Super Netball trade, free agency 2023: Could Gretel Bueta retire? Is Donnell Wallam on the move? Lisa Alexander’s predictions

Courtney Bruce’s signature will be one of the most sought after when the trade window opens. Former Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander predicts who is going to which club.

Which players will be on the move this off-season?

With the new collective player agreement yet to be negotiated, netball clubs and the players are stuck in the twilight zone.

So many what ifs? So much uncertainty about players’ futures. We still don’t know who will be the eighth franchise which is becoming more problematic for everyone and highly embarrassing for Netball Australia as the time approaches for the Netball World Cup in Cape Town later this month.

Everyone is in a state of flux which is hardly an ideal scenario leading into the NWC and will be having a big impact on the mental health of players - especially the imports who without employment visas don’t know if they will be returning to Australia or not.

We love our overseas imports as they make the SSN the world’s best Netball league so I really hope we don’t lose any due to these ridiculous delays.

But amid the uncertainty, clubs will be strategising about putting together a world class team within an assumed salary cap and off court provisions for players.

This is when you develop your wish list and see if the accountants can put together the numbers to please both the Boards of the Teams and Netball Australia’s “Rules of Engagement.”

Gretel Bueta did not play the 2023 SSN season

As it stands existing players would have been made “offers of intent to sign” by their current teams already, especially those in the key spine positions GS/GA and GK/GD and a world class Centre Court who can play all three positions.

However, this is not actually worth the paper it is written on, as the League is in this time of no actual contracting until legal confirmation is given by Netball Australia.

It is literally open slather and discussions will be taking place without anyone knowing.

Netball Australia, through the Diamonds social media messaging, have been very proactive in reminding their fans around behaviour online in regard to player performances and also this “trade period”.

It is best to keep it positive and respectful, keeping in mind this is players’ livelihoods we’re talking about here, but you can still be passionate and interesting.

For fans, now is the time we speculate and dream, we talk about who your club should target and why in free agency, and hope your team builds a title contending outfit in 2024.

So with all of those issues in mind I will have a crack at trying to pick who each team will target in free agency, keeping in mind when the eighth team is confirmed they too will have to choose a world class team with a world class spine and may blow everyone’s best laid plans out of the water!

This is purely an exercise in speculation and my thinking in regard to who would be a best fit for a team at this time. I do not have any inside information, I don’t know player salaries and how much your club has budgeted to spend, this is simply what I think they need.

Donnell Wallam could be looking for a new club

ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS

Eleanor Cardwell, surely the most impactful import into the SSN for quite some years, is unsure about whether she will be back with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2024 to defend the SSN Title.

Adelaide will be seeking to secure Cardwell’s services, along with Shamera Sterling, as the key “bookends” for the team to go back-to-back like they did in 1998-99. Strong everywhere, the T-birds would be looking to sign their current ten.

However, they have the strongest bench in the competition, so you’d assume Hannah Petty and Tayla Williams will be targeted by other clubs as they share court time, and could Tippah Dwan be on the move?

If so they may require the services of a GA. What about Gretel Bueta (if she decides to return next season) alongside Eleanor Cardwell? Now that would be something. Another interesting GA targets might be Sophie Dwyer or Kiera Austin.

NSW SWIFTS

Will look to get Sam Wallace back into the team quickly and lift that goaling percentage, and may be looking to strengthen their Centre Court with a multi-positional player. They have Academy athletes coming out like a production line.

Hannah Petty or Tayla Williams could really add spice to the Centre Court for the Swifts, especially as defensive minded (C and WD) players. The Swifts were a little under par in the defensive capability in the grand final with 10 gains, they needed at least 15 for the match to win, according to Deakin University’s stats guru Dr Aaron Fox.

WEST COAST FEVER

Once again, a very strong line up to really think hard about re-signing them all. However, the cover for Sasha Glasgow needs strengthening and a GA/WA would improve their chances of winning another title. They may go for a Shanice Beckford who can play both and plays with Jhaniele Fowler already with the Sunshine Girls. Or could Berri Neil, a young up and coming English Rose of the future be the answer?

Georgie Horjus, arguably the best player in the recent SSN grand final, fits the bill in both GA and WA. No doubt Dan Ryan will feel the urge and itch to improve this team and he has the experience and knowledge to do that.

Courtney Bruce’s signature will be in demand

MELBOURNE VIXENS

Having had the pick of the Victorian talent for 15 years, the Vixens have a chance to refresh their team and build a new program towards the next cycle. I would contend that some players may be on the move to refresh their own careers or may retire.

At this moment in time the Vixens need a partner in the circle with Kiera Austin and a refresh in defence. They could look at Donnell Wallam, young gun South African Elmere van der Berg or Uganda’s Mary Cholhok in the circle to partner Austin and look at bringing home Victorian Tilly Garrett to strengthen the defence end.

SC LIGHTNING

Under the guidance of rookie Head Coach Belinda Reynolds, the SC Lightning performed above expectations. They do have a Diamonds goaling end with Steph Wood and Cara Koenen, the addition of Annie Miller was a good one, as was Kadie-Ann Dehaney in GK. With a possible move home for Karla Pretorius, they will need a defender.

Could this be Courtney Bruce? This would enable Bruce to reconnect with Reynolds from Fever days and could boost Bruce’s game to another level.

Pairing her with youngster Ashleigh Ervin in the circle would also boost the Diamonds defensive combinations for the future.

NSW GIANTS

A couple of retirements and some fine tuning to the roster could see the Giants back up in finals contention quickly. They will need to target a defender to replace April Brandley, this could be Jodie Ward from the disbanded Magpies. But they need more height in the defensive circle, Courtney Bruce could be a target or why not go for Shamera Sterling?

Other defenders worth considering are England’s Fran Williams and Alice Harvey (both members of the recent Grand Final winning English Super Netball team Loughborough Lightning).

I have been banging on about this for a while, the Giants need an attacking centre court player, WA/C, for balance in their team. I would be looking at Hannah Mundy or getting Annie Miller back to NSW.

Fresh from winning a title, will Shamera Sterling stay with the TBirds?

QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS

Bec Bulley certainly had a trial by fire in her first season of Head Coaching, however, she grew into the role and I believe finished the season strongly and with purpose.

Obviously getting Gretel Bueta back for the goaling end would solve some real problems in consistency of attack end performance. This addition itself would be enough to get the Firebirds back into the finals and a contender, however, this is not a certainty as Bueta may not wish to return to netball. In this case, Tippah Dwan would be the perfect answer as a past Firebird herself the Grand Final winner would be reunited with her former teammates.

The defence end is less experienced but has performed very well. A Latanya Wilson or English Rose Funmi Fadoju could really add defensive spice and ball getting ability to this younger team.

THE NEW 8TH TEAM

Netball 101 says, ensure you have a world class GS/GA and GD/GK and a world class multi-positional Centre Court player. The Netball World Cup and a great eye for Australian talent will see this team being able to put together quickly, and with the right environment, coaching and support staff, should flourish.

Once again, time will tell, also patience and not reacting quickly to the first offer for players.

A bird in the hand may not be the best policy for some.