Season preview: 2021 SA Premier League netball campaign starts with huge grand final rematch
Rising stars and ex-national league players are ready for a fast-paced and exciting 2021 Premier League netball season. Check out our season preview.
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It’s been a tough off-season for some of the state’s best netballers.
Many have dealt with off-court difficulties, including the tragic loss of Matrics player Ivy-Rose Hughes and Oakdale rising star Charlotte Agostino.
But a return to the court with the 2021 Premier League season starting this Friday has helped lift their spirits.
The start of SA’s top tier campaign this year starts with a huge grand final rematch between Matrics and Contax, while Tango will battle South Adelaide.
Formally known as Woods Panthers, South is aiming to get off to a winning start under its new name.
In September last year, Woods linked up with South Adelaide Football Club in a bid to grow both sports in the region.
Under the agreement, Woods Panthers would adopt South Adelaide’s name and colours.
South star Megan Wooldridge was keen to get the new season underway.
“We are really excited to come out and wear the new uniform this year,” Wooldridge said.
“(Being in the south) has helped us in terms of recruitment at a Premier League level as we’ve had a couple of girls come across from other clubs and that’s been due to the rebrand.”
Tango’s Sarah Raper said the side would be boosted by the return of wing attack Kelly Altman who featured with Collingwood during last year’s Super Netball League.
“We’ve trained hard and we are just keen to get out on the court now,” Raper said.
“Kelly has come back in and she’s got a lot of experience.
“She looks at the game a bit differently and it’s been good for her to pass that on to our other attackers.”
Raper said Tango was hoping to better its third-place finish last year.
She was also looking forward to having last year’s MVP winner and ex-Thunderbirds goal shooter Jess Paradiso and 2020 runner up Kelsey Williams light up the court again this season.
Matrics, however, still looms as the team to beat this season after beating Contact to win the 2020 premiership.
Matrics will be hoping to get its title defence off to a strong start, while Contax looking for revenge.
Since 2008, Contax has claimed seven Premier League premierships, while Matrics has won five.
Rising Matrics star Lucy Austin stepped up in last year’s four-goal grand final win over Contax was awarded Marg Angove Trophy for the Most Valuable Player on court.
Austin said her side was hungry for back-to-back flags
“We’ve had stuff going on the past couple of months (off-court) but we are so excited to just get out there and give it our bets crack,” Austin said.
“I don’t feel any pressure, we’ve all worked hard over the off-season and we just can’t wait to be together on court and play our own game.”
Contax goal keeper Molly Watson said her side had a few veterans retire ahead of the 2021 campaign but she was excited to watch the young guns step up.
“We had Georgia Beaton (former Thunderbirds player), Kayla Green and Amelia Schmit retire so nearly our whole defensive line,” Watson said.
“We’ve still got some leaders in Chelsea Lemke and Imogen Abernathy so we are lucky to have some old ones to help our younger players too.
“This year it will be about combinations and learning how to play alongside each other as it’s sort of like a brand new team.
“Our normal game is quick, fast ball, so sticking to what we know will also be really important.”
SA PREMIER LEAGUE NETBALL ROUND ONE FIXTURE:
Netball SA Stadium, Friday, April 30 at 6.30pm
■ Matrics v Contax (court one)
■ Garville v Metro Jets (court two)
■ Oakdale v Newton Jaguars (court three)
■ Tango v South Adelaide (court four)
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