WITH no Vitality Netball Superleague this week, Draft Central composed a team solely made up of ANZ Premiership players.  A number of Central Pulse players feature given their huge upset win over the previously undefeated Northern Stars while some inspired efforts from the Magic also gifted two players a chance to make their way into the team.

GS: Ellie Bird (Mainland Tactix)
GA: Khiarna Williams (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic)
WA: Peta Toeava (Northern Mystics)
C: Sam Winders (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic)
WD: Maddy Gordon (Central Pulse)
GD: Karin Burger (Mainland Tactix)
GK: Kelera Nawai (Central Pulse)

BENCH: Aliyah Dunn (Central Pulse), Gina Crampton (Northern Stars), Sulu Fitzpatrick (Northern Mystics)

Mainland Tactix goal shooter, Ellie Bird had another good day at the office, commanding the ball and taking advantage of her height to reel in the looping pass and score. She was never out of the contest and worked in overdrive to reposition under the post to put up a wealth of goals only missing two of her 48 attempts to convert at 96 per cent. Getting her first nod in the Draft Central Team of the Week is youngster Khiarna Williams. The goal attack continues to develop at a rate of knots and this performance was no different as she grew with confidence, taking the hard drive into the circle. she used her deceptive speed to burst out at the centre pass while her spatial awareness also gifted her a chance to dictate play in the goal circle.

It is hard to go past the services of wing attack Peta Toeava as the Mystics midcourter has the capacity to light up the court with her speed, give and go and pinpoint placement. Within a blink of an eye, Toeava was on circle edge, able to navigate her way through traffic and use her variety of passes to bypass the defenders such is her class and skill. Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic captain, Sam Winders was electric with ball in hand able to sight her shooters at the post and most importantly deliver. Her capacity to run both ways and be a real barometer for her side was second to none driving hard to circle edge and then applying strong hands over pressure through the midcourt. Maddy Gordon is quickly becoming a lock for the wing defence position with the tenacious midcourter using her speed and hands over pressure to win ball back. With speed to burn through the centre third, Gordon was at her damaging best in Round 6 breaking through the defence and also plying her trade down back. She picked up a couple of nifty intercepts credit to her fancy footwork and aerial capabilities to disrupt the easy flow in attack.

Still working on solidifying her connection at her new club, Karin Burger impressed for the Tactix with the goal defence taking full advantage of her deceptively quick footwork, read of the play and dynamic movement. Not to mention the use of her long arms and leap to consistently jump up for the intercept and hunt the ball to be a nuisance for the opposition and an acquisition for the Tactix. It was a breakout performance by Kelera Nawai with the goal keeper coming into her own. Her use of footwork and body positioning was crucial as she caused a ruckus down back to put doubt in the feeders minds and run riot.

On the bench, Mystics captain Sulu Fitzpatrick was inspirational, somewhat sparking her sides comeback with her tenacity and read of the play coming to the fore in this contest. Joining her is Central Pulse goal shooter, Aliyah Dunn who had one of her best games to date thanks to her composure under the post, timing and strong holds. The final spot falls to Gina Crampton who was once again a commanding figure for the Stars and was damaging with ball in hand but lacked that added element of finesse hence why she is on the bench.