Suncorp Super Netball: Sophie Garbin set to join Diamonds partner at new club; Sarah Klau could be headed north

One of the biggest moves of the SSN off-season looks settled with Sophie Garbin deciding on a new club, writes LINDA PEARCE.

Former Magpie Sophie Garbin appears headed to the Vixens. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

In-demand Diamonds shooter Sophie Garbin appears headed to the Melbourne Vixens rather than Super Netball’s new Victorian franchise in a recruiting coup that may help mitigate the imminent loss of co-captain Lizzy Watson.

As Watson prepares to relocate to the Sunshine Coast to join the Lightning, Garbin’s desire to stay in the city where she was based for the past two seasons with Collingwood has led her to the powerful establishment club that is still home to Diamonds trio Kiera Austin, Jo Weston and Kate Moloney.

While also pursued by the Magpies’ replacement, the SEN-owned start-up based in Melbourne’s southeast, Garbin is set to forge a potent new domestic combination with her World Cup finals’ partner Austin in a Vixens’ attacking circle that has been problematic in recent seasons.

The 26-year-old West Australian left the NSW Swifts in 2022 in search of more on-court opportunity after sitting in the queue behind Helen Housby and Sam Wallace, but was played out of position for most of her tenure at the Magpies, and has excelled for Australia when given the GS bib by coach Stacey Marinkovich.

Garbin is set to form a new Vixens attacking circle combination with Kiera Austin. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Garbin is believed to have been lukewarm about joining the Vixens when the possibility was floated unofficially in the wake of Collingwood’s SSN demise, before a subsequent change-of-heart by the strong holding shooter, who has also added a more mobile element to her game long-favoured by Vixens’ coach Simone McKinnis.

Veteran Mwai Kumwenda is expected to be offered a new deal but would find herself playing a reduced role off the bench behind the Diamonds’ duo, whose international partnership should also be fast-tracked by the recent retirement of long-serving goal attack Steph Wood.

Assuming Eleanor Cardwell remains with the Thunderbirds, southeast Melbourne’s remaining options for a tall shooter include ex-Pie Shimona Nelson, the league’s second-top scorer last season, and veteran Romelda Aiken-George should the latter be squeezed out of the Swifts by the return of a fit Wallace.

Another option may be Firebird Donnell Wallam if the national squad member seeks a fresh start interstate. The Brisbane-based team will have at least one goaling vacancy if superstar Gretel Bueta decides not to return following the birth earlier this month of second son Toby.

No contracts can be signed until the long-delayed Collective Players’ Agreement and Team Participation Agreements are finalised, but in-principle deals are being negotiated in the interim.

The Firebirds are keen to sign Swifts defensive star Sarah Klau. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Dual Swifts premiership star Sarah Klau has been courted by the Firebirds, who are keen to bolster a defensive circle in which second-year goal defence Ruby Bakewell-Doran was the senior player in 2023. Courtney Bruce would also be a good fit in the event that salary cap issues thwart her much-heralded move to the Lightning.

Back-up Swifts keeper Teigan O’Shannassy, who was linked to the Vixens 12 months ago before Liv Lewis was eventually offered another one-year deal, has also attracted some interest from at least one Victorian club, despite some concerns over her durability due to a recent calf injury.

Giants wing defence and recently-capped Diamond Amy Parmenter is apparently being sought by the fledgling Tracey Neville-coached team, where she would be joining centre Molly Jovic and, potentially another former Magpie, Gabby Sinclair, who spent last season with the Celtic Dragons in the UK Superleague.

Sinclair, 29, was cut by Collingwood at the end of 2022 after two seasons as a training partner followed by 47 games over four years on the main list. Despite a relative lack of height at 176cm, she is a sweet long-range shooter who can do damage in the two-point period that is deciding an increasing number of games.

Fellow Victorian Jordan Cransberg is tipped to be upgraded from training partner to contracted player, probably at the West Coast Fever, which carried four circle defenders last season but may be losing Bruce and will certainly be without shooter Sasha Glasgow in 2024.

Originally published as Suncorp Super Netball: Sophie Garbin set to join Diamonds partner at new club; Sarah Klau could be headed north