THE 2022 Australian Netball Championship (ANC) is just around the corner, and after a Covid induced two year hiatus, the redesigned national second tier competition is back. 10 teams from across the country will be facing off in Traralgon later this month for the title.

In preparation for the tournament, we are going to preview each of the 10 teams that will be competing at this year’s tournament. 

Next up is the first of the two sides from Queensland, the Queensland Sapphires.

As their name may suggest, the Sapphires are the ANC team aligned with the Queensland Firebirds in the Suncorp Super Netball competition, with the Sapphires’ side all coming out of the Sapphire Series in Queensland, which is Queensland’s state netball league.

However, there are also some faces that are already familiar to SSN fans, and ones that are about become very familiar.

Among the 12 players representing the Sapphires this ANC are Mia Stower, who is a member of the Firebirds’ main squad of 10 already, and she will be joined by recent Firebirds signings Macy Gardner and Remi Kamo.

Half of this Sapphires side – Gardner, Kamo, Rylee Burns, Charlie Bell, Leesa Mi Mi and Lia Woolnough – played for the ACU Brisbane North Cougars in the Sapphires Series this year, who won the title so they will be hoping that winning form continues and the Sapphires will be hoping that synergy between does the same.

Two more of those players – Danielle Taylor and Hulita Veve – played for runners up QUT.

If the surname Mi Mi looks familiar, yes Leesa is the sister of former Firebird Jemma.

That just leaves three names.

Gold Coast Titan Olivia Dijkstra is a shooter, while USQ Jets’ pair

Ashleigh Ervin and Maddi Ridley are both defenders. Ridley’s participation at these Championships is still subject to fitness, while Ervin was a training partner with the Firebirds in 2022, so this is the perfect opportunity for her to show why she should keep that coveted spot in 2023.

Queensland Sapphires 2022 ANC Team

Charlie Bell, Rylee Burns, Olivia Dijkstra, Ashleigh Ervin, Macy Gardner, Remi Kamo, Leesa Mi Mi, Maddi Ridley, Mia Stower, Danielle Taylor, Hulita Veve, Lia Woolnough

Queensland Sapphires’ Fixture

Monday August 22– QBE Swifts Academy

Tuesday August 23 – Collingwood Magpies

Wednesday August 24 – Bye

Thursday August 25 – West Coast Fever Reserves

Friday August 26 – Capital Darters