Netball 2022: Swifts elevate Sophie Fawns in advertisement for home-grown talent
There is an argument that Netball Australia is destroying its own talent development with its rules on international caps. But the Swifts are sticking with a home-grown product in front of goal.
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The Swifts have spurned international interest and elevated local talent Sophie Fawns to replace star shooter Sam Wallace for the remainder of the Super Netball season.
One of the best foal shooters in the world, Wallace will miss the entire Super Netball season after rupturing her ACL in the opening round.
The Swifts elevated training partner Fawns the following week but the 18-year-old didn’t dream her call-up would become permanent.
Fawns though, possesses a maturity beyond her years and her performances over the next two rounds — against the Vixens and Magpies — showed she deserved a spot on the sport’s biggest stage.
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While some, like former Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett have called for a cap on international players, saying their presence prevents the likes of Fawns coming through, three of the eight teams now have Australian-born starting goal shooters — although two of them, the Swifts and Firebirds have promoted local talent after initially having overseas-born players in place.
The Firebirds and Queensland counterparts the Sunshine Coast Lightning now have three Aussie goalers on their full-time list, while several young local shooters — like the Swifts’ Kelly Singleton — were promoted to clubs’ full-time lists during the off-season contracting period.
Fawns slotted 39-of-45 attempts in her first two games, at a success rate of 87 per cent, to show coach Briony Akle she deserved a shot at the big time.
It was still a surprise to Fawns though, who after some “honest conversations with the coaches” thought she was being delivered the news she would be cut when escorted to have a chat with Akle by co-captains Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley earlier this week.
“I thought that it was going to be about (playing in the) state (age) team this weekend, so I was really pretty relaxed about it all and then the way (Akle) worded the news was so funny that she had me pranked,” Fawns said.
“I really thought it was going a different direction.
“But it was just amazing. If a video (of the announcement) gets released, I think my mouth is open like a fish the whole time.”
And even though she had a tougher time against Adelaide’s Jamaican keeper Shamera Sterling — one of the best defenders in the world — on Wednesday night, Fawns made a successful return after a stint on the bench to help the Swifts to a one-goal win.
The job gets no easier this weekend, with Diamonds goalkeeper Courtney Bruce waiting in Perth to tackle the youngster.
But having learnt the ropes in the Swifts Academy and as a training partner going up against international defenders Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner every session, the teen is not overawed.
“I train with Diamonds every day,” she said.
She also has an ace up her sleeve with Wallace still courtside offering advice and encouragement.
“Sammy’s got a lot of wisdom to offer and she’s been so supportive of me and she’s so happy for me as well,” Fawns said.
“It was a horrible thing that happened and like you said, you never want to get into a team this way.
“But the Swifts family’s been really supportive of me and having her on the bench as well is really comforting.”
Swifts coach Akle said Fawns had made the most of the opportunity presented to her and was highly deserving of the promotion.
“We knew when Sam went down that we couldn’t replace like with like because there is only one Sam Wallace and you can’t replicate what she brings to a court,” Akle said.
“It meant we’ve had to adjust how we play and Sophie has brought her own style and approach which really adds something new to our attack.
“She is a great kid who’s proven if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. The past two weeks she’s gone toe-to-toe with international standard defenders and more than held her own.
“She plays with a smile on her face and loves every moment she’s on court... I think she reminds us all of how lucky we are to do this for a living because Sophie is out there making her own dream come true and her enthusiasm is just infectious.”
SUPER NETBALL (ROUND 5)
SATURDAY, APRIL 16
Sunshine Coast Lightning v Melbourne Vixens, USC Stadium, Sunshine Coast, 5pm
The Lightning are languishing at the bottom of the ladder after being beaten by a Covid-stricken Magpies outfit in Melbourne during the week and face a massive challenge against the unbeaten Vixens at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Tough to see the Lightning turning things around against a clinical Vixens side who will take no mercy.
Giants v Collingwood Magpies, Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney, 7pm
Hardest game of the round to get a good read on, with Giants players feeling the after-effects of Covid and likely to fatigue easily in their third game in eight days, while the Magpies will be without Diamond Sophie Garbin and Gabby Sinclair due to Covid protocols. Pies will be on a high after their win against the Lightning but the Giants will be hard to be on their home patch.
SUNDAY, APRIL 17
West Coast Fever v NSW Swifts, RAC Arena, Perth, 2pm
The Swifts have clawed their way to equal second on competition points after starting the season with a pair of losses but they come up against a huge task in Perth, against a Fever team that will be keen to atone for their first loss of the year. No pressure on the visitors and they’ll play with freedom but a Fever loss would be a huge shock.
Queensland Firebirds v Adelaide Thunderbirds, Nissan Arena, Brisbane, 4pm
While it’s early in the season, this shapes as a huge game for the Firebirds if they are to make the finals for the first time since 2018. Too often in the last couple of years, the Firebirds show flashes of brilliance but don’t back that up with bankable results. They face a stronger Thunderbirds side than in recent year and one determined to bounce back from Wednesday night’s close loss to the Swifts.
Netball’s sad snub to Australian talent
- Caitlin Bassett
It’s time to cap the number of international players in SSN.
At the beginning of the season 7 out of the 8 clubs had an import starting in the GS bib with Cara Koenen at the Sunshine Coast Lightning the only Australian born player in that position. Donnel Wallam has had a stand out start to the season making her debut for the Queensland Firebirds at 28 years of age proving she should have been given an opportunity years ago and would have if not for clubs opting for international shooters over local talent.
Wallam, a West Australian, found herself without a contract when the West Coast Fever again decided to resign Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler leaving her with no options.
She only got the call up to the Firebirds when their Jamaican shooter Romelda George announced her pregnancy and after the public outcry when Queensland was going to sign New Zealander Maria Folau.
A season ending injury to Trinidad and Tobago international shooter Sam Wallace has forced the reining premiers the NSW Swifts to turn to local talent with 18-year old Sophie Fawns shining in her first two games for the club.
Hailing from Wagga Wagga the young shooter has taken the opportunity with two hands and shown a maturity beyond her years on court.
It’s sad to think that we have such amazing Australian talent being overlooked in favour of international flair.
When the issue has been raised it has been batted away with comments such as ‘we want the league to have the best netballers in the world’ however, I believe when local talent is given a chance they quickly prove themselves to be more than capable.
If the competition is not going to cap internationals then perhaps it’s time to grow and add some more teams.
Magpies rocked by game-time Covid crisis
Magpies hopes of securing its first win of the season have taken a big hit with shooters Sophie Garbin and Gabrielle Sinclair to miss the next two games with Covid-19.
The Melbourne club will become just the second this season to pull in a training partner from another club to help fill the void left players infected by the virus – with Vixens’ nominated athlete Ruby Barkmeyer set to step in for Wednesday night’s clash with Lightning.
Collingwood nominated athlete Nyah Allen has also been elevated to Magpies’ playing 10 for tonight.
Barkmeyer was first named as a training partner with the Vixens in 2020. She performed well when given time on court last season scoring 35 goals and five super shots.
Giants are the only other side to have put the league’s Covid-19 contingency policy to use this season — pulling in Fever’s Chelsea Pitman when six of their players tested positive earlier this season.
Magpies are the only team in the competition yet to record a win – the club’s worst start to a Super Netball league yet.
The shooting duo will also be out of action for Saturday’s clash with the Giants.
Magpies will still have Ash Brazill, Kelsey Browne, Molly Jovic, Maggie Lind, Geva Mentor, Shimona Nelson, Jacqui Newton, Jodi-Ann Ward ready for action tonight.
Magpies will play Lightning at 6pm at John Cain Arena.
No time for heartbreak as netball chaos ramps up
With just three days between games Thunderbirds midcourter Elle McDonald said there had been little time to dwell on their heartbreaking one-goal loss to Lightning – instead all focus was on the big midweek clash with the Swifts.
The Thunderbirds fell just one point short of keeping their 2022 undefeated streak alive on Sunday but McDonald, 28, said they had already put the defeat behind them.
It wasn’t the first time the Thunderbirds had come unstuck in a close game with the Sunshine Coast teams — one point has separated them the past three times they have played.
“We are looking to redeem ourselves and are keen for the next challenge,” the midcourter said. “We did all our recovery and analysis of the game and now there is just a real big focus on moving on to the next game against the Swifts.”
McDonald joined the Thunderbirds in 2021 after being a training partner with the Vixens in 2020. Her hard work has earned her extra court time this year and she has had 29 goal assists in the first three games.
Despite the Swifts, the reigning premiers, having a slow start to the season, McDonald said they were not expecting an easy game.
The Swifts are coming off their first win of the season after defeating the Giants.
“They are a quality team and they know how to win,” McDonald said.
“Swifts are great at keeping possession and we know we are going to have to work hard to get the ball off them. It will take a lot of defensive effort all over the court.
“There’ll also be a huge focus on our game and making sure when we do get a turnover, we are rewarding that defensive effort by getting the ball to our goalers.”
McDonald said the Thunderbirds side had really come together during the pre-season and the results in the early rounds proved how hard they had worked.
“We’ve got that connection now as a team and we all know our roles and are playing our roles really nicely,” she said.
The team is prepared to face a tough game every week and the goal is still to make the finals.
“We have spoken about not putting a ceiling on any of our goals and we are just taking each game as it comes,” McDonald said.
“We can go all the way and that is definitely the goal among the group.”
Adelaide Thunderbirds play NSW Swifts at National SA Stadium at 7.30pm on Wednesday.
HOW STAR’S PREGNANCY COULD TRANSFORM DIAMONDS
-Emma Greenwood
Donnell Wallam is shaping as the bolter in coach Stacey Marinkovich’s Diamonds squad after a stunning start to her Super Netball career.
Plenty had talked up Wallam’s ability before her arrival at the Firebirds.
But few would have expected her to make the impact she has just three games into the season.
Wallam’s path to a full-time contract at the Firebirds was far from smooth but if she was affected by the noise surrounding options being discussed to replace pregnant Queensland shooter Romelda Aiken-George, she certainly hasn’t showed it.
In three games, she has contributed 145 points from 135 goals, including 10 super shots, shooting at 87.6 per cent overall.
Her stats under the post are even more impressive, with 93.3 per cent of attempts from one-point range sailing through the net.
Most knew Wallam was a gun shooter though.
Her efforts in the West Australian state league and then with Leeds in the UK Super League provided plenty of proof she was an accurate shooter.
But it’s how she has adapted in the best league in the world that is likely to have captured the attention of Marinkovich and her Diamonds selectors.
In the opening weeks, Wallam has come up against three international goalers - the Vixens’ former Diamond Emily Mannix, Lightning’s Jamaican keeper Kadie-Ann Dehaney and the Fever’s Courtney Bruce, the current Liz Ellis Diamond holder - and forced every one of them to be switched out, at least for periods of the game.
Her efforts against Bruce, in particular, would have caught the eye of Marinkovich, who was courtside at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena on Sunday as Wallam went head-to-head with the Diamonds starter.
In Wallam’s Firebirds teammate Gretel Bueta, Marinkovich has arguably the best goal attack in the world.
But the retirement of former Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett earlier this year has left Australia without a dominant holding shooter, with Marinkovich employing a much more mobile circle throughout Australia’s recent Quad Series win.
Wallam’s emergence could hand the Diamonds a solution, although Collingwood’s Sophie Garbin remains the frontrunner despite a slow start to the season, with Wallam still off peak fitness and making errors under fatigue.
A Commonwealth Games call-up may be a bridge too far but with Marinkovich set to name up to 22 players next week, don’t be surprised if Wallam is there as the coach keeps an eye towards next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
The 28-year-old certainly has a fan in Fever coach Dan Ryan, who mentored her during her Super League stint at Leeds.
“I’ve loved watching her to be honest,” Ryan said on Sunday despite Wallam almost helping the Firebirds to a win over his side.
“We had a great time together in Leeds and she was so raw when she came into that environment and I was so pleased to see how quickly she grew in that full-time space and just how her game and her understanding of the game improved week-to-week.
“To see her get this opportunity was fantastic - and we (Fever) were obviously fully supportive of … her taking that next step and I’m really excited for her.
“She’s proving to be good enough to not only play at this level, but be a real thorn in the side of every team that she comes up against.
“Expect to hear her name a lot more. I think she’s got a very bright future and deserves the chance to be out on a Suncorp Super Netball court.”
MIDWEEK CHAOS LOOMS
THE balancing act for Super Netball teams swings into top gear on Tuesday night, with the first midweek games of the season set to cause plenty of headaches.
Midweek matches were held during the Covid-affected 2020 season with all clubs based in the Queensland hub.
The players eventually became used to the quick turnarounds and match quality was generally unaffected given the lack of travel involved.
But in the first home-and-away season in three years - and one in which Covid has already played a major hand - the increased workload could seriously impact clubs.
The Fever will have racked up 7695km on flights by Sunday after three games in eight days in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth - including a 48-hour turnaround between their Round 3 and Round 4 games - with a squad already affected by Covid and other illness.
The understaffed Swifts face the old “doomsday double” with road games in Adelaide and Perth, while the short turnarounds will do the Giants no favours, with the playing group still attempting to overcome the effects of a Covid outbreak that decimated their ranks just over a week ago.
The midweek rounds - there’s another next month - are a necessary evil in a compact season but could have a major impact on the make-up of the final four.
KOENEN’S CALL THE LIGHTNING WAY
PLENTY of conjecture over whether goaler Cara Koenen made the right call in volunteering to come off in the dying stages of the Lightning’s nailbiting win over the Thunderbirds in Adelaide on Sunday.
Backing the injection of youngster Reilley Batcheldor - a noted long-range shooter - to partner Steph Wood in the final minutes has been seen by some as a sign Koenen was lacking confidence and didn’t feel she could help get the side over the line for their first win of the season.
The Lightning is the most player-led team in the competition though and coach Kylee Byrne not only welcomes, but expects the input of her players into the tough decisions.
Diamonds representative Koenen is now a senior player and her team-first call echoed Byrne’s thoughts.
But the changing face of the Lightning team may force a rethink.
The retirements of Laura Langman and Maddie McAuliffe, departure of Phumza Maweni and Peace Proscovia and temporary loss of Karla Pretorius has dramatically reduced the average age of the team over the past season and Byrne has young players that may be looking for direction.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Maddy Proud (Swifts)
If Donnell Wallam is quietly announcing herself, Maddy Proud is shouting from the rafters to Diamonds selectors ahead of the national squad announcement next week.
Proud, a member of the wider Diamonds squad who was overlooked for January’s Quad Series, gave Stacey Marinkovich a stark reminder of her skills with a stellar showing in the Swifts’ opening win of the season on Saturday night.
The midcourt ace finished with a massive 54 feeds and 37 goal assists in the Swifts’ gritty 75-64 win against the Magpies in her best game in recent memory.
Playing at wing attack, regular centre Proud showed the versatility that will be needed if she’s any chance of forcing her way into an extremely talented group of midcourters ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Best on court
Vixens v Giants
Jo Weston (Vixens) 3, Kiera Austin (Vixens) 2, Kate Eddy (Vixens) 1
Swifts v Magpies
Maddy Proud (Swifts) 3, Helen Housby (Swifts) 2, Geva Mentor (Magpies) 1
Firebirds v Fever
Courtney Bruce (Fever) 3, Jess Anstiss (Fever) 2, Lara Dunkley (Firebirds) 1
Thunderbirds v Lightning
Laura Scherian (Lightning) 3, Mahalia Cassidy (Lightning) 2, Georgie Horjus (Thunderbirds) 1
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Originally published as Netball 2022: Swifts elevate Sophie Fawns in advertisement for home-grown talent
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