Mystery over replacement goaler after horror injury for netball’s newest club

A player who was left in limbo after the collapse of the Collingwood Magpies last season shapes as a perfect fix after netball’s newest club was rocked by a horror injury to an international.

Unwanted goaler Shimona Jok is likely to get an almost immediate chance to repay the club that threw her a career lifeline after Sasha Glasgow suffered a shattering pre-season injury that has all but ruled her out of the Melbourne Mavericks’ maiden Super Netball season.

Jok, who played five seasons for Collingwood before their collapse, was among the Magpies players left in limbo when the club folded last season, stuck without a full-time Super Netball contract for 2024.

But she was named as a training partner by the Mavericks in January and has been working with goalers Glasgow, Eleanor Cardwell and Gabby Sinclair at training.

Glasgow had surgery on Sunday after breaking her leg in the Mavericks’ trial against the Sunshine Coast in Melbourne on Saturday night and is expected to miss a substantial chunk of the season.

Mavericks and former West Coast Fever player Sasha Glasgow had surgery on Sunday after breaking her leg in a practice match against the Sunshine Coast Lightning. Picture: Getty Images

There was an outpouring of sympathy and support for the goaler on Monday as news of her injury spread across the globe, with English netball fans, players and officials sending well wishes.

Jok, who trailed only Jamaican teammate Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Donnell Wallam in total goals last season, while playing under her maiden name of Nelson, is the most likely replacement, although as a holding shooter, is likely to change the way the Mavericks play.

While Cardwell was likely to line up at goal shooter in a moving circle with fellow England international Glasgow at goal attack, the former Adelaide Thunderbird has the ability to shoot at range and move out of the circle and could line up at goal attack with Jok wearing the GS bib.

Jok finished with 618 goals at 95 per cent accuracy last season but remained without a job after the Magpies folded.

Wanting to stay in Melbourne, where husband Buay Jok is based and she is studying, Jok was offered a position as a training partner with the Mavericks and with 85 Super Netball appearances under her belt, is perfectly positioned to step up to replace Glasgow.

Shimona Jok warming up with the Magpies in Super Netball last season. Picture: Getty Images

With Sinclair also in their ranks, the Mavericks still have the option to play Cardwell at goal shooter, while young gun Uneeq Palavi - who was outstanding for Tonga at last year’s World Cup - is also in the wings as a training partner.

The Victorian product had an outstanding campaign for the Tala in South Africa, where she top scored for a team including former Silver Ferns goaler Cat Tuivaiti and was fourth-top scorer for the tournament behind Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler, Joyce Mvula of Malawi and Georgie Rowe (Wales), with 241 goals at 90 per cent accuracy.

Tuivaiti was delighted to see her included in the Mavericks’ program and would back the 22-year-old to succeed at the next level if given the chance.

“I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m a huge fan of this girl,” Tuivaiti said when she broke the news to Mavericks fans that Palavi would be joining the club as a training partner.

Uneeq Palavi in action for Tonga during the Netball World Cup. Palavi has signed as a training partner with the Mavericks. Picture: Gallo Images

“Anyone that watched the Netball World Cup would have seen how damaging and accurate she was, she sat pretty high in the stats for shooters at the World Cup and that’s a hard ladder to climb but she got there.

“I think she offers something a little bit different to what’s on offer in Australia at the moment, so I think she’s definitely someone to watch out for.”

Glasgow’s injury is a bitter blow for the Mavericks, who were counting on the combination the former West Coast Fever goaler had formed with Cardwell in the Roses squad to fast-track their inaugural season.