Nat Von Bertouch: I’d convinced myself since retirement that I didn’t miss netball. Oh, how I was wrong!

Natalie Von Bertouch convinced herself she didn’t miss netball. She was wrong. As she prepares for her first season as a Thunderbirds assistant coach in the Super Netball league, she gives some insight into this year’s team.

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We are switched on, we are ready!

The Thunderbirds’ round one clash against West Coast Fever on Sunday couldn’t come soon enough.

There has been a swirl of emotion this week — excitement, confidence, anxiousness and then back again. The head coach Tania Obst, the voice of reason, has been the epitome of calm, and nothing breeds confidence like that. She has this team ready and well prepared. And we all know it.

New Adelaide Thunderbirds coaching team is head coach Tania Obst, centre, Cathy Fellows, left, and Natalie von Bertouch, right. PHOTO: AAP/Mark Brake

It’s been five years since I retired from netball and somehow during that time I’d convinced myself I hadn’t missed it. Oh, how I was wrong.

Nothing compares to the rollercoaster of emotions, the highs and lows of sport, the feeling of accomplishment when a team achieves something that they have been working towards, the camaraderie of a group of players and staff driven to create something special, and with the expectation of success.

The 2019 Thunderbirds have high expectations, and this is a great thing. Yes, it can create some pressure and nerves, but ultimately it brings a steely resolve. This resolve has been seen throughout the pre-season, so we are confident in what can be achieved this week and across the season.

We held an internal practice match during the week and what was most exciting, aside from competition for starting spots being hotly contested, was that both Beth Cobden — our new English import who is coming back from a knee reconstruction — and co-captain Chelsea Pitman — one of the most senior players in Suncorp Super Netball who injured her calf during pre-season — were able to get through the game.

The team had snippets of brilliance as well as some periods of inconsistency. But this doesn’t worry me. As a player, I loved it when trainings in the lead up to round one weren’t perfect — it was a reminder that you can’t just walk out onto a court and expect things will click. You have to make it happen.

While emotions are more intense this week, the week itself hasn’t been too dissimilar to those before it. Here is a snapshot of what a week in the life of a Thunderbirds player consists of: court sessions, meetings, video review, match practice, gym sessions, pilates, physio, massage and recovery.

This week is much the same but with a couple of important but subtle changes.

Former Adelaide Thunderbirds captain, Natalie Von Bertouch, during her playing days. PHOTO: File

Friday’s court session, the last of the week — aside from of today’s captains run on the main court at Priceline stadium, is held at game time, rather than at the usual morning timeslot. Why? The players must be primed to perform in the afternoon and be well rehearsed to fuel correctly for this timeslot.

But most importantly opposition analysis comes into play, each player will receive a document detailing the strengths, weaknesses and some video footage of their opponents. This level of detail means we know the Fever inside out.

As a team, we are well prepared, we know what must be done, now we wait for Sunday with our hopes and expectations high, excited to showcase the best netball we can.