Super Netball 2024: Every club’s likely round one starting lineup revealed

Want to know who lines up for your club when the opening centre pass of the Super Netball season is taken this weekend? All is revealed, with every club’s likely starting seven listed inside.

Who wins a starting place and who starts on the bench in what is arguably the most anticipated season start in the eight-season history of Super Netball?

The opening centre pass of the season will be taken on Saturday afternoon when the Giants host West Coast Fever ahead of 2023 premiers the Thunderbirds unfurling their championship banner at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre before taking on the Queensland Firebirds.

Things get no less exciting on Sunday when new club Melbourne Mavericks host the Vixens in the Victorian derby before the Sunshine Coast Lightning take on the NSW Swifts in a clash between title favourites.

Code Sports has analysed the teams and picked a starting line-up based on pre-season form, injury and a pinch of intuition.

In their recent chats with former Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander though, every coach has underlined their belief Super Netball is now a 10-player game though, with each team’s depth and “finishers” as important to their top-four chances as their starting seven.

Romelda Aiken-George will line up for the Thunderbirds at goal shooter after being recruited in the off-season. Photo: Getty Images

ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS

Finish last year: Premiers

Round 1 opponent: Queensland Firebirds

Likely starting side: GS Romelda Aiken-George, GA Lucy Austin, WA Georgie Horjus, C Tayla Williams/Hannah Petty (c), WD Latanya Wilson, GD Matilda Garrett, GK Shamera Sterling-Huphrey

Coach: Tania Obst

Williams had been carrying a few injury niggles in the pre-season that restricted her to just half a match at the Team Girls Cup but is expected to be ready for round 1. Expect captain Hannah Petty to sub in for her if Obst elects not to start her but generally the dynamic middie will be in the starting seven. Expect Horjus to continue to swing between wing attack and goal attack, especially as Austin continues to grow into her new position, but her future lies in the midcourt and that’s where she will start for the TBirds.

Sarah Klau, in action here at the Team Girls Cup, will start at goal keeper for the Swifts. Photo: Getty Images

NSW SWIFTS

Finish last year: Second

Round 1 opponent: Sunshine Coast Lightning

Likely starting side: GS Sam Wallace-Joseph, GA Helen Housby, WA Paige Hadley (cc), C Maddy Proud (cc), WD Allie Smith, GD Maddy Turner, GK Sarah Klau

Coach: Briony Akle

One of the most consistent and settled sides in the competition, the Swifts are versatile enough to have several versions of their starting side but this is their most likely for round 1. Wouldn’t surprise to see a switch-up with the goalers for the opening centre pass of the season though, with Housby at shooter and Sophie Fawns at goal attack to take the spotlight off Wallace-Joseph given recent events.

Shanice Beckford is a new face at the Fever in 2024 and will start at goal attack alongside Jamaican teammate Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. Photo: Getty Images

WEST COAST FEVER

Finish last year: Third

Round 1 opponent: Giants

Likely starting side: GS Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, GA Shanice Beckford, WA Alice Teague-Neeld, C Kelsey Browne, WD Jess Anstiss (c), GD Sunday Aryang, GK Fran Williams

Coach: Dan Ryan

Another side with plenty of versatility, especially at the defensive end, where they can adjust their size depending on needs. For the season-opener against the Giants could opt to start the taller Kadie-Ann Dehaney at keeper, with Williams at goal defence, Aryang at wing defence and Anstiss at centre. But likely to adjust through the match as necessary with the England captain likely to start on her former Roses teammate Jo Harten.

Hannah Mundy, in action here at the Team Girls Cup, will get plenty of game time for the Vixens. Photo: Getty Images

MELBOURNE VIXENS

Finish last year: Fourth

Round 1 opponent: Melbourne Mavericks

Likely starting side: GS Sophie Garbin, GA Kiera Austin, WA Hannah Mundy, C Kate Moloney, WD Kate Eddy, GD Jo Weston, GK Emily Mannix

Coach: Simone McKinnis

Weston missed the Team Girls Cup with a lower leg injury but is expected to be fit to take on the Mavericks in Super Netball’s newest derby. The loss of Liz Watson leaves a midcourt hole that will be ably plugged by Diamonds camp invitee Mundy, with former Magpies shooter Garbin coming straight into the starting side with Mawi Kumwenda on maternity leave.

Diamonds captain Liz Watson in the colours of the Lightning after her off-season move to the Sunshine Coast. Photo: Getty Images

SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING

Finish last year: Fifth

Round 1 opponent: NSW Swifts

Likely starting side: GS Cara Koenen, GA Steph Fretwell (c), WA Leesa Mi Mi, C Liz Watson, WD Mahalia Cassidy, GD Courtney Bruce, GK Ash Ervin

Coach: Belinda Reynolds

The best wing attack in the world, Watson is likely to start at centre with young gun Mi Mi still building the endurance needed for a full all-court game in the toughest domestic league in the world. The pair will swap throughout the game though, as will Cassidy with another young gun Ava Black pushing for midcourt time. Ervin wins a starting spot in defence with Tara Hinchliffe still getting game time in her legs as she returns from an ACL injury.

Jamie-Lee Price has been elevated to co-captain at the Giants alongside Jo Harten. Photo: Getty Images

GIANTS NETBALL

Finish last year: Sixth

Round 1 opponent: West Coast Fever

Likely starting side: GS Jo Harten (cc), GA Sophie Dwyer, WA Chelsea Pitman, C Jamie-Lee Price (cc), WD Sam Winders, GD Jodi-Ann Ward, GK Matilda McDonell

Coach: Julie Fitzgerald

A few new faces in the Giants line-up to start the season with Pitman a temporary replacement player for Maddie Hay who’s recovering from off-season surgery, while internationals Winders and Ward are prize recruits. Harten played the latter stages of the season last year but is rejuvenated after her first extended off-season in years following her international retirement.

Donnell Wallam will continue to carry most of the scoring load for the Queensland Firebirds. Photo: Getty Images

QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS

Finish last year: Seventh

Round 1 opponent: Adelaide Thunderbirds

Likely starting side: GS Donnell Wallam, GA Tippah Dwan, WA Lara Dunkley, C Macy Gardner, WD Kim Ravaillion (c), GD Ruby Bakewell-Doran, GK Remi Kamo

Coach: Bec Bulley

Following a successful return from off-season back surgery at the weekend, Ravaillion is likely to start for the Firebirds, although won’t play extended minutes. Hulita Veve could start at wing defence if Bulley elects to wrap her captain in cotton wool, something that wouldn’t surprise given there were real fears she may not hit the court at all this season. Tippah Dwan’s return to her Queensland roots gives the Birdies added depth and firepower in the circle.

Last year’s grand final MVP Eleanor Cardwell will wear the colours of new club Melbourne Mavericks this season. Photo: Getty Images

MELBOURNE MAVERICKS

Finish last year: N/A

Round 1 opponent: Melbourne Vixens

Likely starting side: GS Rolene Streutker/Shimona Jok, GA Eleanor Cardwell, WA Tayla Fraser, C Mollie Jovic, WD Amy Parmenter (c), GD Kim Jenner, GK Olivia Lewis

Coach: Tracey Neville

It’s an entirely new starting side for Super Netball’s newest team but picking a starting side was unfortunately made easier by shocking pre-season injuries that have ruled Sasha Glasgow and Lauren Moore out for the season. Given that, the Mavs could struggle with depth in their inaugural season.

Originally published as Super Netball 2024: Every club’s likely round one starting lineup revealed