Magpies netballers expected to challenge strongly in inaugural Suncorp Super Netball season
THEY haven’t stepped foot on court for their season opener, but already the pressure is firmly on the Collingwood-backed Magpies netball side. Player profiles and fixture
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THEY haven’t stepped foot on court for their season opener, but already the pressure is firmly on the Magpies.
After securing a Diamond-encrusted line-up for the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball season, the Collingwood-backed outfit will open the new chapter in Australian netball installed as premiership favourites.
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No surprise, really, with a roster that includes Diamonds stars Madi Robinson, Sharni Layton, Kim Ravaillion, Caitlin Thwaites and April Brandley.
And then there’s the small point that they are the newest sporting venture for arguably the biggest sporting club in the land.
But Magpies’ coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell, the woman armed with the task of building the club’s first squad, said the players were not only embracing the external pressure, but heaping it on themselves to deliver in their first season of the new-look league.
“They are taking the pressure of it on board, but to be honest the pressure that they put on themselves is of far greater value to them than what the media or the bookies are saying,’’ Keppich-Birrell said.
“The pressure that they put on themselves is that they made some big decisions to come here and they want to see success for themselves and for the whole group.
“They’ve put their faith in those decisions to move, they really want to see that become successful.
“So there is certainly a lot of external pressure, but the internal pressure is something that is probably even greater for this particular group.’’
One of three expansion teams in the eight-team Australian competition, the Magpies will be led by former Melbourne Vixens captain Robinson, who made the big off-season move across town, with Layton and Ashleigh Brazill to serve as her deputies.
Their starting seven will not be far off that of the Diamonds. It will feature Australia’s favoured defensive circle of Layton and Brandley, a killer midcourt combination of Robinson and Ravaillion with Thwaites under the ring.
With so much talent, Keppich-Birrell knows the envious position she is in, but said her aim was to take her players’ games to a new level this year.
“It is a most luxurious position to be in to have that talent, but being a Diamond does not mean that you don’t have to work hard and they all came here to improve and we are seeing that already,’’ she said.
“I have said before as saying when we win it will be ‘Of course you did, of course, why wouldn’t you?’. And then when we don’t, if we don’t, it will be ‘Why didn’t you, who’s fault is that?’ and we are very aware of that.
“I think our strength is going to be the pure physical preparation of the players, they are all in better shape than they have ever been before.
“They’ve been really successful with their current skill set, but we are trying to add to it, not trying to change, we are just trying to keep adding so that we become unpredictable as an opponent.
“So if they look at a Kim Rav of 2016, is that the same Kim Rav that they are going to see in 2017? We hope the answer is no. We hope there is a lot more new skills that they have to combat.’’
When Keppich-Birrell speaks of her players’ “big decisions” to join the Magpies, there was none more so than Robinson’s.
The coach said the star midcourter had embraced her fresh challenge.
“It was a really pivotal decision for her in that she could have stayed and she would have been highly successful and her team would have been as well,’’ Keppich-Birrell said.
“But she is a person that looks for the next challenge and doesn’t rest on her laurels. I think that is probably an attribute that you’ll see across all of the players here, they are always looking to take it to the next level.’’
Keppich-Birrell said Brazill was fit for round one selection after her off-season knee surgery, while the team was still waiting on final medical clearance to see if Cody Lange will be allowed to take the court against the Vixens after her knee reconstruction last year.
MAGPIES
Coach: Kristy Keppich-Birrell
Captain: Madi Robinson
Premiership odds: $2
THE SQUAD
APRIL BRANDLEY
Age: 26
Last year: West Coast Fever
Position: GD, GK
Joins the Magpies after two years at the Fever. Has emerged as the Diamonds’ top pick at goal defence after the retirement of Clare McMeniman.
ASHLEIGH BRAZILL
Age: 27
Last year: West Coast Fever
Position: WD, C
The former Diamonds squad member has also made the trip east from Fever. Has recovered from off-season knee surgery. Joint vice-captain.
SHAE BROWN
Age: 27
Last year: West Coast Fever
Positions: C, WD, WA
The third of the Fever alumni brings athleticism and versatility to the midcourt with the ability to play all three positions.
CODY LANGE
Age: 22
Last year: Adelaide Thunderbirds
Position: GS, GA
On the comeback trail after missing most of last season following a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
SHARNI LAYTON
Age: 29
Last year: NSW Swifts
Position: GK, GD
One of the Magpies’ two vice-captains and one of the fiercest, and most vocal, defenders in the game. Returns to her home town after stints in Adelaide and Sydney.
KIM RAVAILLION
Age: 23
Last year: Queensland Firebirds
Position: C, WA, WD
The athletic midcourter makes the big move to Melbourne after winning back-to-back flags with the Firebirds. The Diamonds’ dynamo centre.
MADI ROBINSON
Age: 29
Last year: Melbourne Vixens
Position: WA, C
Caused one of the biggest off-season shocks when she defected from the Vixens after a brilliant return from knee surgery last year. Best wing attack in the game.
ALICE TEAGUE-NEELD
Age: 20
Last year: Melbourne Vixens
Position: GA, GS
Another former Vixen to move to the Magpies and a young star on the rise. Stepped up to play goal attack for the Vixens last year after Tegan Philip’s knee injury.
CAITLIN THWAITES
Age: 30
Last year: NSW Swifts
Position: GS
The Diamonds goaler returns home after stints in Wellington and Sydney. A prolific scorer who is calm and composed under the ring.
MICAELA WILSON
Age: 24
Last year: North East Blaze (VNL)/Swifts 2015
Position: GD, GK, WD
Did not play in the trans-Tasman league last year. Previously with the Swifts and Vixens. Versatile defender who can play in and out of the circle.
MAGPIES FIXTURE
Round 1 Sat February 18 v Vixens 7pm Hisense Arena
Round 2 Sat February 25 v Qld Firebirds 7.45pm Brisbane Convention Centre
Round 3 Sat March 4 v GWS Giants 7pm Hisense Arena
Round 4 Sun March 12 v Adelaide Thunderbirds 3pm Titanium Stadium
Round 5 Sat March 18 v Sunshine Coast Lightning 7.45pm Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Round 6 Sun March 26 v NSW Swifts 1pm Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre
Round 7 Sun April 2 v Vixens 3pm Hisense Arena
Round 8 Fri April 7 v West Coast Fever 7.30pm Hisense Arena
Round 9 Sun April 23 v GWS Giants 1pm Qudos Bank Arena
Round 10 Sat April 29 v Qld Firebirds 7pm Margaret Court Arena
Round 11 Sat May 6 v Sunshine Coast Lightning 8.45pm Hisense Arena
Round 12 Sat May 13 v NSW Swifts 7pm Hisense Arena
Round 13 Sat May 20 v West Coast Fever 6.45pm Perth Arena
Round 14 Sun May 28 v Adelaide Thunderbirds 12.30pm Titanium Arena
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