Bumper season ahead, says Swifts coach
Heading into the second year of the ANZ Championship, inaugural title-winning NSW Swifts netball coach Julie Fitzgerald has no doubts about what’s in store for 2009.
Last year’s introduction of a semi-professional trans-Tasman competition heralded a new era for the sport which Fitzgerald expects to reach new heights this year.
The intense 16-week season proved a testing one as the 10 teams struggled for consistency in battling the demands of performing week-in week-out over a prolonged period.
After a slow start, the Swifts took most by surprise to win the title on the back of a super consistent second half to the season.
However, Fitzgerald thinks back-to-back titles will be a much harder proposition.
``Everyone will go into this year more aware of what they’re going into and what’s required of them,’’ she said.
``I think a lot of the teams have built across the year and it will be a much stronger competition.’’
Consistency across the 13 weeks of the regular season and the ability to cope with loss of players through injury, the travel and being able to back up quickly from a Monday game to a Saturday game are vital components for Fitzgerald.
The Swifts lost three of their first five games last year and Fitzgerald said a repeat would be much tougher to come back from this year.
Knowing the demands of the competition, there has been a strong drive during the off-season by all teams to recruit wisely. There has been a lot of player movement but Fitzgerald singled out last year’s runners-up the Colourplus Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic for special mention heading into the first round of competition this weekend.
``You can pretend all you like but Magic are certainly the favourites of the competition and they do stand out head and shoulders above the others,’’ she said.
With their quintet of Silver Ferns – Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia, Laura Langman, Joline Henry and Casey Williams – and the off-season signings of accomplished defender Leana de Bruin, livewire midcourter Frances Solia and promising shooter Jess Tuki, the Magic present a formidable line-up.
``Teams like Adelaide Thunderbirds have built very well in the off-season, the pre-season form of Mystics can’t be ignored and Southern Steel is a team well-used to winning and I always have a lot of respect for them,’’ Fitzgerald said.
Major coups for the impressive Adelaide Thunderbirds 2009 team are dynamic midcourter Laura von Bertouch, who will reunite with her equally talented sister Natalie, and shooter Jane Altschwager. Both former Australian players have been lured out of retirement to strengthen an already top-notch Thunderbirds team.
The LG Mystics have a strong core in former Silver Ferns Temepara George and Vilimaina Davu while the towering Cathrine Latu gives the Auckland team a strong presence in goal.
The Steel have made prominent changes with well-performed defender Sheryl Scanlan moving south, former Swift Leah Shoard venturing across the Tasman and they welcome back former Silver Ferns Adine Wilson and Donna Wilkins.
``You also have to be wary of any team that’s got Romelda Aiken in it. And who’s going to rule out Melbourne Vixens while West Coast Fever has built very well in the off-season,’’ Fitzgerald said.
With a season under her belt, willowy Jamaican shooter Aiken could be in for a bumper 2009 as she spearheads a relatively stable Queensland Firebirds team. Their other major acquisition is Demelza McCloud (nee Fellowes) who turned out for the Mercury Energy Tactix last year.
The Melbourne Vixens have the inspiring Sharelle McMahon back to full fitness after a knee injury and last year’s fourth-placed finishers front up with a well-credentialed team.
As for the Swifts in 2009, they have a big hole to plug following the retirement of influential midcourter Selina Gilsenan. The former international was a strong ball carrier through court for the Swifts and a damaging defender.
A key aspect for the New Zealand teams will be the ability to win games in Australia, a feat which none achieved last year.