IN a new series, Draft Central casts an eye over the top performer from the round taking into account not only their individual stats, but their overall impact on the game. Round 11 of the ANZ Premiership saw a number of key players lead the way for their respective teams and put their best foot forward. The next recipient is one of the most revered defenders in the competition – Jane Watson.

It was a good day to be Mainland Tactix captain with the goal keeper having an absolute field day out on court. Watson has struggled to impose herself throughout the season but has really started to hit her straps in the last couple of outings and this game was no different. Watson showcased her smooth movement and ball tracking ability time and time again to position nicely inside the circle and create a barrier for the Pulse. She was constantly dancing around her opponent in Aliyah Dunn, confusing the space and using her long arms to wreak havoc. Even when Watson was not necessarily getting hands to ball, her sheer presence and perceived pressure forced the opposing side into making errors whether it be ill-directed passes or clumsy footwork.

There was not a moment when Watson was not on her toes contesting every pass that came her way with the goal keeper taking no preference to the high looping pass or short sharp pass that entered the circle. if there was a ball there to be won, she won it and that was testament to her smarts and footwork. Not renowned for her overly physical style, what Watson does and did well in this Round 12 performance was body up on Dunn and suction the space away from her. Dunn simply had nowhere to turn credit to the contested nature of Watson and her ability to dictate the space, particularly inside the circle. Watson did not afford her goal shooter one iota of space, staying on her hammer and pushing her outside of her comfort zone. Although Dunn’s accuracy was not impacted by Watson’s constant niggle, her volume definitely was.

Watson’s partnership with Karin Burger also took centre stage throughout this clash as the pair ran amok down back. Their long limbs and combined aerial presence put the Pulse under all sorts of pressure not only in the goal circle but so too around circle edge. Throw in the work of Charlotte Elley around circle edge as well and Watson was primed for a big day out given the defensive hunt and nous of the Mainland Tactix trio.

Watson made it abundantly clear in the opening quarter that she was there to go out hunting and to create opportunities for her side to forge ahead. Her desire and willingness to hone in on the one percenters and really grind out the game was paramount as Watson and Burger adapted to the players around them given Te Amo Amaru-Tibble only lasted a short amount of time before Ivana Rowland was injected into the action. The ability for Watson to seamlessly defend and not skip a beat against somewhat of an unknown prospect was second to none.

It was a clinical performance by Watson who only amassed a mere three penalties for the entire game highlighting just how damaging she was and her ability to remain in play to create doubt and fear for the goalers and midcourters alike. She also picked up four intercepts and three deflections in what was complete demolition performance.