Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst confident team can regain reputation as a force
Adelaide Thunderbirds have endured some tough years, but coach Tania Obst is optimistic the club is headed in the right direction.
Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst is confident the foundations have been laid in her first season of a three-year deal to build the club into a Super Netball title threat.
Her priority this year had been to regain a reputation as a competitive force and not be known as the team where opponents bank on earning the eight points each week.
The Thunderbirds claimed three wins and two draws from their 14 games to finish seventh on the ladder and avoid a third successive SN wooden spoon.
“The over riding thing I wanted to get out of the season was for the Thunderbirds to be competitive again and I think we have been able to do that,” Obst said.
“In the second half of the year we were competitive in the majority of quarters. It was also a year when things were thrown at us, injuries and the World Cup in between.
“It is such a tough competition and it doesn’t wait for anyone, but I’m satisfied moving forward we have a foundation to work from next year.”
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Crucial to Obst’s plans is player retention and building on the combinations established with the new look squad this season.
The Thunderbirds have Sasha Glasgow, Cody Lange, Kate Shimmin, Hannah Petty and Shamera Sterling locked in for next season.
Gun New Zealand shooter Maria Folau will return to Adelaide on Wednesday after a few days with family in Brisbane following the final round loss to Sunshine Coast Lightning and the Thunderbirds will meet to discuss her future.
“Player retention is high in my three-year plan,” Obst said. “It such a small court with so many players and there is so much going on you need to know your teammates inside and out.”
The goal circle combination of Glasgow and Folau was a highlight for the Thunderbirds this season, although Glasgow ruptured her ACL in the penultimate round and faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
“Shamera took the competition on and took it to another level with her ability to win the ball,” Obst said. “Sasha’s improvement was fantastic and Maria’s influence in that was immense.
“It is heart breaking Sasha has sustained that injury. We need to put the ball through the ring more given we were probably seventh or eighth in total goals scores.
“But in terms of improvement, Sasha was a highlight for the year.”
While claiming the SN crown is the ultimate goal, Obst said having South Australian athletes identified in the Diamonds squad was among the KPI’s she wanted to be hitting.