2020 Suncorp Super Netball: Five talking points – Preliminary final

WEST Coast Fever got the job done against Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Suncorp Super Netball preliminary final to move into the grand final, while there was no shortage of action off the court with some big announcements surrounding 2021 rosters and coaches.

Caitlin Bassett signing with Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Australian Diamonds captain and former GIANTS Netball goal shooter, Caitlin Bassett announced on Thursday that she will be departing the GIANTS and crossing the ditch to join Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic for season 2021. Struggling to get court time throughout the Suncorp Super Netball season, there was plenty of speculation surrounding where she might end up with the Magic seeming the best fit. Bassett is the first Diamond to play in the ANZ Premiership since its inception in 2017 and will be looking to get regular court time. She will be joined by the likes of up and coming New Zealand youngster, Khiarna Williams and London Pulse goaler Chiara Semple while through the midcourt the likes of Grace Kara and Sam Winders will offer her great service, with the latter excited about securing the services of Bassett for the upcoming season.

Roselee Jencke leaving Queensland Firebirds
Further shockwaves were sent throughout the netball community when Roselee Jencke announced that she was parting ways with Queensland Firebirds. Jencke has been a staple of the club for 11 years, guiding the Firebirds to three premierships and five grand finals throughout her tenure. She guided the side up the ladder this season, recording six wins after a disappointing 2019 season with a number of players recognised for their efforts with Gabi Simpson and Kim Jenner selected in the Diamonds squad. Meanwhile the likes of Jemma Mi Mi, Tara Hinchliffe, Mahalia Cassidy, Lara Dunkley and Tippah Dwan all made it into the 2020/21 Development Squad, representative of their growth as a whole throughout the year. Although there is no confirmation where she will end up next, speculation around her joining the Magpies has arisen given their hunt for a head coach.

Lightning rely too heavily on superstars
It was a disappointing performance by Sunshine Coast Lightning in the preliminary final, with the side struggling to get going throughout the game, lacking their speed and silky ball movement. Unfortunately the reliance on their superstar internationals left them wondering with Laura Langman, Karla Pretorius and Steph Wood unable to inflict their usual pain. Langman was guilty of a whopping six general play turnovers while Wood also coughed up the ball six times, giving the Fever a chance to strike and put further pressure on Sunshine Coast. Both Langman and Wood are the usual playmakers in the attacking third for the Lightning but could not get any easy ball and were laboured across the court while up the other end Pretorius is normally the game changer with her ball winning ways, but that simply did not happen given the Fever’s dominance. The Lightning simply could not generate any real momentum or energy across the court in what was a lacklustre performance by the two-time premiers.

You cannot afford to let Alice Teague-Neeld roam freely
With Jhaniele Fowler a commanding presence under the post the attention nine times out of 10 falls to the Jamaican goal shooter, however that allows the likes of Alice Teague-Neeld to go about her business with relative ease. Pretorius spent majority of the game doubling back on Fowler to try and limit her impact and help out teammate Phumza Maweni which subsequently allowed Teague-Neeld to find the ball and weave her way down the court. Not known for her high volume of shots, it is the work she does out the front to feed the ball into Fowler and create the attacking forays that is the most damaging aspect of her game play. The goal attack finished the game with an impressive 25 goal assists highlighting her precision on the pass and spatial awareness to deliver the ball into Fowler with confidence. She also managed 10 goals from 18 attempts at 56 per cent, an area she will want to improve on, however the main takeaway is the need to stop the ball from getting in her hands to direct traffic in the Fever’s frontend.

West Coast Fever make it to second grand final in three years
The Fever have been resurgent in 2020 with their increased versatility a key reason for their rise up the ladder and grand final berth. Through the midcourt Verity Charles has shifted gears with the centre using her attacking mindset to cut through opposition defensive units while Emma Cosh has been a revelation ever since Ingrid Colyer went down with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Jess Antiss has proven she is more than capable to switch into centre while defensively Courtney Bruce and Stacey Francis have formed a formidable combination. But it is the added presence of Sunday Aryang and Olivia Lewis that has given them a further spark and flexibility to shuffle players around when things are not working such as Francis pushing into wing defence and Aryang coming into the circle giving the Fever an extra competitive edge.

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