Kim Green says future is bright for Giants in Super Netball with new-look side in 2019
They might have lost a trio of international stars from their line-up but Giants stalwart Kim Green says the future is looking bright for the Super Netball club.
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They lost a trio of international stars from their line-up but Giants stalwart Kim Green says the future is looking bright for the Super Netball club.
With just over a month to the opening game of Super Netball, the Giants are in full training as the countdown to season three of the top domestic competition in the world begins.
The Giants will field a line-up minus former Diamonds players Susan Pratley and Bec Bulley and star English midcourter Serena Guthrie when competition kicks.
While the recruitment of Australian Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett has shored up the shooting end, younger and less experienced players will be out to defend the Giants reputation at the opposite end of the court.
Regulars Sam Poolman and Kristiana Manu’a, who missed the entire 2017 season with injury, will be joined at the defence end by teenagers Matilda McDonnell and Teigan O’Shannassy.
Green says the teens have added spark and a fresh feel to a Giants side which has yet to win the Super Netball crown despite boasting top rosters the past two seasons.
“It is a team that will stick around for three years. A team for the future,” Green said of the new-look 10.
“We have had to change completely how we are going about things.
“We have a different group with players lacking in experience or who haven’t played many games.
“That’s why we have started so early. To get understanding with each other and the groundwork in.”
But Green believes all the ingredients are there for success 2019.
“I do think we can win with the group. We have a killer attack and a raw defence but they want it. They will do everything to win,’’ Green said.
Super Netball kicks off on April 27 and will this year break for four weeks from late June to cater for the World Cup in the UK in July.
The Giants and Swifts start their seasons with a local derby in Sydney on April 28.
While the Swifts will play their first four games of the season at home, the Giants will be away for two of their first four matches.