2019 Suncorp Super Netball Semi Final's Program

SPORT CAN BE A CONFIDENCE GAME CHANGER Let’s change the score

CONTENTS 1

Welcome from Suncorp

10

National Champions

2

Welcome from Suncorp Super Netball

11

Minor Semi Final Match Preview

3

Major Semi Final Match Preview

12

Minor Semi Final Last Time They Met

4

Major Semi Final Last Time They Met

13

Minor Semi Final Captains Interview

5

Major Semi Final Captains Interview

14

Melbourne Vixens Team List

6

Sunshine Coast Lightning Team List

15

Collingwood Magpies Team List

7

NSW Swifts Team List

16

Nissan Net Points

8

2019 Player Stat Leaders

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@SUPERNETBALL

@SUPERNETBALL

WWW.SUPERNETBALL.COM.AU

WELCOME FROM SUNCORP Australia’s love of netball, from supporters, spectators and players, continues to grow every year. The continued success of the Suncorp Super Netball League has played an integral role in helping netball become one of the nation’s most popular women’s sport, both domestically and internationally.

Off the court, we need to get behind our female athletes who are such fabulous role models, as they build their careers. Netball Australia, Suncorp Super Netball League and the Minerva Network (a network built to support elite female athletes), which I am privileged to also Chair, are paving a way for us to do this.

Suncorp has been proud to be part of the league’s success story since 2016. As Principal Partner, every season we are inspired by the fierce determination and passion of the players on the court, as well as the overwhelming support shown by communities across the country.

Congratulations to all of the Suncorp Super Netball League teams on a fantastic season – you’ve had a positive impact on many of the young aspirational players across the country.

Suncorp is so proud to see the top of the table teams take to the court today and we wish them all the best. We look forward to being back again in 2020.

This year, through our partnership with Netball Australia and our Team Girls program, we were again able to put a spotlight on the benefits of sports participation in building confidence and encourage younger generations to play sport for longer.

CHRISTINE McLOUGHLIN Suncorp Group Limited, Chairman

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019 | 1

WELCOME TO THE 2019 SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES! IT’S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SEASON, THE WORLD’S BEST NETBALL TALENT HAVE SHOWN US WHAT THEY’RE MADE OF AND LEFT ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS THE WORLD’S PREMIER NETBALL COMPETITION. AND NOW WE’RE DOWN TO FOUR… We’ve seen the NSW Swifts dominate all season, qualifying for Suncorp Super Netball finals for the first time, a new Sunshine Coast Lightning team is looking like they could make Lightning strike thrice, the star-studded Vixens team have showed some brilliant form and the Magpies fought to the very last second to secure their finals berth.

Over the next three weeks, we’ll see some thrilling netball and history will be written yet again.

Which club will have their name added to the record books?

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the athletes, clubs, member organisations, officials, volunteers and team officials for everything they do to make the Suncorp Super Netball League what it is today.

I’d also like to give a huge shout out to the fans who attend the matches all around Australia and who tune into Nine, Telstra TV and the Netball Live app week in, week out – your support and passion is incredible.

Last but definitely not least, an enormous thank you goes to our principal partner Suncorp, broadcast partners Nine and Telstra and our major partners Nissan, Cadbury, Samsung and Deakin who continue to support and believe in the league.

Get yourselves ready for the next three weeks because if this season is anything to go by, we’re in for some edge-of-your-seat netball action.

MARINA GO Super Netball League, Chair

MAJOR SEMI FINAL THE TWO-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPIONS VERSUS THE YOUNG UPSTARTS IN THEIR MAIDEN SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES. You couldn’t have scripted a more captivating major semi-final battle than the one that presents between the Sunshine Coast Lightning and the NSW Swifts, with the winner set to book a berth in the championship decider in two weeks.

As the Lightning prepare to part ways with inaugural coach Noeline Taurua at season’s end, the experience of two finals campaigns – both of which delivered the ultimate success – weighs heavily in the minor premiers’ favour, as does the presence of premiership stars Laura Langman, Steph Wood, Karla Pretorius and Laura Scherian.

The Swifts, on the other hand, might be an unknown finals quantity but what they lack

3PM – SAT 31 AUG USC STADIUM, SUNSHINE COAST

in experience they more than make up for in confidence and team unity. A lesser side might have faded out after the loss of captain Maddy Proud, and yet the Swifts have reached the finals knowing their best is still good enough to beat anyone.

This semi-final blockbuster could very well be decided in the defensive ends, with Lightning goal defence Karla Pretorius and Swifts keeper Sarah Klau set to have a big say in the result, after both starred when the teams last met in Round 11.

The battle between Pretorius and Swifts goal attack Housby shapes as an international clash for the ages, with the two best players at their positions set to face off for the first time since Round 4.

Who wins? Flip a coin.

V

WATCH LIVE

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019 | 3

LIGHTNING

SWIFTS

LAST TIME THEY MET IT WAS THE WIN THAT PUT THE SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE OF THE MINOR PREMIERSHIP. The Round 11 clash between the Lightning and the Swifts had a little bit of everything: a fast start, a major move through the middle of the game, and a dramatic comeback that sealed a 50-48 victory in the dying minutes.

The Lightning were all but out of the contest when they trailed the ladder-leading Swifts by five goals at three-quarter time.

But you simply cannot count the Lightning out.

A seven-goal run halfway through the final quarter saw them not only narrow the gap, but grab a two-goal lead with less than four minutes remaining.

The Swifts, who were without star goal attack Helen Housby as she sat out the first of three games with a thigh injury, remained in touch and had a chance to equalise inside the last 30 seconds through Sophie Garbin. But her shot missed, allowing the Lightning to seal the deal at the other end with a Steph Wood goal on the final whistle.

4 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019

RECENT ENCOUNTERS RD 11 : 2019

50/48 RD 13 : 2018

61/51

RD 4 : 2019

59/57 RD 7 : 2018

59/56

LAURA LANGMAN – SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING

The Sunshine Coast Lightning have collected the past two Suncorp Super Netball premierships without the luxury of a single home final, so they’ll be entering uncharted waters against the Swifts on Saturday.

But Laura Langman says history and the minor premiership count for nought as they face a Swifts outfit hell-bent on making an impression in their first Super Netball final.

“IT’S GREAT TO FINISH UP THE SEASON AS MINOR PREMIERS BUT THIS WEEKEND AGAINST NSW SWIFTS IS A NEW GAME AND WE’LL HAVE TO PUT OUR BEST NETBALL OUT ON COURT IF WE WANT TO GO GET THE WIN. WE KNOW SWIFTS ARE SUPER COMPETITIVE AND WE ALWAYS HAVE A TOUGH MATCH AGAINST THEM BUT THIS WEEK WE’RE FOCUSING ON OUR OWN GAME PLAN AND WHAT WE CAN CONTROL. WE’RE ALSO EXCITED TO PLAY OUR FIRST HOME FINAL AT THE SUNSHINE COAST, THE CROWD AT USC STADIUM IS JUST INCREDIBLE.”

The challenge that lies ahead for the NSW Swifts against a confident, in-form Lightning outfit isn’t lost on anyone, and particularly on-court leader Paige Hadley.

“BOTH GAMES THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN REALLY CLOSE WITH ONLY TWO GOALS BETWEEN THE SIDES AT THE END. THEY HAVE A LOT OF INTERNATIONALS AND HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE BUT I THINK WE ARE MATCHED QUITE WELL PLAYER FOR PLAYER. FIRST UP IT’S ABOUT BEATING OUR INDIVIDUAL OPPONENT AND THEN BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.”

PA I G E H A D L E Y – N S W S W I F T S

The young midcourter knows the result will hinge on whether key Swifts can get the better of their direct opponents.

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019 | 5

SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING www.sunshinecoastlightning.com.au

@sc_lightning

/SunshineCoastLightning

@sunshinecoastlightning

CARA KOENEN

LAURA LANGMAN

ANNIKA LEE-JONES

PHUMZA MAWENI

DOB: 27/02/96 Height: 190cm Positions: GS, GA

DOB: 16/04/86 Height: 173cm Positions: WD, C

DOB: 31/10/96 Height: 197cm Positions: GK, GD

DOB: 04/09/84 Height: 186cm Positions: GK, GD

MADELINE McAULIFFE

KARLA PRETORIUS

PEACE PROSCOVIA

DOB: 05/12/94 Height: 180cm Positions: C, WD

DOB: 12/03/90 Height: 181cm Positions: GD, WD

DOB: 01/11/89 Height: 188cm Positions: GS

JACQUI RUSSELL

LAURA SCHERIAN

STEPH WOOD

DOB: 01/06/88 Height: 176cm Positions: WA, WD, C

DOB: 26/06/88 Height: 167cm Positions: WA, C

DOB: 28/11/91 Height: 175cm Positions: GA, WA

6 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019

NSW SWIFTS www.nswswifts.com.au

@NSWSwifts

/NSWSwifts

@NSWSwifts

TAYLA FRASER

SOPHIE GARBIN

PAIGE HADLEY

SOPHIE HALPIN

DOB: 13/06/99 Height: 172cm Positions: C

DOB: 06/04/97 Height: 184cm Positions: GA, GS

DOB: 26/08/92 Height: 173cm Positions: C, WA, WD

DOB: 16/05/93 Height: 177cm Positions: WD, C, WA

NATALIE HAYTHORNTHWAITE

HELEN HOUSBY

SARAH KLAU

DOB: 09/12/92 Height: 174cm Positions: WA

DOB: 19/01/95 Height: 183cm Positions: GA, GS

DOB: 30/09/94 Height: 190cm Positions: GK, GD

KATRINA RORE

MADDY TURNER

SAM WALLACE

DOB: 06/05/87 Height: 186cm Positions: WD

DOB: 17/12/95 Height: 183cm Positions: GD, WD

DOB: 16/01/94 Height: 193cm Positions: GS, GA

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019 | 7

2019 SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL

PLAYER STATS 2019 REGULAR SEASON

MOST OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS

50

Caitlin Bassett GIANTS Netball

MOST GOAL ASSISTS

392

Liz Watson

Melbourne Vixens

MOST GOALS

709

Jhaniele Fowler West Coast Fever

MOST DEFLECTIONS

120

Shamera Sterling

Adelaide Thunderbirds

MOST DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS

35

Shamera Sterling

Adelaide Thunderbirds

MOST CENTRE PASS RECEIVES

375

Laura Scherian

Sunshine Coast Lightning

MOST GOAL ATTEMPTS

753

Jhaniele Fowler West Coast Fever

MOST INTERCEPTS

68

Shamera Sterling

Adelaide Thunderbirds

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8 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019

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SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019 | 9

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS WINNERS 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sunshine Coast Lightning Sunshine Coast Lightning Queensland Firebirds Queensland Firebirds Melbourne Vixens Adelaide Thunderbirds Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic (NZ) Queensland Firebirds Adelaide Thunderbirds Melbourne Vixens New South Wales Swifts Sydney Swifts Sydney Swifts Melbourne Phoenix Sydney Swifts Melbourne Phoenix Melbourne Phoenix Sydney Swifts

2000 - Melbourne Phoenix 1999 - Adelaide Thunderbirds 1998 - Adelaide Thunderbirds 1997 - Melbourne Phoenix 1996 - Melbourne Pumas 1995 - Sydney Electricity 1994 - Adelaide Contax 1993 - Adelaide Garville 1992 - Sydney Pulsars 1991 - Sydney Pulsars 1990 - Melbourne City 1989 - Sydney Tigers 1988 - Not Held - disbanded due to difficulties with netball calendar 1987 - Melbourne Blue 1986 - A.I.S 1985 - A.I.S

BE READY

10 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019

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Take your next step with confidence.

MINOR SEMI FINAL WILL LADDER POSITION OR ON-COURT FORM WIN OUT AS THE MELBOURNE VIXENS TAKE ON THE MAGPIES IN A KNOCKOUT SUPER NETBALL SEMI-FINAL? The Vixens have been touted as title contenders both before and throughout the season, with their Diamond-studded list the envy of most SSN franchises. But a worrying dip in performance that’s seen them drop their final three games of the season has the pundits wondering if they’re destined to finish another year empty-handed.

The Magpies, on the other hand, have gotten hot at just the right time, storming into the finals with three consecutive wins, including a crucial (and dominant) 58-47 result against their crosstown rivals in the last round of the season.

1PM – SUN 1 SEP STATE NETBALL & HOCKEY CENTRE, MELBOURNE

While the Magpies have been considered underperformers across the first two seasons of Super Netball, could this be the year in which they finally deliver on all that promise? With goal attack Nat Medhurst in rare form, shooter Shimona Nelson now providing the consistent target her team has craved, and Ash Brazill a revelation at centre, their attacking line suddenly looks as potent as any of the top four.

But it would be folly to discount the Vixens, who will enter this clash confident that their best netball is good enough to beat anyone, but also wondering if they can produce it.

Can the Vixens recover from the mental blow they were dealt last Sunday, or do the Magpies genuinely have the goods to defeat them for the third time this year?

There’s good cases to be made for both in what promises to be one of the games of the season.

V

WATCH LIVE

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019 | 11

VIXENS

MAGPIES

LAST TIME THEY MET CONSIDER THIS “ROUND TWO”.

It’ll be all of just seven days since the Vixens and Magpies last faced off, with the Magpies having done the seemingly impossible by claiming three bonus points and an 11-goal win against the Vixens last weekend to rip a finals berth out of GIANTS Netball’s hands.

It was the Vixens’ lowest ever Suncorp Super Netball score, underlined by a 9-17 third quarter that all but ended their chances after they trailed by only three goals at half-time.

So smothering was the Magpies’ defence that Vixens coach Simone McKinnis was forced to switch wing attack Liz Watson and centre Kate Moloney, with goalers Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip also swapping bibs in the third quarter.

Meanwhile for the Magpies, Ash Brazill and Nat Medhurst continued their exceptional lateseason form, and Geva Mentor was in everything.

The Vixens will take heart from the fact that aside from the third quarter they were only three goals in arrears, after managing to draw the last quarter 13-13.

But the Magpies have now had another week to settle their new attacking line-up after wing attack Kelsey Browne’s season-ending injury, with Kimiora Poi much-improved after being unexpectedly thrust into the action in Round 13 when Browne went down.

12 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019

RECENT ENCOUNTERS RD 14 : 2019

58/47 RD 8 : 2018

65/57

RD 7 : 2019

55/52 RD 1 : 2018

59/58

K AT E M O L O N E Y – M E L B O U R N E V I X E N S

Losing once to your hometown nemesis hurts. But two losses to Magpies Netball in the one season has stung the Melbourne Vixens deeply.

But Vixens captain Kate Moloney knows those results count for nothing as both sides dial up the stakes in the first week of Suncorp Super Netball finals.

“WE’VE LOST TO THE MAGPIES TWICE THIS YEAR, WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY DISAPPOINTING, BUT THIS WEEKEND IS WHERE WE START AGAIN. FOR US, FINALS ARE ESSENTIALLY A NEW SEASON. TO HAVE PLAYED MAGPIES IN THE LAST ROUND GIVES US A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW THEY’RE PLAYING AT THE MOMENT, SO WITH THAT WE’LL BE ABLE TO PREPARE REALLY WELL AND HOPEFULLY COME OUT WITH A DIFFERENT RESULT.”

But the Magpies Netball goal keeper and captain is also well aware it’ll be anything but a walk in the park against crosstown rivals the Melbourne Vixens.

“THE VIXENS HAVE PROVEN TO BE A STRONG, CONSISTENT SIDE THAT DO THE BASICS WELL. THEY HAVE KEY PLAYERS ALL OVER THE COURT WITH A STRONG WORK ETHIC AND THE TENACITY TO WIN BALL AND SCORE WITH EASE. THEY’LL BE PLAYING ON A FAMILIAR COURT WHERE THEY TRAIN WEEK IN WEEK OUT. SO FOR US, IT’S IMPORTANT WE RAISE OUR GAME ANOTHER LEVEL BY BEING PATIENT YET COURAGEOUS WITH OUR PLAY.”

G E VA M E N T O R – C O L L I N G W O O D M A G P I E S

If anyone knows what it takes to win a Suncorp Super Netball semi-final, it’s Geva Mentor.

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019 | 13

MELBOURNE VIXENS www.melbournevixens.com.au

@MelbourneVixens

/MelbourneVix

@MelbourneVixens

KADIE-ANN DEHANEY

LARA DUNKLEY

RENAE INGLES

MWAI KUMWENDA

DOB: 04/09/96 Height: 192cm Positions: GK, GS

DOB: 31/05/95 Height: 180cm Positions: WA, C, WD

DOB: 18/07/86 Height: 178cm Positions: WD, C

DOB: 27/09/89 Height: 183cm Positions: GS, GA

EMILY MANNIX

KATE MOLONEY

TEGAN PHILIP

DOB: 16/04/94 Height: 188cm Positions: GK, GD

DOB: 08/01/93 Height: 177cm Positions: C, WD

DOB: 03/09/88 Height: 175cm Positions: GA, GS

CAITLIN THWAITES

LIZ WATSON

JO WESTON

DOB: 29/12/86 Height: 188cm Positions: GS

DOB: 30/03/94 Height: 178cm Positions: C, WA

DOB: 14/02/94 Height: 188cm Positions: GD, GK, WD

14 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019

COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES www.magpiesnetball.com.au

@magpies_netball

/CollingwoodMagpiesNetball

@magpiesnetballl

APRIL BRANDLEY

ASH BRAZILL

MELISSA BRAGG

MATILDA GARRETT

DOB: 19/04/90 Height: 185cm Positions: GK, GD

DOB: 29/12/89 Height: 175cm Positions: C, WD

DOB: 17/12/94 Height: 177cm Positions: WD, GD

DOB: 11/08/98 Height: 185cm Positions: GD. GK

NAT MEDHURST

GEVA MENTOR

SHIMONA NELSON

DOB: 20/01/84 Height: 175cm Positions: GA, GS

DOB: 17/09/84 Height: 191cm Positions: GK, GD

DOB: 01/12/98 Height: 195cm Positions: GS, GA

KIMIORA POI

KIM RAVAILLION

GABRIELLE SINCLAIR

DOB: 01/11/97 Height: 168cm Positions: C, WA

DOB: 26/07/93 Height: 176cm Positions: C, WD, WA

DOB: 12/07/93 Height: 176cm Positions: GA, GS

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019 | 15

HOW DO YOU COMPARE ONE SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL PLAYER WITH ANOTHER TO DETERMINE WHO HAS HAD A BETTER GAME OR PLAYED A BIGGER PART IN A TEAM’S WIN OR LOSS? What if there was a statistical way to compare just how effective each Suncorp Super Netball player had been on court?

A new innovation for the 2019 season, Nissan Net Points sees points awarded or deducted based on every action a player performs on court.

Goals, rebounds, intercepts, deflections, centre pass receives and bad passes are just some of the statistics given a points value that helps to determine who’s been a dominant force on court in each game.

At the end of the game, each player is awarded a final Net Points score, opening up a whole new world of netball analysis.

Every week, the highest-scoring player at each position is named in the Net Points ‘Team of the Week’, and we’re also crunching the numbers to determine the ‘Team of the Year’.

WHAT’S A GOOD SCORE, YOU MIGHT ASK? Queensland Firebirds goal attack Gretel Tippett owns the season’s top score, with 135 points against the West Coast Fever in Round 13!

FOR MORE INFO ON NISSAN NET POINTS VISIT: supernetball.com.au/net-points

16 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019

FEEL THE RIVALRY AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND 20 OCTOBER - SYDNEY 27 OCTOBER - PERTH

SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL 2019 | 17

REACH THE UNREACHABLE

FIRST IN TRUST NOT IN PROFIT *Roy Morgan, Net Trust Score Survey, 2019.

CALL US

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hcf.com.au 13 13 34SUPER NETBALL 18 | SUNCORP 2019

Caitlin Bassett, Australian Diamonds captain wears NETBURNER SUPER FF.

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