THE 2021 Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) is edging ever closer, and while the competition does not yet have an official start date for the season given ongoing COVID-19 limitations, all 11 franchises are gearing up for a big year of netball after such a disrupted 2020.

With so much talent at each team’s disposal, Draft Central has compiled a list of the top local talent taking the court in the Superleague in 2021. There is no doubt the calibre of talent – both emerging and experienced – is spread fairly evenly with exciting names gracing each of the 11 teams . In the first edition, we cast an eye over some homegrown talent in the first six teams.

Celtic Dragons

The Dragons are an up and coming team in the VNSL and while they do not have a large number of internationals they do boast plenty of local talent that are renowned for their ability to play their role and do so effectively. Abigail Tyrrell is a tried and tested figure down back able to hold her own and most importantly enforce plenty of defensive pressure.

Leeds Rhinos

The new franchise have recruited a number of stars with none bigger than the highest capped England Roses player in Jade Clarke. The experienced midcourter is highly versatile able to swing between wing defence and centre with great ease and will provide a wealth of composure to the new side. She is classy with ball in hand and most importantly puts in the hard yards out the front to reclaim possession for her side given her impressive defensive attributes. Speaking of defensive attributes another exciting local pickup for the Rhinos is defender Vicki Oyesola. Formerly with the Lightning, Oyesola is an explosive player that can light up the court with her quick hands, pressure over the shot and overall court coverage to snatch the ball from the opposition and propel the ball back down the court.

London Pulse

Up and coming defender Halimat Adio is an exciting prospect for the Pulse and England Roses as a whole. Standing at 182cm, Adio is a strong force down back that has an undeniable presence in the air credit to her leap and read of the play to constantly get hands to ball and cause disruption. She can ignite her side from defence with her fancy footwork and versatility while another promising local talent in Funmi Fadoju adds another element to the defensive core. Much like Adio, Fadoju is apart of the Roses programme with the duo boasting plenty of raw talent, athleticism and overall ball winning capabilities.

Loughborough Lightning

The midcourt is littered with talent and experience heads in the form of Beth Cobden and Nat Panagarry. Cobden is a real game changer able to use her quick thinking and deceptively long arms to create pressure and clog up space to allow her teammates to pounce on the loose ball. It will be Cobden’s first full season after returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and a COVID-19 enforced break meaning the Roses star will be chomping at the bit to impress. Panagarry also plays a similar style to Cobden, able to rotate through centre and wing defence and has a high level of endurance to effectively ply her trade for the Lightning. She is a cool, calm and collected customer that is not afraid to put her body on the line and boasts a high netball IQ which enables her to shut down her opponent and regain possession for her side.

Manchester Thunder

The Thunder are bursting at the seams with local talent given the number of England Roses stars in their midst. One of the most notable names on the list is goaler Eleanor Cardwell with the developing goaler proving her worth and versatility to alternate between goal attack and goal shooter. Cardwell is a steady head in attack, able to use her strong holds and long range shooting to her full advantage. Laura Malcolm is another one that will be in for a big season and possesses plenty of X-factor given her defensive nous and full court coverage to constantly spring into action. Although still relatively young, Malcolm will be keen to leave a lasting impression and use her hands over pressure and shadowing style of play to nullify her opponent and regain possession for the Thunder time and time again.

Saracens Mavericks

In terms of homegrown talent the Mavericks have no shortage boasting an incredibly stacked lineup mixed with youth and experience. Sisters Kadeen and Sasha Corbin are one of the most experienced combos going round with Kadeen a consistent figure under the post and Sasha a smooth mover out the front to deliver the ball on a silver platter time and time again. Moving down back it is hard to go past goal keeper, Razia Quashie who has all but taken the competition by storm thanks to her dominance in the air, physicality under the post and body work to swat passes away on a consistent basis. Quashie is developing at a rate of knots, growing with confidence and endurance to grind out games and prevail in tough contests while her overall netball smarts is undeniable.