2012 ANZ Championship netball preview

After a longer than usual off-season, the 2012 ANZ Championship is less than a month away. And I have decided to throw out some out-there predictions, and some not so out-there predictions.

How the final table will look:

1. Queensland Firebirds
2. WBOP Magic
3. Northern Mystics
4. Adelaide Thunderbirds
5. Melbourne Vixens
6. West Coast Fever
7. NSW Swifts
8. Southern Steel
9. Central Pulse
10. Canterbury Tactix

The usual cellar dwellers, the Tactix, the Pulse and the Steel, will once again fill the bottom three spots on the championship table. The Pulse’s addition of Joline Henry will be an excellent combination with Katrina Grant in the defensive line.

Even with the staunch defensive line of Sonia Mkoloma, Mo’onia Gerrard and Kim Green, the NSW Swifts will struggle without the services of Cath Cox. Susan Pratley and Carla Dziwoki will have to carry the shooting load, and Carla Dziwoki just isn’t the superstar player that the Swifts want her to be yet! I would love Carla to prove me wrong.

The Fever will once again just miss out on the finals; Cox will add to the already potent attacking end with World Championship heroine Caitlin Bassett, who has taken her game to another level, and will look to build on a solid 2011.

Norma Plummer adds experience and guile as a past Diamonds coach, and if Cath Cox is to work well at GA, having help from the often erratic Shae Bolton and rock hard Andrea Gilmore, Plummer is the woman to do it, while Eboni Beckford-Chambers has signed with the Fever for 2012; an athletic defender who should partner Susan Fuhrmann very well.

The Vixens will continue to travel reasonably well, but the absence of Sharelle McMahon due to pregnancy will prove problematic. However, Tegan Caldwell stood up reasonably well and will be looking to partner West Australian giant Kate Beveridge at goal-shooter. Their defensive line is probably the most potent in an Australian line-up with English superstar Geva Mentor and future Diamonds captain and pasta-loving Julie Corletto.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds will be the main mover in 2012. After a disappointing 5-8 season finishing sixth, the T-Birds have recruited well,with Rebecca Bulley from the Swifts and Renae Hallinan from the Vixens aiming to bolster the sometimes shaky defence the Thunderbirds played last year.

Jane Woodlands-Thompson will expect nothing less than perfection for her Thunderbirds team. With Carla Borrego and Erin Bell as goalies, consistency is the key. Natalie von Bertouch and Emily Beaton are excellent mid-court players, and the bolstered defence will make the Thunderbirds the darkhorse to have a good crack at the title this year.

Premiers: Queensland Firebirds.

After the pre-season tournament in Tauranga, the Queensland Firebirds have more than cemented their spot as the team to beat.

With the potency of Romelda Aiken and Natalie Medhurst up front, the consistency and dominance of Laura Geitz and Amy Steel down back, and the heart and soul Lauren Nourse in the mid-court, there is no reason why the Firebirds can’t go back-to-back.

I am predicting either last year’s runners up, the Northern Mystics, or the WBOP Magic as grand finalists.

The Mystics have talent at all positions with Temepara George working with the superstar shooting combination of the dominating Catherine Latu and the uncompromising Maria Tutaia. They have a massive hole to replace at WD with the departure of Joline Henry, who has deferred to the Pulse, however they have acquired Jade Clarke, a C/WD from England, who may be able to fill the massive void.

The defensive combination of the rangy Anna Scarlett and the young superstar Kayla Cullen proved lethal last year, shutting down opponents with their energy and presence. They all combined so well last year, and the grand final was a just reward for their efforts.

After a heartbreaking 42-43 loss to the Northern Mystics in the 2011 semi-final, the WBOP Magic will be looking to exact revenge this year, and with their off-season change of personnel, they may have the team to do it.

Perennial superstars Laura Langman and Casey Williams, together with netball’s superwoman Irene Van Dyk, who will turn 40 just before Round 13 begins, will anchor this team. Up and coming Juliana Naoupu will provide energy at that the goal-attack position.

Two major additions to the Magic line-up include South Austrtalian Khao Watts, a dynamic mid-courter who will bring pace and exuberance to the Magic. Another major addition and probably the signing of the season for the Magic is GD/GK Leana De Bruin from the Southern Steel. De Bruin is the reigning MVP, who together with Casey Williams will make the Magic defence a force to be reckoned with.

ANZ Championship most valuable player: Julie Corletto (Melbourne Vixens).

Injury has plagued this dynamic defender’s career, but if she can keep her body right, I believe she can make this year special and dominate any player she plays against. The Vixens have too many class players not to make 2012 a relatively successful year, and Corletto is a superstar.

Notable mentions: Nat von Bertouch (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Laura Geitz (Queensland Firebirds), Casey Williams (WBOP Magic), Maria Tutaia (Northern Mystics).

ANZ Championship best young player: Khao Watts (WBOP Magic).

Khao has come into a superstar team and will slot very nicely into the mid-court at WBOP Magic. She has skill and pace and together with feeding partner Laura Langman, will have an excellent year. She captained the Woods Panthers Premier League team in 2011, and that experience will hold her in good stead in the premier netball competition in the world.

ANZ Championship All-Star seven:

GS: Romelda Aiken (Queensland Firebirds).
GA: Natalie Medhurst (Queensland Firebirds).
WA: Temepara George (Northern Mystics).
C: Natalie von Bertouch (Adelaide Thunderbirds).
WD: Joline Henry (Central Pulse).
GD: Julie Corletto (Melbourne Vixens).
GK: Geva Mentor (Melbourne Vixens).

I know I’m not the only one looking forward to this intriguing season of the ANZ Championship.

If all goes to plan, the Firebirds will come out on top and the Mystics will challenge, but don’t count out the Thunderbirds or even the Fever.