Star Banks Bulldogs recruit and goal attack Kristen Smits believes her teammates have gelled straight away after beating Pints

BANKS goal attack Kristen Smits believes her teammates have instantly gelled, and it showed in the team’s impressive 41-37 win over reigning champions Pints in Round 2 of Darwin Premier League Netball.

Banks’ star goal attack Kristen Smits in action when she was at Tracy Village. Picture: Michael Franchi

BANKS goal attack Kristen Smits believes her teammates have instantly gelled, and it showed in the team’s impressive 41-37 win over reigning champions Pints in Round 2 of Darwin Premier League Netball.

Smits was one of the standouts, playing a dominant game up the front of the court.

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Hilary Grubb and Cassie Henderson are teammates from Smits’ 2020-21 NTFL Women’s Premier League flag-winning outfit PINT, who are also now at Banks, making them a legitimate Top End netball premiership chance.

“We’ve had a few PINT footy girls come across – they wanted to get a Banks team into the Premier League,” Smits told the NT News.

“I thought Alex (Cannon) our other shooter played really well.

“I played for Tracy Village a few years ago, and it’s been a few years since I’ve played netball.

“So it was good to get the win.”

Pints were, however, without the player of last year’s grand final, Jasmyn Hewett.

It was Hewett who helped her team to a 30-25 win over Nightcliff in the 2020 title decider.

The former Crows and Suns star in the AFLW has dominated both netball and football in the Territory over the past 12 months.

She also claimed best-on-ground honours in PINT’s 11-point win over Darwin Buffettes in the NTFL Women’s Premier League Grand Final on March 20.

And she was the Gwynne Medal winner, judged the competition’s best player during the regular-season rounds.

“Jasmyn is a very good defender, and when she’s back it’s going to be a good match-up, which I’m looking forward to,” Smits said.

“We all get along really well at the Queenants, so it was great to win the grand final and play for each other. Playing footy helps with hand-eye coordination.”

Nightcliff beat Hoggies 43-24 and Tracy Village defeated Waratahs 38-31 in the other Round 2 Premier League games.