That’s the message from Australian Diamonds legend Liz Ellis, who says the Magpies have what it takes to be a Super Netball force, despite underperforming again so far this season.
After four rounds, the Magpies sit outside of the Rebel Sport top four with just one win to their name, despite a roster featuring a host of Diamonds talent. With names like Caitlin Thwaites, Madi Robinson and April Brandley on their roster, there were – and still are – plenty of high expectations for the Magpies this season.
For Ellis, the recruitment of goal attack Erin Bell was the most critical piece of the puzzle, and Ellis says that when the Magpies work out their rotations and structures they will put the rest of the league on notice.
“There’s not a lot going wrong, it’s more about stuff not going right,” Ellis says.
“It’s still the challenge facing them around the goal attack position. Recruiting Erin Bell was the right move for them, but the structures of play at the moment are all about getting the ball to Caitlin Thwaites.
“They haven’t yet figured out how to incorporate a goal attack into their play.”
The Magpies have been competitive in every game to date and came home like a train to almost steal the win from the Sunshine Coast Lighting at the weekend.
Ellis says if they can bring that last-quarter intensity into every match, the Magpies will be hard to stop.
“In that last quarter they changed their defensive structure and it worked brilliantly for them,” she says.
“Now it’s about having the courage to make that change a bit sooner, not when things aren’t working for them.
“If they have that same sort of intensity in the game this week, they are going to be very hard to beat. They have got to be able to have that intensity from the get-go, not just pile it on in the last quarter.”
Ellis has also been encouraged by the form of defender Sharni Layton, who took an extended break from the sport at the end of last season.
“Sharni is just so good to watch in full flight,” Ellis says.
“She has a little way to go, but there have been some really good signs for her. She is in full voice, which is really important, and getting her hands to plenty of ball.
“I certainly think she has had a pretty good start to the season.”
