Having consolidated an already strong playing roster with proven champions Geva Mentor and Nat Medhurst, it could be argued Suncorp Super Netball’s Magpies are as hyper-sensitive to internal and external expectations as their cousins in the AFL.
Wright’s promotion to the head coach role, replacing Kristy Keppich-Birrell, last year and the arrival of new Diamond Kelsey Browne adds further weight to the perception Collingwood is impatient for success.
Former NSW Swifts mentor Wright understands that point of view but says his blueprint for Collingwood is not as simple as setting short or long-term plans. He believes those goals are not mutually exclusive.
“It’s a mixture of those plans,” he said.
“It’s a long-term plan with Shimona (Nelson) and Tilly (Matilda Garrett), but we’ve also got the two oldest players in the competition – Medhurst and Mentor.
“The expectation does come across to the netball team.
“But it’s the same at other clubs. In Sydney there were enormous expectations.
“We want success. We’ve not performed how we should and we’re working hard to change that.”
There’s no concealing that Collingwood’s performances have so far been underwhelming. It scraped into the finals in the club’s maiden season in 2017 and went backwards the following year.
The team was dripping with Diamonds but the connections didn’t always connect.
“We want success. We’ve not performed how we should and we’re working hard to change that.”
Under Wright, the Magpies have commenced a transformation they hope will change their fortune.
Again, they have a roster with seven current or former internationals, including Mentor, the England Roses spiritual leader who is improving with age.
Their problem over the first two seasons was at goal attack where neither Alice Teague-Neeld nor Erin Bell command space or be a reliable scorer.
Wright reckons he has addressed that weakness with the recruitment of three-time world champion Medhurst.
Medhurst was unwanted in Perth but felt she had more to offer Super Netball. The silky goal attack turns 35 before Round 1 but still possesses her famed white line fever that the coach hopes will be infectious.
“I’ve wanted to coach ‘Bunga’ Medhurst for a long while,” Wright said.
“I love how she plays. She’s the perfect fit given we’ve got an inexperienced shooting line.
“She likes to work hard, is meticulous in her preparation and so competitive.
“And that’s what you want, someone who is never satisfied with just being good. She wants to push boundaries.”
