Super Netball news: Magpies GS Sophie Garbin on whether she regrets leaving Swifts
In a bid to continue their netball careers, a number of stars moved to new clubs ahead of 2022. We look at whether they made the right call.
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Sophie Garbin has no regrets about her off-season move to the Magpies and is confident she can overcome a Covid setback and push for a Commonwealth Games spot.
Garbin was among seven goalers named in the 18-woman Diamonds squad last week, with three of them facing the cut before coach Stacey Marinkovich names her final team for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
It’s tough for every member of the squad. But for Garbin, who missed two matches in the lead-up to the Diamonds announcement after being forced out in the compressed midweek round due to Covid, the start to the season with a new club has been particularly frustrating.
“I know we’re all going to get it at some stage but I just didn’t want it to be round 1 (before her first Magpies match) or the week that you miss two or three games,” said Garbin, who returned to the court last weekend to help Collingwood to an upset of the Queensland Firebirds to keep their season alive.
“It’s obviously frustrating, I hate sitting on the couch and watching.
“But I’m so happy to be out and have gotten my first win with the Pies.”
The Magpies were pegged as Super Netball finals contenders after picking up Garbin from premiers NSW Swifts where the shooter won two titles coming off the bench behind international goalers Sam Wallace and Helen Housby.
But they started the season poorly and then had several players forced out with Covid, many of whom, like Garbin, missed two games due to their positive tests coming just ahead of the first midweek round.
While Sunday’s win has given them a whiff of hope they can mount a fightback in the back end of the regular season, they still sit at the bottom of the ladder on percentage.
So does Garbin have misgivings about her move?
Wallace’s season-ending injury in the first round of the season had many Swifts fans wishing they still had Garbin on their books and an international ready to step straight into her shoes.
Deciding on a switch was torturous for Garbin, who lived with three of her Swifts teammates in a family-like environment in Sydney.
But she has no regrets about her move, with her main emotion a desperate sadness for great mate Wallace.
“When Sammy went down, I was absolutely devastated,” Garbin said.
“I know that (Swifts) have such a good support network with physios, coaches, she lives with Tayla Fraser and Helen (Housby), so she’s got such a good support network, which makes me feel a lot better about it.
“But (I didn’t regret my move) at all.”
And after the Magpies finally clicked on court last weekend, Garbin is confident she can put her best foot forward for Diamonds selection.
While she is playing mainly goal attack at Collingwood, Garbin’s strength is as a holding shooter and she could be competing with rising star Donnell Wallam for a place in the side.
“I’m comparing myself to everyone not just Donnell,” Garbin said.
“Gretel (Bueta), who’s been playing goal attack in Super Netball, comes into the Diamonds environment and she’s playing shooter … I’m out there (for the Magpies) playing goal attack and will probably go into the Diamonds environment and play goal shooter - whether that’s for Comm Games or not.
“You can’t control what the selectors are thinking and their choices and you’ve just got to do what you can do.
“They’re looking at lots of different things - combinations in (Super Netball), combinations that have worked previously for the Diamonds.
“I can’t control what happens. I’m just going to play as well as I can and keep showing up for the Pies.
“If (selection) it happens, it happens and that would be amazing.
“If it doesn’t, obviously I’ll be devastated but I can’t control what the (selectors do).”
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
It’s not just Garbin that switched things up in the off-season after every player came off contract following the new Collective Players Agreement.
Rising stars, internationals and those just seeking a change made the switch as clubs looked for the X-Factor that could help their club to the Super Netball title.
Kiera Austin (Giants to Vixens)
A rising star at the Giants, Austin was named in the Diamonds squad for the Constellation Cup in 2020 and made her international debut in New Zealand, playing a leading role for Australia with both Gretel Bueta and Steph Wood out and Caitlin Bassett playing with a knee injury.
But she ruptured her ACL in the opening round of the 2021 Super Netball season and missed the Quad Series, with then-teen Sophie Dwyer taking her opportunity to shine at the Giants.
Austin was picked up by the Vixens and while it took her a few rounds to regain full confidence, she’s now nearing her best with the league leaders and back in the Diamonds squad.
Tippah Dwan (Firebirds to Thunderbirds)
Dwan swapped one birdcage for another, leaving Brisbane for Adelaide in an attempt to gain greater court time after coming off the bench behind Gretel Bueta and Romelda Aiken-George at the Firebirds. Is now sharing time with Lenize Potgieter and Georgie Horjus in the shooting circle at the Thunderbirds as they push for a maiden Super Netball finals appearance.
Kadie-Ann Dehaney (Vixens to Lightning)
Dehaney may be a Jamaican international but she was vying for court time behind Emily Mannix and Jo Weston at the Vixens and made the move north to establish herself as a starter on the Sunshine Coast. The Lightning’s leaky defensive efforts at the start of the season cost her though and she’s spent the last two weeks on the bench, playing only a limited role. Lots of potential though and will be in coach Kylee Byrne’s long-term plans.
Lauren Moore (Swifts to Giants)
While some have moved across the country, Moore made the cross-city switch from premiers the Swifts to the Giants for a chance to be a starter in the goal circle. With Diamonds defenders Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner having a lock on those spots at the Swifts, Moore crossed to the Giants after the off-season retirement of Sam Poolman and departure of Kristiana Manu’a left the grand finalists skinny in defence. But the form of veteran April Brandley and young gun Tilly McDonell is making her work for her chances.
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