EACH week the Draft Central team will focus on one Suncorp Super Netball player across the round and take a look at their individual highlights, key moments and improvements across their match. Our Round 8 focus is Collingwood Magpies’ Gabby Sinclair, with the goaler stepping up to the starting seven this season after Nat Medhurst stepped away with pregnancy, and seeing the goal attack improve game on game as her confidence grows.

In her second season at the Magpies, Sinclair has had to lead the way and take control in attack, and while still working up to her best form, has shown in spurts this season what she is capable of on court. For a goaler on the shorter side, Sinclair makes up for it with her turn of speed and ability to hit the scoreboard from range. Her effort over the past few rounds is testament to that with some really impressive moments, but like most of the Magpies unit, she does tend to go missing in patches, mostly down to her inexperience and inability to build up that court time. This round was no different, with Sinclair starring in the first half before gradually slowing down, shooting eight of her 10 goals in the first two quarters but consistently finding Shimona Nelson at the post to rack up 15 goal assists. Three of her goals were super shots and while she finished on a 62.5 per cent accuracy and six general play turnovers, she did not give up throughout the contest racking up a timely gain.

Here’s what we had to say:

By: Sophie Taylor, Draft Central Senior Editor

In a must win game for the Magpies, Sinclair had a pretty good start where her movement out the front was paying dividends time and time again. Her ability to sight Nelson under the post was huge even in the beginning and while she did not put a heap of goals on the board to start it was her continued effort that allowed the Magpies to maintain their lead in the first quarter. Her high shot allowed her to put some great goals over defenders arms, and while her lower release sometimes looked like it would allow defenders’ arms to get in the way, her vision to pass off under pressure served well for the Magpies. When it came to the super shot, Sinclair’s speed and relative accuracy from range (three from five) was a huge boost with her confidence paying off when it counted. Despite a few costly errors which allowed the GIANTS to get a real look in defensively, her ability to hit the drive with ease and zip around the circle to set up play for the Magpies was critical. The GIANTS defence well and truly beat the Magpies, and while Sinclair was run ragged by her opposition she never truly let up and continued to ply her trade.

By: Taylah Melki, Draft Central Managing Editor

Sinclair started the game with plenty of intensity taking the hard drive along the baseline and seeming to have the ball on a string in the attacking third. Her playmaking skills were on show throughout the first half, highlighting her spatial awareness with her crafty passes and connection with Nelson in the goal circle. The goal attack was prepared to shoot from range, backing herself from around the perimeter edge and was a key cog for the Magpies throughout both the centre and attacking third. She was strong at the centre pass, linking up with Molly Jovic and continuously presenting to receive the ball and bring it down court. She showcased her impressive speed to give and go under the post but faded in and out of the game thanks to the defensive pressure applied by the GIANTS. Sinclair had a good passage of play through the midcourt getting her hands to ball to force a turnover showcasing her defensive pressure and read of the play. Stood up when under pressure and most importantly converted on the super shot to keep the Pies within striking distance early but much like the rest of her team had a much quieter second half.

By: Lucy Pollock, Draft Central UK Writer

A slightly quiet second half for Sinclair against the GIANTS, but she was still doing the job for her side when needed. She was under heavy pressure from the GIANTS defence and still managed to make an impact from range for the Magpies. Her timing and quick footwork make her a threat when her side is in full flow, and in the opening quarter, she was very effective in setting up the plays in the attacking end. She has made a name for herself with the long bomb this season, and her unassuming presence keeps the defenders guessing. In the second quarter, she forced Kristiana Manu’a to the bench as she was working the attack end with skill and pinpoint accuracy. Sinclair continued her good form in the second quarter, but started to fade throughout the second half as the GIANTS took control of the game. She has the perfect combination of goal attack attributes – nippy, crafty and accurate – meaning when she is firing she can lift the whole team.

By: Jarrad Gardner, Centre Pass Podcast host

Taking on the role of starting at goal attack for the Magpies was always going to be a tough gig, but Sinclair has stepped up to the challenge in 2020. She has provided strong support for Nelson in the goal circle and used the Super Shot to her advantage, shooting them at around 60per cent accuracy. Against the Giants in round eight she offered a solid link between the midcourt and Nelson, having the most goal assists of any Magpie for the match. Up against a physical defender in Manu’a she didn’t back down, getting to her preferred spots inside the circle to put up shots. She faded out as the game went on and the Giants had all the momentum but another impressive showing from Sinclair.

By: Kate Cornish, Draft Central volunteer writer

Standing at only 176cm, Collingwood Magpies’ Sinclair has to use her natural netball smarts on court to ensure that she is effective in that crucial goal attack position. Starting against GIANT Manu’a in Round 8 and with the huge lean of Sam Poolman over almost every shot, Sinclair needed to pull every trick out of her play book for the Magpies; and for the first quarter Sinclair was one of the top performers for her team. Her fast hands and drives across the top of the circle drew the attention of the GIANTS and gave feeders Jovic and Kelsey Browne beautiful access to goal shooter, Nelson, who was attacking the ball strongly. Sinclair took control of the Magpies attacking end, and with well-timed leads to the ball and precision feeds into Nelson, the Magpies were on track for an upset against the under-performing GIANTS. However, after a blistering first quarter that they won by eight goals, the wheels well and truly fell off within the first few minutes of the second quarter and the Magpies were blown out of the water by a dominant opposition that really only played 45 minutes. Shooting at just over 60 per cent for the match and having seven turnovers against her name in Round 8 are statistics that Sinclair will need to quickly brush off so that she can continue to be the playmaker that the Magpies desperately need in their attacking end.

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Courtside Comments: Round 4 – Molly Jovic