine Keene, Stacey Rosman, Nikala Smith. Coach: Jane Searle. 2008 record: 2-10-1, 9th.
Fever will be looking for improvement under new coach Jane Searle after being clearly the weakest of the five Australian franchises in the competition’s inaugural season. They have added former Vixens duo Johannah Curran and Madison Browne to their squad and should win more games than last year, but can’t be considered a finals threat.