THE 2021 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season has come to a close with the focus now on the off-season and next year. Draft Central takes a look at each teams respective season with the next team under the microscope the Collingwood Magpies.

Ladder: 6th
Win-loss: 6-8
Percentage: 94%

While not an outstanding season in the scheme of things with less wins than losses, 2021 was a real improvement on 2020 with five more wins this season and plenty of highs to really outweigh the lows. The Magpies were bolstered by the return of Ash Brazill through the midcourt, while Kelsey Browne was able to get a full preseason in and played out the full season as she looked to return to her pre-injury form. Shimona Nelson had the season of her life with new head coach Nicole Richardson at the helm while the defensive combinations got better and better with every match. Whilst still lacking a bit of consistency, the Magpies enjoyed a much more successful season which puts them in good stead for 2022.

What worked well?

While the Magpies grew in strength throughout the season, something that worked well from the get-go was the tried and true defensive unit.  An outstanding season from Jamaican Jodi-Ann Ward coupled with the leadership of Geva Mentor and explosiveness of Brazill paid dividends as the trio worked in tandem to continuously wreak havoc in the back-end. Even when the Magpies were unable to score out the front,  it was the defensive effort that did not stop as Mentor and Ward combined seamlessly to win ball back, while Brazill proved that injury would not stop her from shining this season as she worked in overdrive to block wing attacks and provide her defenders with the space and time they needed to go out hunting. Overall, the dynamic trio was the most reliable section of the court, always working hard to win ball back.

What went wrong?

What the Magpies lacked this season was consistency, plain and simple. While they had a game plan and executed it fairly well, especially in the back-end of the season, that game plan did not always translate against their opposition. Realistically, the Magpies just needed some four quarter consistency, but lacked the ability to cohesively pull back to square one once their opposition got the better of them. A couple of early losses kept the Magpies and their fans wanting, and while they did come away with a couple of impressive upsets – including a Round 12 victory over eventual premiers NSW Swifts – it  was the big losses they copped that could be improved upon with an average losing margin of 12 goals. With many of those margins stemming from early deficits, the Magpies have a clear focus heading into next season.

Most valuable player?

One of the key features of the Magpies’ game this season was Nelson, who starred in the front-end with her renewed confidence and positioning. Once known for her loose hands, Nelson turned into a bonafide threat this season leading the Magpies charge time and time again, benefiting off the return of Browne and stronger connections with both Gabby Sinclair and Molly Jovic. Her accuracy to the post has never been in question, but her volume increased this season as did her ability to get up to the high, loping passes fed into the circle, while also providing a strong target on the ground too. Nelson’s ability to time her hold until the last moment was critical, and while she still had patches of inconsistency, Nelson still has plenty of development left in her which is a worrying sign for her future opposition.

Most improved player? 

Although not a player who seemed to have a high ceiling to improve upon, Ward flipped that on its head with an excellent season under her belt to prove the Magpies’ faith in her was worthy. The Jamaican really lifted her game this season, clearly working on not only her endurance and speed, but also her cleanliness both on and off the ball. Ward was almost always out hunting outside the circle and through the midcourt, but also worked hard to get back to the one-on-one inside the circle, combining with Mentor to wreak havoc and put doubt in the feeders’ minds. Ward’s ability to pile on the defensive pressure was second to none, and if there was a loose ball nearby she was onto it as quick as a flash, often taking out her own teammates if that meant she had first hands to ball.

Photo credit: Collingwood Magpies