IN a new series, Draft Central casts an eye over the top performer from the round taking into account now only their individual stats but their overall impact on the game. Round 1 of the ANZ Premiership saw a number of key players, lead the way for their respective teams and put their best foot forward however it was George Fisher that earned the title as Player of the Week.

Making both her Southern Steel and ANZ Premiership debut, Fisher made an immediate impact with her crafty court play and ability to read the flight of the ball. The England Roses goaler finished with an impressive 46 goals from 49 attempts at 94 per cent accuracy, while also reeling in a rebound to cap off her impressive performance. She was an all-round rock for the Steel not skipping a beat and just backing herself in, in every situation to not only control the airwaves but the overall momentum of the attacking unit.

Her strong holds and composed nature allowed her to edge closer to the post and keep the scoreboard ticking over. She was not overwhelmed by the constant physical pressure stemming from both Mainland Tactix and Silver Ferns defenders Jane Watson and Karin Burger instead using her fancy footwork to manoeuvre around them. Her ability to consistently re-position and twist herself inside and out was second to none while her use of the split allowed her to edge closer to the post.

Fisher looked comfortable out on court, taking like a duck to water with her new partnership with Tiana Metuarau out the front. They caused all sorts of havoc in attack with their change of angles and pace enabling them to steadily add to their growing margin. The two balanced the circle nicely to keep the defenders guessing while providing clear options for the feeders. Shannon Saunders spotted Fisher well under the post, while Kate Heffernan also seemed to thread the ball with great ease into the circle in a strong win for the Steel.

Other contenders included Maia Wilson given her performance under the post for the Northern Stars, while Anna Harrison also put together a strong performance in her first game back from retirement. Caitlin Bassett also dished out a commanding performance but was pipped at the post by Fisher.