2018 Issue 5 - GIANTS Netball Match Mag

MATCH MAG ROUND 9 V ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS SUNDAY 1 JULY 2018 AIS ARENA, CANBERRA

SUSAN PETTITT ELITE ADVICE + SAM POOLMAN POOLMAN'S PATHWAY + CANBERRA GIANTS 2018 ROSTER

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IN THIS ISSUE 04 05 07 09 10 12 14 16 18

2018 ROSTER SPOTLIGHT ELITE ADVICE PLAYER MATCH UP COLLECTABLE POSTER COURT SKILLS CANBERRA GIANTS POOLMAN'S PATHWAY GIA'S GIANTS

HERE COME THE GIANTS I am so pleased to welcome our members and fans to this special Round 9 game in ACT. We are thrilled to be here in Canberra once again and playing in front of our wonderful ACT supporters. It means so much to us to be back in our second home and we are excited to be bringing world-class Suncorp Super Netball action to you today.

This is a particularly special visit, as it comes at a time when we also celebrate the Australian Netball League finals in ACT. The ANL is a showcase of the spectacular up-and-coming netball talent in this country. Our ANL team, Canberra GIANTS, are an integral part of the GIANTS family and we are very proud of all that they have achieved this season.

It has been a strong start to the Suncorp Super Netball season for GIANTS Netball. While the team has been delivering exceptional netball every round, I have witnessed them continue to develop and improve as the season progresses, both individually and as a group. This is a deep and talented team and their unity and drive shines through each game.

FOLLOW US: @GIANTSNETBALL @GIANTSNETBALL @GIANTS_NETBALL GIANTSNETBALLTV CONTACT US: GIANTSNETBALL@NETBALLNSW.COM GIANTSNETBALL.COM.AU (02) 9951 5000 PHOTOGRAPHY: NARELLE SPANGHER

The new points system continues to shake things up each week.

Beyond the four points available for a win, the four bonus points are vital difference makers. The focus is now not only on winning the game, but trying to also claim victory each quarter. Today, your GIANTS will battle the capable Adelaide Thunderbirds to secure as many points as possible.

This round we are privileged to play in the wonderful AIS Arena, the hub of entertainment and sport in Canberra. It is a meaningful return to ACT for us and we thank you all for coming out today to welcome us home. Never forget that we are one orange family and we have you with us on our journey, no matter where we play.

Julie Fitzgerald Head Coach

2018 ROSTER GA/GS

GS

GD/GK

WA/C

LEADERSHIP TEAM

WD/C

KIERA AUSTIN

KRISTINA BRICE

BEC BULLEY

KIM GREEN CAPTAIN

SERENA GUTHRIE

26/08/97 @KIERA_AUSTIN

09/07/94 @KRISTINA_BRICE

18/08/82 @BECBULLEY

05/03/86 @KIMMYGEE8

05/01/90 @SERENABOB

GS/GA

LEADERSHIP TEAM

GA/GS

GK/GD/WD

GK/GD

LEADERSHIP TEAM

WD/C

JO HARTEN VICE-CAPTAIN

KRISTIANA MANU'A

SUSAN PETTITT

SAM POOLMAN

JAMIE-LEE PRICE

21/03/89 @JOHARTEN

03/09/95 @KRISTIANAMANUA

23/03/84 @SUSANPETTITT

04/03/91 @SPOOLMAN

10/01/96 @JAMIELEE_PRICE

WA/C

TRAINING PARTNER

TRAINING PARTNER

GD/GK

TRAINING PARTNER

GS/GA

TRAINING PARTNER

GK/GD

WD/C

TRAINING PARTNER

TAYLAH DAVIES

STEPH MACGOUGAN

GEORGIA MARSHALL

TEIGAN O'SHANNASSY

AMY PARMENTER

03/10/94 @TAYLAHD4

26/05/95 @STEPHMACGOUGAN

24/07/96 @G_MARSH_

14/04/99 @TEIGAN_OSHANNASSY

01/08/97 @AMYPARMENTERR

ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS KAITLYN BRYCE

LEANA DE BRUIN

FIONA FOWLER

SASHA GLASGOW

ABIGAIL BONGI LATU-MEAFOU MSOMI

SHIMONA NELSON

HANNAH PETTY

CHELSEA PITMAN

KATE SHIMMIN

CATHRINE TUIVAITI

SPOTLIGHT GIANTS V THUNDERBIRDS The last time GIANTS Netball played Adelaide Thunderbirds was in Round 2 of this season, where the GIANTS took home their first 8 point clean sweep, 48-71 in Adelaide.

A lot has happened since Round 2, with GIANTS maintaining their Top 4 position, utilising a variety of line-ups to navigate the impressive level of netball being contested in this year's Suncorp Super Netball league.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds are continuing to build momentum as they still hunt for their first win of the season after some very close games.

Comparing the experience of the two teams in National Competitions, the Thunderbirds have 425 caps to their line-up, whilst between just two of the GIANTS - Bec Bulley and Susan Pettitt - there is 442 caps excluding test representation. The GIANTS total National game experience is 957 caps.

VI SI TC A N B ER R A

.C O M .A U

ELITE ADVICE Susan Pettitt understands the pressures of playing netball at an elite level. As the most capped player in the Suncorp Super Netball league, she has been the perfect mentor for GIANTS Netball rookie Kiera Austin.

At the beginning of the season, GIANTS Netball rookie attacker Kiera Austin had yet to take to the court during a professional league game. Now a capped player, Austin is starting to settle into her role as a member of the GIANTS Netball playing roster.

“It's crazy that it's actually halfway through (the season), it doesn't seem like it is halfway through. I think this time last year I was heading into ANL finals, so it's a different sort of mindset to keep focused. But it's been super, super exciting and awesome,” she says.

As one of the most experienced players in the Suncorp Super Netball league, GIANTS Netball shooter Susan Pettitt has forged a strong bond with Austin, acting as mentor to the upand-coming player. It’s a role that has been a few years in the making.

“When Kippa (Austin’s nickname on the team) was first coming through the State Teams, I was involved in doing some specialist shooting coaching with them, so I've known Kippa for a little while through that,” Pettitt shares. “I think Kippa and I play a very similar style of game. We are very similar in the way of thinking and doing things on court.”

Along with other more senior members of the GIANTS, Pettitt has taken Austin under her wing to help her prepare for the big league and cope with the pressures of playing at a professional level.

“I try and help Kippa out with the shooting role, I think I feel like a bit of a big sister to her, a bit of a mentor in that position,” she says.

Austin agrees and reflects on what she has learnt from the other shooters on the team. “When I do get to come in and practice with Jo (Harten) and Pratts (Pettitt’s nickname on the team) and KB (Kristina Brice’s nickname on the team), just their intensity is so much higher and they see little passes that I wouldn't have seen in the game,” she shares. “They’re super awesome players and just to be in the same environment as them is awesome.”

There has been advice passed along from the experienced player to the newcomer and it’s all about being true to yourself and being confident in your abilities.

“If I think back to it, I was probably telling her to play her game,” Pettitt says of her counsel to Austin. “I think often people get caught up and try to structure people to all fit the same kind of mold. Whereas I was telling Kiera that she is a very unique player that has really good timing and can read the play really well.”

So I said just to back herself with that stuff and to keep doing what she's doing, because she's very effective with it and she's quite illusive for defenders to keep up with.”

Austin echoes the sentiment when explaining how she approaches the game. “Going up to this level, the biggest thing I've had to think about is making sure I'm confident and knowing that I do have the skill and capacity to play, so whenever I do get a chance, I just go out there and make sure I own it,” she explains.

Beyond the shooter role, Austin has been training in the position of Wing Attack, a role she has occupied during the times she has taken to the court for GIANTS this season.

“The movements are a little bit different to a Goal Attack, having to focus more about being an option outside the circle, but it's been really cool and I've actually really enjoyed challenging myself to learn it a bit more,” she says of the skills and mindset needed to play the position.

Pettitt can also understand the experience of moving between the positions, as last year she took on the role of Wing Attack for the GIANTS during their 2017 finals campaign.

“It was the first time I'd ever played Wing Attack, so it was quite unusual for me. But I guess having been a shooter for all my whole life, I know where the shooters want the ball, so I kind of tried to take that mind set into it and try to make the shooters happy really. That was my job.”

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Austin took to the court for the first time as a GIANT during the Round 2 game against the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Priceline Stadium. It was a special moment for her and also for her teammates who have been witness to her development as a player.

“I was super proud of her. I think when she came on her face just lit up and I think all the girls on the bench and on the court were just so excited to see her get out there and get her first cap,” Pettitt reflects. “She's worked really hard on her fitness in the pre-season and then during the season to switch over to Wing Attack as well, which was something that she hasn't done before and she put a lot of time and effort into it, so it was really good to see her get out there and to experience it she did a really good job.”

As to any words shared with Austin from someone who is the most capped player currently playing in the league, Pettitt laughs, “I said to her when she played her first game ‘Well now you've got 200 more to go, so good luck with that!' ”. ¼

PLAYER MATCH UP

V GIANTS NETBALL

WATCH THESE PLAYERS ON COURT AS THEY GO HEAD TO HEAD IN ROUND 9.

SUSAN PETTITT Position: GA, GS Age: 34 Height: 180cm Debut: 2003 National League Games: 224 Test Caps: 71

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ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS

KATE SHIMMIN Position: GD, GK Age: 26 Height: 185cm Debut: 2011 National League Games: 68 Test Caps: N/A

COURT SKILLS WITH TANIA OBST ASSISTANT COACH

QUICK, AGILE FOOTWORK IS ONE OF OUR SPORTS' MOST IMPORTANT SKILLS. Having great footwork helps when dodging past your opponent to receive the ball or manoeuvring cleanly around a body to take an intercept.

Completing a footwork agility card once a week in your training will certainly help develop your footwork skills. This can be completed by yourself or with a teammate alternating between efforts.

FOOTWORK AGILITY CARD: 01. D sprint B, sprint D, sprint C, sprint D, backwards run A and sprint D x 2 02. D sprint C, sprint D, sprint B, sprint D, backwards run A and sprint D x 2 03. X figure 8 around B-C, sprint D, sprint A and sprint D x 2 04. X figure 8 around D-A, sprint C, sprint B and sprint C x 2 05. X side step B, elevate side step C, elevate side step X, figure 8 around D-A-X elevate x 2 06. X side step C, elevate side step B, elevate side step X, figure 8 around A-D-X elevate x 2 07. B sprint D, sprint B, side step C, sprint A, sprint C, side step X, sprint D and sprint A x 2 08. C sprint A, sprint C, side step B, sprint D, sprint B, side step X, sprint A and sprint D x 2 CONE SET UP:

This is an example of a Diamond shape movement pattern card.

Keep your head forward and turn your body on angles when working between cones. Add a ball in when necessary.

D B

X

A

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CANBERRA GIANTS 2018 ROSTER

C/WA GEORGIA CLAYDEN

ARAWANG NETBALL ASSOCIATION

GK/GD MILLIE BOEHM

BERYL FRIDAY

RANDWICK NETBALL ASSOCIATION

MANLY WARRINGAH NETBALL ASSOCIATION NORTHERN SUBURBS NETBALL ASSOCIATION

EASTWOOD RYDE NETBALL ASSOCIATION

GS/GA ANGELINA FRKETIC

SUTHERLAND SHIRE NETBALL ASSOCIATION

GS NALANI MAKUNDE

CANBERRA NETBALL ASSOCIATION

GA/GS/WA MADDY EATON

GS/GA GEORGIA MARSHALL

MANLY WARRINGAH NETBALL ASSOCIATION

C/WA NGAWAI EYLES

SOUTHERLAND SHIRE

WD/C MADDIE HAY

BAULKHAM HILLS SHIRE NETBALL ASSOCIATION

GD/GK STEPHANIE MACGOUGAN

TAYLAH DAVIES

ARAWANG NETBALL ASSOCIATION

GS/GA

WA/C

CAPTAIN

CANBERRA NETBALL ASSOCIATION

WD/C GRACE HILL

CANBERRA NETBALL ASSOCIATION

GK/GD TEIGAN O’SHANNASSY

MANLY WARRINGAH NETBALL ASSOCIATION

WA/GA LEIGH KALSBEEK

ARAWANG NETBALL ASSOCIATION

WD/C/WA AMY PARMENTER

ST GEORGE DISTRICT NETBALL ASSOCIATION

CANBERRA GIANTS An important part of the GIANTS Netball family, the Canberra GIANTS are one of eight teams competing in the Deakin University Australian Netball League. The Canberra GIANTS provide a direct pathway for players to the elite level. As part of this pathway, five Canberra GIANTS players were selected to be 2018 GIANTS Netball Training Partners.

GD/GK/WD KEELY RODRIGO

TUGGERANONG NETBALL ASSOCIATION

GD/GK KARA STYLES

ST GEORGE DISTRICT NETBALL ASSOCIATION

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I like

POOLMAN'S PATHWAY The Round 9 game against Adelaide Thunderbirds marks Sam Poolman's 50th elite netball match. She looks back on her journey from rookie to veteran defender.

It’s funny sometimes, how coincidences can turn into the best kind of stories. That’s the case for GIANTS Netball defender Sam Poolman, who will be celebrating her 50th elite game this Round against Adelaide Thunderbirds - the team for which she made her professional debut.

“I was actually excited when I heard that that was the game it was falling on because I think it's really special to debut at one club and then come up against them on your 50th game. I think it’s pretty cool,” says Poolman.

“There's always something about the old club when you play them, you just get that tiny little bit more motivation to want to beat them and to want to beat the old teammates. We had a really great game against them last year in Canberra, so it's really nice to have a home game there and I'm sure it will be a pretty entertaining game.”

Reaching 50 elite games is a massive milestone, which Poolman is thrilled to be able to celebrate. “I'm actually really excited to be able to reach that,” Poolman shares. “It's really special for me that I get to play at this level and that I've reached 50 games.”

“I think there's so many athletes, especially in NSW because we have such a high quality state and programs, there's so many athletes coming through and there’s a small percentage that actually go through and reach top level, there's just not that many positions.”

Poolman is vocal about her appreciation of the Netball NSW pathways that gave her the opportunity to develop as a player. As a NSW junior, she was just another young netballer admiring the inspirational players and coaches working at the elite level when she got the call up from the Thunderbirds.

“For me at that time I was a very loyal NSW junior that went through the pathway and really looked up to the Swifts. At that time Julie was the Head Coach of that, so I was obviously really aspiring to play for the Swifts under Julie,” she says.

“I have always held Julie really high on my list. I think everyone that plays under her speaks so highly of her and has so much respect for her and what she does for both players and then the team.”

She is well aware of the full circle journey of now being a GIANT playing her 50th game under Fitzgerald and coming up against her first elite team. “I'm very lucky to be a part of the GIANTS environment and fortunate enough to reach 50 games under Julie. I'm really happy about that. I think it's something that's really special,” Poolman explains.

At the same time, Poolman is thrilled to have made her debut with Thunderbirds and looks back fondly on the period that she spent with the club. “For me to get a phone call and offered a contract, it was something that I just absolutely jumped on and wanted to be a part of and was so excited to finally reach that level. It was something I was working towards and really, really wanted. And we actually went through that year and won the Premiership, so it was definitely a pretty special first year in professional netball,” Poolman shares.

Even though she didn't play, winning the Premiership in 2013 with the Thunderbirds is one of Poolman’s favourite memories from her professional career so far. “There were a lot of opportunities to play that season being a rookie. Learning off Bec Bulley and Sharni Layton, who were Diamonds defenders at the time, it just doesn't really get much better than that in your first year. And then to finish off with the Premiership, most players go through their entire career not making finals or not actually then winning (if they do make it).”

Beyond the Premiership, there is one other thing that stands out for Poolman from her 50 game career and it’s being part of the GIANTS Netball organisation.

“For me, being such a team person and culture driven athlete, it’s (meaningful) to be part of a brand new club in its first year and to get to create a culture and have a say in the uniform and have a say in what we're all about and what we'd want to stand for in years to come. Now we get to be a part of creating history and what the legacy for the GIANTS really stands for,” she considers.

“The more that you have that team culture and the more that you have people caring about each other and making

decisions for the team and not for them individually is when you start creating something special.”

There is also a nice parallel from winning a Premiership as a rookie on the sidelines, to making the Grand Final in her first year as a starter on the GIANTS’ roster.

“Being able to play last year and then actually take the court in a finals series, even though we didn’t win the Grand Final, was something very special and it's nice to go from that my first year to joining the GIANTS in its first year and being part of that.”

Reflecting on her career, Poolman is very proud of the journey that she has gone on and appreciative of the opportunities she has been given. “I think for me to progress from being a rookie to now being a part of the starting seven and having an input on the team and the culture is something really special for me, as is being a part of our Leadership Group.”

“I'm just really happy that I get be at home and represent the State that I played all my junior years with,” she says.

Poolman is now looking ahead to her future and, as someone who grew up looking up to those playing the game at the elite level, she understands the importance of the position that she currently occupies as a role model for junior players in NSW and ACT. “I think we (GIANTS Netball) have several players that grew up playing in NSW. That is something that I'm so proud of as a club. I can wear the GIANTS dress and that's where I grew up playing netball. It definitely adds inspiration to netballers from all over our state to grow up wanting to play for the GIANTS like I did for the Swifts. It creates that pathway knowing that the girls that are playing at top level were like you when you were younger, which I think is really great,” Poolman concludes. ¼

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B D R AI _____

TIANR _____

SGTHRENT ________

BTOOS _____

CERRABNA ________

DGODE _____

A N ER A _____

NCBOUE ______

CLUB SONG LEARN THE GIANTS SONG WITH GIA. SING ALONG AT OUR HOME GAMES. "WELL THERE'S A BIG, BIG SOUND FROM THE WEST OF THE TOWN IT'S THE SOUND OF THE MIGHTY GIANTS YOU FEEL THE GROUND A-SHAKING THE OTHER TEAMS ARE QUAKING IN THEIR BOOTS BEFORE THE GIANTS WE TAKE THE LONGEST STRIDES AND THE HIGHEST LEAP WE'RE STRONGER THAN THE REST WE'RE THE GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS WE'RE THE BIGGEST AND THE BEST AND WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER WE'LL FIGHT UNTIL THE END WE'RE GREATER THAN THE REST"

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CORRECT AS OF 30 APRIL 2018