WITH the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) season just around the corner after a year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 enforced cancellation in 2020, Draft Central takes a look at each team, its player list and expectations. The next club in focus is the Saracens Mavericks, with the franchise boasting some exciting prospects and looking to step up in season 2021 after a few seasons on the outskirts of finals contention.

Mavericks have been one of the teams to watch over the past few seasons, with some highly favourable and recognisable players running across all three lines. While the loss of George Fisher to the ANZ Premiership is a big blow, the acquisition of some new names and development of stars in the making will see the Mavericks field an exciting team in 2021 and have plenty to look forward to development-wise.

2021 expectations/predictions:

After a couple of seasons just outside the top-end of the VNSL ladder, the Mavericks will want to make 2021 their season to shine with a relatively settled group and more than enough talent to warrant a top four position on the ladder. They only just missed out in both 2018 and 2019 and got off to an excellent start in 2020 winning two of their three matches, so will have plenty to prove this season with a new face holding ground within the circle and excellent development of their youth over the off-season.

The star-studded side will be hard to stop once again in season 2021 with midcourters Sasha Corbin, Gabby Marshall and Georgia Lees running down the centre and able to consistently create attacking forays and provide that transition down court, making for an exciting lineup with very little to complain about. There is no shortage of defensive pressure through the midcourt, with plenty of versatile options able to rotate from the backend, forward and vice-versa. At the frontend, Fisher is replaced by South African Ine-Mari Venter, who turns to the VNSL fold with plenty of tricks up her sleeve having developed her court craft and added dimension to what used to be her solely goal shooter-based game, and will be able to rotate with the likes of formidable goal attack Kadeen Corbin, developing talent Chloe Essam and newcomer Britney Clarke. 

Players to watch:

While the Mavericks boast star players across the court, they have one of the most exciting and fast-developing defensive lines in the competition, with England Roses prospect Razia Quashie the gift that keeps on giving. While she has plied her trade to full capacity for the past few seasons with the Mavericks, she has now proved her development on the international stage too with continued excellent form across Roses test matches in 2020/21. She is unlikely to move from the starting goal keeper position given her continued influence down back, while fellow Roses defender Jodie Gibson is more than capable of holding her own out the front in goal defence. Add in New Zealand zone-defender Jo Trip and Steph Collard, and the defensive end of the Mavericks will be hard to stop when they get going.

Team list:

Sasha Corbin
Kadeen Corbin
Gabby Marshall
Jo Trip
Bella Bayliss
Britney Clarke
Steph Collard
Beth Ecuyer-Dale
Chloe Essam
Jodie Gibson
Georgia Lees
Dani McFarlane
Razia Quashie
Ine-Marie Venter
Aliyah Zaranyika

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Mavericks strive to prosper next season after a tumultuous 2020