By Matt Fotia
Each player enters every season with a sense of expectation, both internal and external.
Will they be an impact sub or can they hold down a spot in the starting seven?
Are they just a role player, facilitating the bigger stars around them, or can they become a star in their own right?
Every year a handful of players manage to surprise both themselves and the public, taking the opportunities in front of them with both hands.
Here are five surprise packets from the 2024 season.
RUDI ELLIS – MELBOURNE VIXENS
Ellis returned to Victoria in 2024, signing for the Vixens after two seasons in Fever green.
The circle defender had limited court time during her stay in Perth and was expected to play a similar role for the Vixens, providing reliable back-up for the tried and tested Mannix-Weston pairing which had served the Vixens so well.
But early season injuries to Weston and then Kate Eddy pushed Ellis into the starting seven and she didn’t look back. Ellis played consistent minutes from round six onwards and her long reach and disruptive play style became a good point of difference for the Vixens defensive end.
Ellis became the Vixens’ first choice goal keeper throughout their finals run and finished the season with an impressive 41 deflections and 39 gains.
Her performances caught the eye of Australian selectors and her incredible 2024 continued when she made her Origin Diamonds debut against England in game one of the Roses series.
Ellis started the season as defensive cover and ended it as an Australian Diamond.LAUREN FREW – ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS
The Thunderbirds attack end had a brand-new look in 2024, following the departures of goal attack options Eleanor Cardwell (Mavericks) and Tippah Dwan (Firebirds). Veteran shooter Romelda Aiken-George was called in to fill one of the goaling spots, leaving youngster Lauren Frew as the only obvious goal attack option.
Frew went on to play every game of the 2024 season for the eventual premiers, racking up more than 100 assists, 150 feeds and 125 goals out in front of Aiken-George, growing in stature with every game.
Her debut finals series was even more impressive.
She starred in the Thunderbirds crushing Major Semi Final win against the Vixens, shooting 17 goals at 94% and having a hand in nine other scores, before contributing 11 assists and 10 goals at 100% in the Grand Final, completing her journey from untried youngster to premiership player with no fuss at all.
MACY GARDNER – QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS
Unlike Frew, Gardner had been on the Super Netball scene for a while, but heading into the 2024 season she was the somewhat forgotten member of the Firebirds midcourt.
Former Diamond and club captain Kim Ravaillion always grabbed the headlines, the side’s chief creative outlet is Lara Dunkley and Tongan captain Hulita Veve was the good news story of the off-season.
But Gardner was the shining light for the Firebirds in 2024.
The centre with an endless engine played big minutes in every game and managed 364 feeds and 211 assists to round out an impressive individual campaign.
Her notable campaign earned her a spot in our SSN Top 15 and the Laura Geitz Medal as the Firebirds 2024 season MVP.
Lauren Frew impressed in her debut season.ASH ERVIN – SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING
Ash Ervin was meant to spend 2024 as an impact sub, learning from the best in the business, Courtney Bruce.
But an early season injury for Bruce thrust Ervin into the spotlight, transitioning her from impact sub to starting goal keeper in the blink of an eye. Fortunately for Belinda Reynolds and co, Ervin took to the role like a duck to water, grabbing 26 gains and 23 deflections in the three games following Bruce’s injury.
Her performances were so good when Bruce eventually returned to the Lightning line-up, Ervin remained the starting goal keeper.
Ervin, like Ellis, impressed the right people with her early season form and was named in the Diamonds 2024 squad and has become a player to watch for the foreseeable future.
SHIMONA JOK – MELBOURNE MAVERICKS
Jok appears on this list not because she had a breakout season, but because of her incredible 2024 story arc.
She started the year without a club, despite an impressive SSN record for both Collingwood and the Thunderbirds. Fortunately, she was handed a lifeline by the Mavericks, named as their 11th player on the eve of the season.
The Jamaican made her Mavericks debut in round three against the Fever, starting the game in goal shooter before being swung into goal keeper in an attempt to stop Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. She didn’t disappoint, nabbing three deflections in her short defensive stay.
Jok didn’t look back, playing in every other Mavericks game, finishing the season with 424 goals at 93%, claiming the Mavericks inaugural MVP award and winning herself a new contract in the process.
