Signings hub: Swift Firebirds training partner surfaces on the south side, Wildcats’ time to pounce
With preseason for the 2024 Sapphire Series well underway, some teams are already shaping into premiership contenders while others are keeping quiet about who they’ve secured. Get the latest news, moves and rumours:
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Trials for the 2024 HART Sapphire Series are done, preseason is well underway and and the home run to round 1 gears up.
Final contracts are being signed off and some teams are already shaping into premiership contenders.
Meanwhile, others are keeping quiet about who they’ve secured.
Each week the Bulletin will keep you up-to-date on the latest contracts offered, team news and rumours from every HART Sapphire and Ruby club.
HAVE WILDCATS LURED FINAL FIREBIRD?
Former NSW Swifts training partner Ali Miller was named as one of four Firebirds training partners in 2024, and has since been the topic of discussion.
Just weeks after the announcement, she was promoted to the squad while captain Kim Ravaillion began post-operative recovery.
So, where is she off to?
Recent rumours from the south side say she’s found a home at the Brisbane South Wildcats for this season, but that is yet to be confirmed.
If Miller does don the Wildcat colours, and no other major changes are made, it will leave head coach Megan Lynch with the job of dropping one shooter to the Ruby Series.
The 2023 Sapphire lineup included Coco Smith, Kayla Anderson and the more often than not fill-in Kydan Tuapou.
Standing at 190cm, 26-year-old Miller shot at 98% from 195 attempts throughout last year’s ANC tournament playing for the Swifts Academy.
We can only hope to see her carry that form into the Sapphire Series.
The Firebirds’ three other training partners will part between the Brisbane North Cougars (Rylee Burns and Lillyana Rennie) and the Bond University Bull Sharks (Sasha-May Flegler).
BOND UNIVERSITY SIGN SUPER NETBALL STOWER STAR
A family trio of mum and two daughters are among the talent lining up for the Bond University Bull Sharks HART Sapphire squad in 2024.
Returning head coach Bec Stower will oversee a side featuring Queensland Firebird daughter Mia Stower and her younger sister Evie who has earned a place in the senior side after time in the Bull Sharks development squad.
Mia joins the ranks after 23 Suncorp Super Netball games in the purple dress.
A court-smart and agile goal attack with a knack for accurate long-range shooting, her arrival comes at a perfect time as HSS introduces the super shot into both Ruby and Sapphire for 2024.
Evie has emerged from the 2023 Bond Bull Sharks Development Squad to earn a place alongside her big sis on the playing roster.
The Bull Sharks’ midcourt will be bolstered by two new additions from north and south.
A strong and skillful Jayden Molo joins Bond after a lengthy apprenticeship at the Brisbane North Cougars, offering experience from her years of the Queensland U17 and U19 pathways.
Meanwhile, Tully-raised Queensland pathways project Sasha-May Flegler offers extraordinary athleticism and versatility to Bond’s strengthened mid-court group.
The highly touted teenager represented Australia in Fast5 netball at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games.
Also making the jump from the Cougars talent factory is Lauren Aubrey.
Off-court, a number of Bull Sharks will be hitting the books at Bond including: Queensland U19 representative Kaylin van Greunen (Bachelor of Health Sciences) and former Gold Coast Titan Charli Pearse (Bachelor of Actuarial Science).
Bond University Netball Operations Manager Kim Boland said she is thrilled at how the squad has come together.
“We were so excited by the amount of interest we had locally and from interstate from trialists ahead of the 2024 season.
“I think those who registered probably saw a well-organised and passionate franchise and a happy, hungry playing group and they wanted to be a part of it,” she said.
“Returning players have had to work extremely hard to retain their positions, and our new arrivals are super exciting.
“Mia Stower delivers so much skill, capability and experience and Jayden Molo is such an impressive competitor.
“We are absolutely rapt to be giving Sasha May-Flegler an opportunity ... she is an incredible young athlete with an outstanding work ethic.”
Rounding out the new arrivals interstate stars Chanelle Byers (Tasmania) and Sophie Westover (South Australia).
Spring-legged defensive utility and 2023 Fijian World Cup squad member Naviniya Sivo will take the court for Bond after a stint at the Carina Leagues Club Tigers.
Last year’s Sapphire team captain, Hannah Le Sage will be joined by fellow returning shooters Abby Boland, Jorja Gisinger and Elka Macaulay.
Dakota Newson, who was recently announced as a Queensland U19 squad member, Joesi Gisinger, Ocean Karekare and last year’s Ruby captain Molly Parry are back.
Defenders Maddie Ryan, Ella Spencer, Abi Houston, Tehya Hyssett and Harriet Nicholson have also returned.
Young defenders Sienna Hyssett and Amelia Cotton have been invited to join the squad as training partners after representing Bond at the U16 State Titles in August.
JETS SQUAD LEAKED IN OCTOBER
Familiar faces include the return of sister duo Armani (goal shooter) and Tiana Apelu (goal keeper) and longtime Jet Kiara Condon, with the defence end polished off by Tigers pathway athlete Abby Dobson.
The Ruby side’s shooting circle features former Sapphire Tiger Chevvone Thomson and pathway player Jade Cambourne.
In the mid court, Bull Shark Monique Piunti returns to the club and will join previous Cougars teammate Emily Latter, former Sunshine Coast Thunder star Sarah Harris and Cougars pathway player Mahlia Henare.
The Sapphire shooting trio of Abi Latu-Meafou, Elsa sif Sandholt and Naomi Solomona returns unchanged, with Lily Gribble and Nora Misa confirmed as two of the three returning defenders.
The midcourt has undergone some changes, with a key rumour being former Cougar-turned Tiger Ally McLeod.
Other names known in the mix but not confirmed include midcourter Shanell Dwyer and ex-Mainland Tactix defender Zoe Walker.
Left out of the ranks were midcourters Erin Joyce, who is rumoured to have returned to her first club: Tigers, and Renee Cubby.
Cubby was offered a contract but declined due to her younger sister Makayla not receiving one.
The pair apparently trialled at Thunder but it is unclear whether they were successful.
TITANS GET IN EARLY
The Gold Coast Titans were the first club to reveal their 2024 sides just three months after the 2023 grand final.
The announcement came after two rounds of intense trials which started early in October.
“There are some happy players and probably some unhappy players, but that’s all part of the role,” returning head coach Temepara Bailey said.
A strikingly similar Sapphire team will gear up for 2024 as nine of the 11-player roster returns.
New recruits include former Carina Leagues Club Tiger Tia Crombie, who at just 17, is prepared for her first full-time Sapphire gig.
Bailey welcomed Crombie to the Titans family and said she is excited to see what the young star can produce alongside shooters Josie Bingham and Talitah Faifai.
Shanae Grant has been elevated from the Ruby squad after a phenomenal performance year-round, and joins the defensive end of Jess Milne and Emily Gilbert.
The Titans narrowly missed a spot in the 2023 grand final but are eager to continue building in their third year of HSS.
“What we did this year was great, we made it to the quarterfinals.
“Now we want to take that step up ... our expectation is going to be a lot higher,” Bailey said.
“We do have the calibre players to achieve that.”
In the Ruby squad, Brooke Marchant and Lily Gray return with 2023 Sapphire player Peta Coles and former Tiger Aaliyah Frescon-Sheppard in the mid court.
The defence end welcomes 2023 Queensland squad athletes Jemimah Andrew and Madison Rhind, while the shooting circle welcomes back Lily Cubby, Queensland squad member Roxanne Rhind and 2023 late-comer Hayley Matthew.
SAPPHIRE
Defence: Emily Gilbert, Jess Milne and Shanae Grant
Mid court: Jordan Ngarimu, Keisha Grant, Bryah Gafa, Kourtnee Baird and Kristen Oxenford
Shooting: Josie Bingham, Talitah Faifai and Tia Crombie
RUBY
Defence: Dellwyn Fiso, Jemima Andrews and Madison Rhind
Mid court: Aaliyah Frescon-Sheppard, Brooke Marchant, Lily Gray and Peta Coles
Shooting: Lily Cubby, Roxanne Rhind and Hayley Matthew
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Winner’s directory: 120 Gold Coast Hockey awardees
Big names and rising stars litter the list of over 120 athletes who finished their 2024 club hockey season with a trophy in hand. Discover every award-winner by club, plus the major awards handed out by GCHA: