By Damien Stannard
Whether the Melbourne Vixens are over-reliant on Liz Watson, the rebuilt Sunshine Coast Lightning and the NSW Swifts’ derby edge over the Giants will be among the talking points of a compelling Suncorp Super Netball Round 1.
Burning question
How big are Liz Watson’s shoulders?
It’s not the only teaser hovering over the opening round of the Suncorp Super Netball season.
Can Queensland Firebirds great Romelda Aiken-George be replaced? And what of West Coast boss Dan Ryan in his second coming as a head coach, this time with a far more powerful roster than the one he assembled in Adelaide.
The Collingwood Magpies and Adelaide Thunderbirds look stable but are they ready to contend?
Watson’s importance to the Vixens will be measured and debated all season, starting in Round 1 against the Firebirds.
With her, the team won a championship in 2020. She owns three of the top five season totals for goal assists in the Suncorp Super Netball era.
Without her (and Tegan Philip and Caitlin Thwaites) last season the Vixens lacked zing.
Of course, it’s a team game but Watson’s true value will never be more distinct than on the team’s mission to bury last year’s wooden spoon.
High stakes
No Karla Pretorius, no Lightning.
That’s one way to look at it. The Sunshine Coast has instead adopted a glass-half-full perspective ahead of their visit to Perth to face the West Coast Fever.
“For me, I see change and view it as a chance to re-look at our strengths and challenge how we think,” coach Kylee Byrne said of the absences of Pretorius, Phumza Maweni and Maddy McAuliffe.
There’s plenty of upside for the Lightning who were last year equally capable of claiming big scalps – Giants (twice), Fever and Swifts – and tripping against the modestly performed Firebirds (twice), Vixens and Thunderbirds.
Captain Steph Wood has enjoyed her first injury-free pre-season in years.
Then there’s goal keeper Tara Hinchliffe, the former Firebird who has become physiotherapist Greg Craig’s “golden child” for her fastidious approach to rehabilitation from last year’s knee reconstruction surgery. She will be ready for Round 1.
But it’s goaler Reilley Batcheldor who has created the most buzz around the club. The 19-year-old remains a project player for the two-time champions but she is expected to make an impact in rotation with Diamonds Wood and Cara Koenen.
“She has so much natural instinct. It’s now a matter of combining the smarts with the talent,” Byrne said.
“She’s a real sponge, some one who intrinsically knows how to take the hard road.”
Bogey game
Can anyone remember the wide-eyed NSW Swifts of 2018? The young ones who dreamed big but could not take down the competition standard bearers?
These ruthless Swifts are steady and have forged a reputation as wily fighters who can see and seize a path to victory.
On three of their four meetings last season, including the major semi-final and grand final, they had the Giants’ measure.
But they have been to the summit and must find fresh motivation without departed stars Sophie Garbin and Nat Metcalf.
Defence is where the most significant change will come for the hungry Giants.
Matilda McDonnell has a chance to demonstrate her legitimacy as a Suncorp Super Netball starter.
Likewise for Lauren Moore, who sought an opportunity to nail down a GD bib and will face her former teammates in Round 1.
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