Netball news 2023: Adelaide Thunderbirds facing selection squeeze after flying start
The Adelaide Thunderbirds might be flying, but it won’t be all smooth sailing for coach Tania Obst as she must settle on what will be the right mix to shut down the dangerous Giants midcourt.
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The Adelaide Thunderbirds may have led the competition early last year but Shamera Sterling says this year’s side is the best she’s seen in her five seasons in Australia.
The T-Birds were rated among the competition favourites this year after picking up England Roses shooter Eleanor Cardwell in the off-season and making the final of the pre-season Team Girls Cup before losing a tight final to defending Super Netball premiers the Fever.
And while their round 2 clash against the NSW Swifts was declared a controversial draw, the Thunderbirds have not yet been beaten this season.
“This is the best I’ve ever seen the Thunderbirds play for a full 60 minutes and that goes to show our strength that we have to pursue throughout the entire season,” Sterling said.
Adelaide has never made the Super Netball finals and its fans have suffered a decade-long playoff drought but Sterling believes their wait will be rewarded this season.
After testing various combinations through the opening two rounds, Adelaide coach Tania Obst stuck with the same seven throughout the match last week in a move that paid off with a 24-goal victory against the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Tippah Dwan is expected to partner Cardwell as a starting shooter on Sunday but it will be in the midcourt where Obst could have most headaches, if captain Hannah Petty is fit to take her place.
Petty was forced out of last week’s squad but Tayla Williams was outstanding at centre in her absence and how Obst elects to structure her midcourt if Petty is available, could have an impact on the outcome of the match.
“Tayla’s drives and feeds to the circle (were great) and then Eleanor just nailing every shot she got was phenomenal,” Sterling said.
“And also Matilda (Garrett) was very, very good. She had four intercepts and (five) gains.”
Garrett partnered Sterling in circle defence, with LaTanya Wilson pushing into the midcourt at wing defence in a move that looks to be a winner for the Thunderbirds.
She will have a key role to play on Sunday, shutting down the dangerous Giants midcourt before it can get the ball into shooters Jo Harten and Sophie Dwyer, who have been outstanding from long range this season.
The Giants head into the clash with a 0-3 season record and will be desperate to get their season back on track.
Sterling’s battle with Giants captain Harten will be key to the outcome and the Jamaican is determined to come away with the points.
“Our focus for the Giants is that shooting circle,” Sterling said.
“I’m just working on shutting down that circle, especially when it’s two-point time because they have two shooters that have very hot hands.
“When it’s on super shot time we have a different approach to how we defend in the circle, so just working to deny them that goal.”
After the decal debacle that caused the Thunderbirds clash with the Swifts to be delayed a fortnight ago, leading to the eventual abandonment of the match following a power outage, Netball Australia assessed Adelaide’s court on Wednesday to ensure it was up to scratch for the Giants clash.
FIREBIRDS PREPARE FOR MAGPIES TO BRING THE HEAT
Queensland Firebirds will treat the John Cain Arena court as cautiously as a parkland in nesting season on Sunday, expecting to be attacked by cranky Magpies after Collingwood’s disappointing performance in Perth last round.
After a stellar showing in their opening round, followed by the centre-pass furore that led to a one-goal loss to the Vixens the following week, the Magpies suffered a walloping from the Fever and left the west last week with their tails between their legs.
They face the Firebirds at home on Easter Sunday hoping to resurrect their season against a Queensland side that has not yet registered a win under new coach Bec Bulley.
The Firebirds were much improved against the Swifts last week and took the game to the wire before going down 74-71.
“We had a really good two quarters in our first game, a good two quarters in our second game and now it’s just about getting a full four-quarter performance and putting it all together,” Ravaillion said.
“We’re building on it, we’re getting there - so hopefully this weekend against the Magpies we can get that done.”
But Ravaillion knows that won’t be easy given the Magpies’ determination to rebound from last week’s loss.
“Obviously their trip to Perth wasn’t a really successful one but some of the games over the weekend were pretty surprising results,” she said.
“Anything goes in this competition, which is why it’s so exciting.
“I think they’re really going to show up this weekend in Melbourne against us having had that loss in Perth.”
The Magpies have quality across the court, including at the defensive end, where internationals Geva Mentor and Jodie-Ann Ward will prowl the circle.
But with Firebirds shooter Donnell Wallam in rare form, Ravaillion said she and her fellow midcourters had great faith they could feed the ball from anywhere.
“When we’ve got that strong target in Nellie at the back and she’s on and pulling those strong balls in, as a feeder, you can feed it from anywhere,” Ravaillion said.
“Having that confidence in our goaling circle just gives us full reign to just turn and give it.”
Wallam finished with 60 goals shooting at 90 per cent last week in an outstanding showing that at one stage forced the Swifts to shift Diamonds defender Sarah Klau to goal defence given the Firebird’s dominance.
Despite her confidence in the 193cm target, Ravaillion knows keeping the quality of feed to Wallam consistent will be key if her team is to have a chance.
Ward in particular, has been outstanding this season, leading the competition in intercepts and will pick off any wayward pass on Sunday.
Magpies coach Nicole Richardson said the team had moved on quickly after the centre pass issue and there was no hangover that could be blamed for the Fever loss.
Captain Mentor was bitterly disappointed in the performance against the Fever but said it could serve as a turning point.
“That’s not the brand of netball we want to put out there,” Mentor said.
“We felt really happy with our game plan and what we wanted to do but we didn’t adjust to every situation out there.
“But it’s still early in the season and it’s all about how we rectify things by taking those next steps.
“Every minute on court is a moment to grow and adapt.
“You can only learn more from your losses, I’m a true believer in that.
“We’re excited that we get another crack out there. The beauty of this team is that … we don’t let one game define us.”
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