How the 17 Super Netball rookies rate after eight rounds
This Firebirds rookie has quickly put herself on the national radar after being the standout rising star of 2022. See our full list of young guns to watch during the run home.
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More than halfway through the 2022 Super Netball season and these young guns have not wasted any time proving they can mix it with the world’s best netballers.
Firebirds 23-year-old defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran has been a standout rookie so far this season helping the Queensland side pull off some vital wins.
Bakewell-Doran, who came up the ranks from the Sapphire Series, has matched it with some of the best shooters in the world including Fever’s Jhaniele Fowler.
Lightning’s shooter Reilly Batcheldor has become a super shot expert, earning plenty of court time despite sharing the circle with Diamond shooters Cara Koenen and Steph Wood.
Vixens have a stacked midcourt, including Liz Watson and Kate Moloney, but rising star Hannah Mundy has endeavoured to make the most of time on court, proving she is more than capable to fill their shoes when needed.
Here are how the 17 rookies to watch this season are tracking after eight rounds:
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Ruby Bakewell-Doran
Ruby Bakewell-Doran has been the standout rookie of the 2022 season so far. The Firebirds goal defender has played a vital role in many of the Queensland side’s close calls this season. Bakewell-Doran, 23, previously played in the Sapphire Series before making her way to Super Netball. She has the fourth highest number of intercepts (15) and deflections (31) in the competition. Bakewell-Doran’s efforts have earned her 308.5 Nissan Net Points this year.
Rahni Samason
Vixens’ Rahni Samason has taken to the court in four of the eight games so far – putting on impressive performances each time. Samason, 24, was elevated to the squad after being a training partner. This season she has scored 32 goals and 10 super shots. Samson has an 82 per cent shooting accuracy and has sunk 77 per cent of her super shots. Her efforts have earned her 97.5 Nissan Net Points.
Hannah Mundy
Breaking into the midcourt of the Vixens side is no easy task with the likes of Liz Watson and Kate Moloney in the line-up but Hannah Mundy, 21, has proved she can be a valuable team member in her four outings this season. Mundy, who was named the 2021 Rookie of the Year, filled in for Vixens in 2021 in Watson’s absence due to a foot injury. So far this season Mundy has amassed 116 Nissan Net Points. She has pulled off 36 goal assists in her four games.
Tayla Fraser
Tayla Fraser has started for the struggling Swifts side each week and has been rotated through all three midcourt positions. While just 22, Fraser already has already helped Swifts win two premierships – first in 2019 against Lightning and the second in 2021 against the Giants. Fraser has played a hand in 18 of Swifts goals this season and just two intercepts to collect 77 Nissan Net Points.
Teigan O’Shannassy
Regarded as one of the most promising up-and-coming defenders in the Australian game, Teigan O’Shannassy is making the most of her limited opportunities in her first season as a contract Super Netball player.
O’Shannassy, 22, has taken to the court for just three of the games this season.
In those games she gained two intercepts, four deflections and 47 Nissan Net Points.
Kelly Singleton
Kelly Singleton has been a standout performer in the QBE Swifts Academy and, with the departure of Sophie Garbin to Collingwood, was given the opportunity to make an attacking position her own with her first full-time contract for the 2022 season.
While not as big a presence in the attacking circle as Garbin, Singleton makes up for this with good movement and her ability to get in behind defenders. With Swifts losing super shooter Sam Wallace early in the season Singleton has been given plenty of opportunity alongside Sophie Fawns and Helen Housby. Singleton has netted 45 goals with an accuracy of 75 per cent. She has scored three super shots and earned 23.5 Nissan Net Points.
Reilley Batcheldor
Lightning rookie Reilley Batcheldor has proven to have a sharp eye in the circle and from long range netting 21 super shots this season – just outside the top five ranked super shooters in the competition. Batcheldor, 19, was a former Firebirds training partner, playing for QUT netball in the Sapphire Series before being picked up by the Sunshine Coast team. She has a 77 per cent accuracy under the net (total 93 goals) this season and has netted 49 per cent of her super shot attempts. Batcheldor has 95 Nissan Net Points. The statistics are impressive considering her shooting teammates Cara Koenen and Steph Wood are both in the extended Diamonds squad.
Annie Miller
The 20-year-old centre/wing-attack has earned her first full time contract with Sunshine Coast Lightning after being a training partner at Giants Netball. Miller has taken to the court in seven of the eight games so far this year – clocking up 36 assists. Lightning has a strong midcourt including Laura Scherian and Mahalia Cassidy. Miller has 102 Nissan Net Points.
Matilda McDonell
One of the best young impact defenders in the game, Giants’ Tilly McDonell is continuing to impress this season. McDonnell, 22, has featured in all eight of Giants’ games. She has 12 intercepts to her name and 15 defensive rebounds – the fourth highest in the competition. McDonnell has 363.5 Nissan Net Points.
Amy Sligar
Teen sensation Amy Sligar will step up for the Giants this year as a full-time midcourter. The 19-year-old centre/wing defence is playing alongside some strong midcourters including April Brandley, Maddie Hay and Amy Parmenter. Sligar has starred in four of the eight games. She has 69 Nissan Net Points.
Maggie Lind
The daughter of former Melbourne Kestrels head coach Marg Lind, Maggie Lind has picked up her first full-time contract this year – signing with the Magpies for 2022. Lind was a training partner with the squad, who was awarded the MVP in the Victorian Netball League last year. A former goaler Lind is now a smooth-moving wing attack with great ability to feed into the goal circle. She has played four games this season and her agility has helped her receive 51 centre passes. Lind also has 25 goal assist from her limited court time and 51.5 Nissan Net Points.
Tayla Williams
The 21-year-old midcourter has secured a contract with the Thunderbirds for the 2022 season, after being a training partner with the side since 2020. Williams has missed just two games for the Thunderbirds this season. She has 28 goal assists, two intercepts and five deflections – not bad considering she shares the position with Georgie Horjus, Hannah Petty, Maisie Nankivell and Elle McDonald. Off the court, Williams studies a double degree in Sport and Exercise and Nutrition and Food science.
Tippah Dwan
Sharp shooter Tippah Dwan, 21, has joined the Thunderbirds for 2022 after making a name for herself with the Firebirds in 2020. Dwan is fast becoming a super shot queen at the Thunderbirds – netting 13 super shots – which equates to 41 per cent of the team’s total. She has also put 73 goals away this season. Limited court time has Dwan on just 27 Nissan Net Points.
Latanya Wilson
Latanya Wilson has taken to the court in all eight rounds for the Thunderbirds this season. She was just 19 when she arrived in Adelaide from Jamaica. Now 20, Wilson has made a name for herself has a versatile defender, playing wing defence, goal defence and goal keeper. So far she has taken 13 intercepts, 25 deflections and 13 rebounds to amass 297.5 Nissan Net Points.
Mia Stower
After being a training partner and member of the extended squad since 2020, Mia Stower has earned her first Super Netball contract with the Firebirds. Stower, 21, is a promising goal attack, who finetuned her skills with the Brisbane North Cougars in the Hart Sapphire Series – winning back to back premierships. With the likes of Gretel Bueta on her team Stower has had limited court time this season. She has scored seven goals, shooting at 70 per cent and four super shots (57 per cent).
Ruth Aryang
Ruth Aryang, the 18-year-old sister of Fever player and Diamond Sunday Aryang is yet to take to the court for the Super Netball side. Aryang did represent Western Australia at the recent nationals tournament in Hobart. Despite tearing her ACL during the event she was named in the Australian u/19 side.
Zoe Cransberg
Named on Fever’s extended team list, Zoe Cransberg, 22, is no stranger to elite sport. Her father Peter Cransberg played 79 VFL/AFL games for Essendon and twin sister Jordan is a training partner with the Vixens. Cransberg, a versatile midcourter, is a fierce competitor. She has been named in the game day squad three out of the eight games – taking to the court twice. Her most impressive performance was in the Round 8 clash with Magpies, which Fever won 74-69. Cransberg had five goal assists.
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