She may have hung up the bib after the 2018 season, but Laura Geitz is still a huge part of the fabric of netball.
And we’re excited to have Laura as part of our team in 2019, providing her expert opinions and key match-ups every week.
Game 1 – Melbourne Vixens Vs Queensland Firebirds
It’ll be up to the Melbourne Vixens and Queensland Firebirds to get the season off to a hot start, as the two face off against each other at Melbourne Arena on Saturday.
The big in for the Vixens, who narrowly missed finals last year, is gun shooter Caitlin Thwaites who should make a huge difference for the home team.
It will be a changing of the guard for the Firebirds in defence, as the team tries to move on after the retirement of Laura Geitz. But, according to Laura, the future is in very strong hands.
“They’re unreal. They could be the most exciting talent coming through in Australia.” Laura said of Tara Hinchliffe, Kim Jenner and Laura Clemesha. “They have a huge task ahead of them to take the next step. It will all come down to their maturity, decision making and making calls on court.”
Can Melbourne’s defence slow down the competitions most dangerous attackers in Gretel Tippett and Romelda Aiken? Can the Firebirds midcourt shut down the relentless play of Kate Moloney and Liz Watson? We’ll find out tomorrow.
Game 2 – Magpies Netball Vs Sunshine Coast Lightning
Both the Magpies and Lightning have been very busy over the off-season, with both clubs making huge changes to their squads over the break.
The reigning premiers lost some of key players, including captain Geva Mentor, leading goal scorer Caitlin Bassett and midcourt star Kelsey Browne.
But, with the return of Laura Langman, the addition of prolific Ugandan goal scorer Peace Proscovia and South African defender Phumza Maweni, Geitz thinks the Lightning should be strong again.
“Noeline (Taurua) has done an incredible job replacing those key players with other star players. The big question will be how Peace and Phumza go having never played in the Super Netball before.”
Given their strong performance at the Suncorp #TeamGirls Cup, the Magpies will come into round one red hot favourites. But they will have to do it without co-captain Madi Browne who will miss the clash with a knee injury.
Game 3 – GIANTS Netball Vs NSW Swifts
The first NSW Derby of 2019 is set to be a beauty as the up-and-coming Swifts face the cross-town-rival GIANTS at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday.
After dropping out of the 2018 finals in straight sets, last year’s minor premier GIANTS will be out to make amends, led by their fearless leader Kim Green and new shooter Caitlin Bassett.
With Bassett, Jo Harten and Kiera Austin, head coach Julie Fitzgerald three legitimate 30+ goal per game average players to choose from week in and week out.
But the Swifts are a team on the rise and would love to knock off their rivals in week one. Sarah Klau is at the helm of one of the most exciting young defensive units in the league. But she’ll be without defensive partner Kate Eddy as well as English utility Natalie Haythornthwaite for round one.
“I think the Swifts are ready to move on from being “the young team”. They have so much young talent and, if it all comes together, the Swifts could be a massive surprise in 2019.”
Game 4 – Adelaide Thunderbirds Vs West Coast Fever
Maybe the most intriguing match-up of the round will go down in Adelaide on Sunday, with last years runner-ups visiting the new look Thunderbirds.
Desperate to snap a 27-game losing streak, the Thunderbirds overhauled the entire team in the off-season, bringing in head coach Tania Obst, Silver Ferns shooter Maria Folau, defending duo Layla Guscoth and Shamera Sterling and English midcourter Beth Cobden.
But , with their rock solid defence, young midcourt and an MVP goal shooter in attack, The Fever have talent all over the court. The big question mark will be whether they can fill the gap left by Nat Medhurst who moved to Collingwood in the off-season.
“It’s going to be such an interesting game. Down one end you have the super exciting pair of Sterling and Guscoth against Jhaniele and then you have Folau against Francis and Bruce. There’s so many interesting match-ups.”
Can the new look Thunderbirds snap the streak? Or will the Fever start the season off with a W in pursuit of redemption in 2019.
