Suncorp Super Netball 2021: Full fixture and predictions for the new season
The new Suncorp Super Netball season starts today, and while the competition is wide open, Sharni Norder says the Vixens won’t repeat their 2020 feats. Full fixture and analysis.
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Can the Melbourne Vixens win back-to-back Suncorp Super Netball titles without injured Diamonds leader Liz Watson?
Will the West Coast Fever recover from being stripped of 12 points for breaching the Super Netball salary cap in 2017 and 2018?
Will fans ever come around to controversial two-goal Suncorp Super Shot?
All will be revealed, when the 2021 Super Netball season kicks off this weekend.
It was always going to be a tough ride for the Vixens. The reigning champions lost experienced shooters Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip to retirement over the summer, leaving Malawi star Mwai Kumwenda to run the goal circle with Kaylia Stanton and young gun Ruby Barkmeyer.
Adding to the Vixens woes, co-captain Watson – the heart and soul of the side – has been ruled out of the season with a longstanding foot injury.
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Given that Kate Moloney is the only fit Vixen currently listed at C and WA, it’ll be interesting to see who coach Simone McKinnis brings into the midcourt.
For Stacey Marinkovich’s West Coast Fever, losing games just isn’t an option.
The club has been stripped of 12 premiership points – three match wins – for breaching the salary cap in 2018 and 2019 by a total close to $300 000.
Fever can only afford to lose a couple of matches, if they want to make finals in 2021.
It’s a tough ask, but not impossible – especially for a side with formidable bookends like Courtney Bruce and Jhaniele Fowler.
Across the league, defenders must be shaking in their netball shoes at the thought of Gretel Bueta returning from maternity leave.
The Queensland Firebird is arguably the most dangerous goal attack in the world and she will boost the club’s stacked goal circle alongside Jamaican force Romelda Aiken and rising star Tippah Dwan.
New coach Megan Anderson is bound to have selection headaches this season.
In 2020, drama appeared to follow and weigh down upon Julie Fitzgerald’s Giants.
From Caitlin Bassett’s court time – or lack thereof – to Kristiana Manu’a’s controversial send off, the Giants frequented headlines across the country.
But with Bassett now playing for New Zealand franchise Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, there should be less off-court noise to distract the Giants in 2021.
The shooting partnership between English Rose Jo Harten and recent Diamonds debutant Kiera Austin will be key this year.
The Giants can also play talented young shooter Sophie Dwyer in the circle.
It will be interesting to see how the Giants use the Super Shot this year, given Harten, Austin and Dwyer are all capable of sinking long bombs.
SHARNI NORDER’S PREDICTIONS
It’s another tough season to predict, so we’ve brought in former Vixens, Thunderbirds, Swifts and Magpies champ Sharni Norder to run her eyes over the competition.
NEW SOUTH WALES SWIFTS
I think really highly of the Swifts – mainly because they haven’t had any changes to their team this year.
Keeping that continuity in the squad is really important for a team and will give a team that recently won the premiership a chance to work on what other teams managed to do to stop them last year.
When there are no changes, you can be that split-second quicker because you know where your teammate is going to be. If they can stay injury free, the work between Sam Wallace and Helen Housby in the circle will be huge, as will the combination between Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner in defence.
When they won the competition, people saw them as a young side. But they’re not that anymore. They’re two years on, are stacked with Diamonds and I believe they can step up to the plate.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Helen Housby, Goal Attack
STRENGTHS: The strength of the team is definitely the versatility between Helen and Wallace. Sam has the height but also the agility, then you’ve got Helen who can put up the Super Shots from a distance. Their goal circle is definitely their strength.
WEAKNESSES: They can be one-dimensional in their style. It’s a high possession approach, and if they play it better than anyone else they won’t be beaten. But last year they were found out at times and they need to have a Plan B to go to if that happens. And I’m not sure they have that.
POSITION: 1
SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING
The Lightning are always a contender – and once you’ve got a premiership in your back pocket, a team should never be underestimated.
They’ve got two Diamonds in the goal circle with Steph Wood and Cara Koenen. Why can they win? It’s just that experience they have.
They know how to win and while they definitely miss the leadership of Laura Langman, they still have enough experience in that side.
And they’ve got Kate Shimmin joining and there’s a great opportunity for her to prove to the Thunderbirds that they shouldn’t have let her go.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Kate Shimmin, Goal Defence
STRENGTHS: They have a really good mix of youth and experience, despite recent retirements. There’s enough experience to know how to win a premiership… but also enough youth to know how to keep the game fun and energise the rest of the group. You need some young stars to bring that energy and vibrancy to the team.
WEAKNESSES: Since Laura Langman’s been gone, that connection through the court is a bit disjointed. If Steph’s on, she creates a lot more movement but a lot of the other players in the team need to step up around her and pick up the workload – so she’s not as fatigued when shooting.
POSITION: 2
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS
My darkhorse for the year. They have Gretel Bueta and Kim Ravaillion coming back from maternity leave, and that’s an enormous boost.
Kim didn’t play her best netball when she was at Collingwood, and she seemed to lose the passion for the game in Melbourne. I’m really interested to see how she goes being back somewhere she won premierships and was passionate about her netball.
They may not win it all, because both of those girls have had a year off and could take a little while to get back into things, but both Kim and Gretel will be pushing their form with the Commonwealth Games and World Championships coming up.
But the Firebirds have lacked that top-end experience and leadership, and especially having them alongside them on the court. The talented youngsters have the capabilities to do it, but will learn how to dig their heels in when it counts and how to stay composed in tight moments.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Kim Ravaillion, Centre.
STRENGTHS: The versatility they get in the goal circle with Kim and Gretel coming back – especially with Kim having the cool, calm head in the middle will help transition that ball through the court. They can also bring Romelda Aiken on or, if they prefer, can have that moving goal circle which will throw a lot of teams off.
WEAKNESSES: Inexperience of the defensive end. Whilst Tara Hinchliffe, Kim Jenner and Rudi Ellis have been doing really well, they’re all quite young. The better defenders typically have a bit more experience because they know when to go. These three play a really strong one-on-one style, but they may not have the experience in the style that the Firebirds will play this year.
POSITION: 3
ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS
After another tough year and some unexpected changes – notably with the delisting of their captain Chelsea Pitman – this looms as a really interesting season for the Thunderbirds.
But they’ve really stepped up in pre-season, and they are a dangerous team that I can see moving into the finals.
The intensity and style of game they’re playing is really competitive and they’ve gelled a lot better than some might have expected.
With Lenize Potgieter and Shadine van der Merwe really consolidating their spots and the style of netball they’re playing, they have a lot of upside as a team.
It’s really going to come down to their attack end because obviously Shamera Sterling can get a million intercepts per game.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Shamera Sterling, Goal Keeper.
STRENGTHS: They are under the radar. I think a lot of teams will actually underestimate them. They’ve been weak for quite a few years now, so I think subconsciously teams might not have paid attention to their improvements over the off-season – and they could take teams by surprise and be able to run over the top of their opponents.
WEAKNESSES: Goalscoring. For all that they do so well, the Thunderbirds have struggled putting the ball in the basket. Last season they had the fewest goals scored, with 769. Even last-placed Collingwood had 770. If they want to win, they’re going to have to put more shots up. Shamira can get as many intercepts as you want, but if they’re not scoring, they won’t be winning.
POSITION: 4
WEST COAST FEVER
Come into this season with a 12-point penalty to their name, which means you can just about put a red line through them already. It’s going to be extremely difficult to make the finals because I think other teams, including the Thunderbirds and Magpies, are going to be more competitive this year.
I still think the Fever are going to be a great team, but it’s just too much to overcome and it’ll be hard to stay motivated.
Which is a shame, because otherwise I would have the Fever as competition favourites – when you’ve got the Australian goalkeeper, Courtney Bruce, at the back, Jhaniele Fowler at the front and the Australian Diamonds coach calling the shots, you deserve that title.
Sasha Glasgow is a really good addition to the lineup, as another really solid, tall target alongside Jhaniele and Alice Teague-Neeld.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Sunday Aryang (Goal Defence)
STRENGTHS: Their ability to score quickly. Because of Fowler they can literally score four goals in a minute as they have such a great entry point with her and because she’s so strong and dominant, they can get from the centre pass down to her in three seconds flat. You might be five goals up, and they can pull that lead back within two minutes. You’re never safe against them because no lead is big enough against them.
WEAKNESSES: Standing up in big moments. Obviously there’s the grand final, but there were other moments last year as well when they went into their shells during games. They have a great shooter, and are a great team, but they need to be able to be consistent over the whole game if they’re even looking to try and make finals after giving everyone else a headstart.
POSITION: 5
COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES
There’s only one way for last year’s wooden spooners to go this year – and for their sake you’d hope it is up. But there is a bit to like about the Magpies.
After another tough year and a third change of coach in such a short amount of time it will be interesting to see what magic Nicole Richardson will bring to the team. It’s no small task. But there’s plenty to work with.
In a rough season, Molly Jovic made her mark but she faces tough competition to hold her place in the starting seven with Ash Brazill and Kelsey Browne coming back. Having two Australian players coming back through that midcourt will make a huge difference.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Ash Brazill, Wing Defence
STRENGTHS: The strength of Ash Brazill and Kelsey Browne coming back into the side brings quality of play but also in leadership. Ash brings an intensity and never-give-up attitude which filters through to the standards that will be instilled in the group. They were missed last year.
WEAKNESSES: The goal circle. It’s a make-or-break year for Shimona Nelson. It’s her fourth year of Super Netball, and she’s been consistently ok but they really need for her to step up and become great. Because if she can’t take that next step, they don’t have much other tall timber to go to.
POSITION: 6
MELBOURNE VIXENS
There’s another rebuild on the cards at the Vixens – where it’s not so much going to be about the team structure or match play, it’s more about the fact they’re going through the rebuild again.
The loss of Liz Watson is another cruel blow. I would’ve placed them higher had it not been for her season-ending injury, but that inexperience through the midcourt will make life very tough on top of the changes in the shooting circle as well.
And you can’t underestimate the impact Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip (both retired) had on the game and their ability to come through in clutch moments.
It’s a massive year for Kaylia Stanton coming over from the Fever, to prove she can be that dominant goal attack position as well.
2021 might not be a winner, if this group has a year to build together then once they get Liz back … watch out. Because they won’t be at the bottom for long.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Kate Eddy, Wing Defence.
STRENGTHS: Toughness. They are really strong on structure, so they’ll still have such a hard work ethic and they’ll still be hard at every single ball. They won’t roll over, and they’ll still turn over a lot of ball in defence. They won’t be beaten for effort in any game this year.
WEAKNESSES: Inexperience will be a huge factor here. Watson is their cool, calm head and her style of play and strength in driving the ball down the court will be missed. Youngsters can stand up, but it depends whether they’re mentally ready for that yet.
POSITION: 7
GIANTS NETBALL
This is tough, because there are no weak teams in this year’s competition. But someone will have to finish last … and the Giants are coming off a difficult year.
They’re a proudly home-grown side, but it leaves them with a slightly inexperienced roster. They’re obviously choosing to develop from Sydney and they have a crop of exciting youngsters but they might not quite be ready to compete for finals netball.
They definitely need to be able to fix their connection down the court, which is an area they’ve lacked ever since Kim Green left.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Kiera Austin, Goal Attack
STRENGTHS: The rotation and movement in the front end – when it’s working well, and both Jo Harten and Kiera Austin are on, then it works really well together. But similar to the Lightning, they need their midcourt to pick up some slack on moving the ball down court – to give the shooters space to work together in the circle.
WEAKNESSES: Their physicality. This might be a shock to some, because most people will remember me as quite a physical player and I didn’t think I’d ever say physicality could be a weakness… but I worry that the Giants are too reliant on trying to bully teams. When they do that they don’t use their skill, and that hurts them on the scoreboard. I’d like to see them have a better balance between physicality and skill.
POSITION: 8
FULL 2021 SUPER NETBALL FIXTURE
Round 1
Saturday, 1 May
Vixens vs Fever John Cain Arena 3pm
Magpies vs Lightning John Cain Arena 7pm
Sunday, 2 May
Firebirds vs Swifts Nissan Arena 1pm
Thunderbirds vs Giants Netball SA Stadium 3pm
Round 2
Saturday, 8 May
Giants vs Magpies Ken Roswell Arena 3pm
Fever vs Swifts Perth RAC Arena 8pm
Sunday, 9 May
Vixens vs Lightning John Cain Arena 1pm
Firebirds vs Thunderbirds Nissan Arena 3pm
Round 3
Saturday, 15 May
Magpies vs. Thunderbirds John Cain Arena 3pm
Lightning vs Fever USC Stadium 7pm
Sunday, 16 May
Swifts vs Vixens Sydney Ken Roswell Arena 1pm
Giants vs Firebirds Ken Roswell Arena 5pm
Round 4
Saturday, 22 May
Magpies vs Firebirds Silverdome 3pm
Thunderbirds vs Fever Netball SA Arena 7pm
Sunday, 23 May
Lightning vs Swifts USC Stadium 1pm
Vixens vs Giants John Cain Arena 3pm
Round 5
Saturday, 29 May
Firebirds vs Vixens Nissan Arena 3pm
Sunday, 30 May
Thunderbirds vs Lightning Netball SA Stadium 1pm
Swifts vs Magpies Ken Roswell Arena 3pm
Monday, 31 May
Fever vs Giants RAC Arena 8pm
Round 6
Saturday, 5 June
Fever vs Magpies John Cain Arena 3pm
Vixens vs Thunderbirds John Cain Arena 7pm
Sunday, 6 June
Giants vs Swifts Ken Roswell Arena 1pm
Lightning vs Firebirds USC Stadium 3pm
Round 7
Saturday, 12 June
Giants vs Lightning Ken Roswell Arena 3pm
Thunderbirds vs Swifts Adelaide Entertainment Centre 7pm
Sunday, 13 June
Firebirds vs Fever Nissan Arena 1pm
Monday, 14 June
Magpies vs Vixens John Cain Arena 12pm
Round 8
Saturday, 19 June
Swifts vs Firebirds Ken Roswell Arena 3pm
Sunday, 20 June
Giants vs Thunderbirds Ken Rosewall Arena 1pm
Saturday, 26 June
Lightning vs Magpies USC Stadium 3pm
Sunday, 27 June
Fever vs Vixens RAC Arena 1pm
Round 9
Saturday, 3 July
Swifts vs Fever Ken Rosewall Arena 3pm
Firebirds vs Giants Nissan Arena 7pm
Sunday, 4 July
Lightning vs Firebirds USC Stadium 1pm
Thunderbirds vs Magpies Netball SA Stadium 3pm
Round 10
Saturday, 10 July
Vixens vs Swifts John Cain Arena 3pm
Fever vs Lightning Perth RAC Arena 8pm
Sunday, 11 July
Thunderbirds vs Lightning Netball SA Stadium 1pm
Magpies vs. Giants John Cain Arena 3pm
Round 11
Saturday, 3 August
Vixens vs Fever Melbourne Arena 3pm
Lightning vs Swifts Slippy Downs USC Stadium 7pm
Sunday, 4 August
Giants vs Firebirds Canberra AIS Arena 1pm
Thunderbirds vs Magpies Priceline Stadium 2.30pm
Round 12
Saturday, 17 July
Firebirds vs Magpies Nissan Arena 3pm
Fever vs Thunderbirds Perth RAC Arena 8pm
Sunday, 18 July
Swifts vs Lightning Ken Rosewall Arena 1pm
Giants vs Vixens Ken Rosewall Arena 5pm
Round 13
Saturday, 31 July
Magpies vs Swifts Silverdome NA
Giants vs Fever Ken Rosewall Arena NA
Firebirds vs Lightning Nissan Arena 7pm
Sunday, 1 August
Thunderbirds vs Vixens Netball SA Stadium 3pm
Round 14
Saturday, 7 August
Lightning vs Giants USC Stadium 3pm
Swifts vs Thunderbirds Ken Rosewall Arena 7pm
Fever vs Firebirds RAC Arena 9pm
Sunday, 25 August
Vixens vs Magpies John Cain Arena 1pm
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