Ex-Adelaide Thunderbirds back on court in Netball SA Masters

IMAGINE lining up for a Wednesday night social netball match and seeing three ex-Adelaide Thunderbirds at the other end of the court.

20/03/15 - Karen Robinson from Mod Squad, Lucy Portaro from Dogs, Kristen Heinrick from Dogs, Amanda Wright from Mod Squad and Bianca Reddy from Dogs will take part in the upcoming SA Netball Masters finals series. Pictured at Netball SA Stadium in Mile End. Photo Tom Huntley

IMAGINE lining up for a Wednesday night social netball match and seeing three ex-Adelaide Thunderbirds at the other end of the court.

That has been the proposition for teams in Netball SA’s Masters competition this season facing District Old Girls, or DOGS, as they are known.

Organised by former ANZ Championship star and Australian international Kristen Heinrich, the side includes ex-Thunderbirds Bianca Reddy and Jane Fitzgerald.

Former state league players Christie Nash (Contax) and Lucy Portaro (Garville and Tango) also feature in the formidable line-up.

Heinrich formed the side last year after floating the idea with ex-teammates.

But she fell pregnant so has been restricted to team manager duties for most of the campaign.

“I retired in 2011 and haven’t touched a ball since, and I hadn’t really had the urge to,” Heinrich, 35, says.

“But now I’m really keen and I love catching up with the girls.

“It’s been really good fun and I can’t wait to actually get out on the court and play.”

Despite their playing credentials, DOGS finished the minor season second on the ladder.

They face third-placed Mod Squad in tomorrow night’s qualifying final at Netball SA Stadium.

Mod Squad’s Karen Robinson says facing the star names is “a little intimidating” for a team drawn mainly from the daytime netball program at Highbury’s Turramurra Recreation Centre.

“But it’s also lifted the standard of the competition to have these players and it’s great to play against people that have played at the top level,” Robinson, 49, says.

“We’ve had a lot of fun playing against them and it’s still certainly a very competitive level of netball.”

Mod Squad narrowly defeated DOGS in their two minor round clashes this season.

Heinrich says her side is keen to end the season on a high.

“I think we are a bit more light hearted than some of the teams we play against,” she says.

“They take it very seriously, but we’re just out there to have fun.”