A NUMBER of fresh faces took the court throughout the Taini Jamison Trophy for both the Silver Ferns and Roses and really made a case for a starting spot in their respective nations squad. Draft Central takes a look at one player in each third for the Ferns and Roses who stepped up to the plate and impressed to stake their claim.

Goalers:  

Maia Wilson:

Youngster Maia Wilson completely diversified her game play throughout the 2020 ANZ Premiership season for the Northern Stars and brought that new game play with her in this series. Her increased movement and range enabled her to be a threat from all areas inside the circle while her strength to withstand the physical pressure of Razia Quashie was also key. Wilson dipped into her bag of tricks with her roll into the backspace, a tried and tested move that reaped a wealth of reward to edge her closer to the post. With the Ferns still somewhat on the hunt for Maria Folau’s replacement, it is fair to say Wilson well and truly put her hand up throughout the series nailing 34 goals in Game 1, 38 in Game 2 and 44 in Game 3 showcasing not only her volume, but so too accuracy only missing a combined 11 shots. Her fancy footwork and ability to swap from a holding to a moving goaler within the blink of an eye really showcased her development and readiness for the international stage.

George Fisher:

Signing on with Southern Steel for the 2021 ANZ Premiership season, the England Roses youngster showcased just what she is made of, riding every bump and contest to stand strong under the post and deliver. A cool customer, Fisher did not seem overawed when injected into the game, using her footwork and body positioning to hold strong and command the ball. Her height enabled her to contest well in the air especially for rebounds while her overall court coverage was solid, able to pop out at the top of the circle and alleviate the pressure. She was a constant option inside the circle and displayed her rangy ability to slot them from far or close which complemented the style of Sophie Drakeford-Lewis and Eleanor Cardwell. Still trying to secure a permanent spot in the squad, Fisher proved that she has what it takes to be both an impact player and a starting goaler collecting 61 goals throughout the series, and going unblemished in Game 2 with 17 goals straight.

Midcourt:

Claire Kersten:

Although she is an experienced head, this was Kersten’s first official call-up to the squad and she did not disappoint plying her trade both in centre and wing defence. The 31-year-old was a real workhorse for the Ferns and injected a real sense of intensity and commitment, chasing down every loose ball and hustling hard. She was never out of the contest with her three-foot marking and deceptive speed off the mark enabling her to transition the ball through court in a heartbeat. When in centre, Kersten displayed her impressive ability to deliver the ball on a silver platter to the likes of Wilson and Ameliaranne Ekenasio given her deft touch and sheer netball nous while defensively her pressure was immense not giving her opponent a single inch. Vying to replace Laura Langman, Kersten proved she definitely has the calibre, play making skills and defensive capabilities to be a real threat for the Ferns on a consistent basis.

Laura Malcolm:

Often an unsung hero for the Roses, Malcolm stepped up to the plate this series taking every opportunity that came her way with open arms. Her movement at the centre pass and skill to read the play enabled her to slice up the attacking third and create attacking forays. She was unfazed when it came to delivering into the circle able to dish off pinpoint passes from both the pocket or top of the circle. Her one-two punch around the circle was paramount to the Roses while her turn of speed also enabled her to leave her opponent in the dust and push forward. Her hot hand was evident throughout the series, racking up 49 goal assists credit to her clever ball placement and connections with Cardwell, Fisher and Drakeford-Lewis. Her defensive tendencies also came to the fore in patches, working hard in transition to slow up the Ferns and apply hands over pressure.

Defence:

Sulu Fitzpatrick:

After a stellar 2020 ANZ Premiership season, Fitzpatrick made a real impact for the Ferns using her aerial ability to get up to the high balls and swat them away. She notched up her first start in international netball and rewarded the Ferns with her continuous effort, hunt for the loose ball and physicality. Fitzpatrick worked in overdrive using her nippy footwork to manoeuvre around her opponent and create timely tips and deflections. Her rebounding presence was also key to her performance throughout the series while her deceptively long arms enabled her to put up a strong three foot mark. The goal keeper also found herself out in goal defence for patches with her tenacity not wavering and also showcased her drive through the centre third to deliver the ball into the attacking third. She managed an impressive 13 gains across the three games with four of them intercepts.

Razia Quashie:

This was really a coming of age performance by Quashie who proved to be a real powerhouse in defence repelling a number of Ferns attacking forays. Her strength in the air was almost unstoppable able to compete and drag in those big rebounds, often turning her body inside out to get hands to ball. Her classy footwork was another key component of her performance able to dance around Wilson to confuse the space and push her up high in the circle. Quashie covered the court with great ease, able to go out hunting and pick off passes while her three-foot lean allowed her to get in the head of the Ferns shooters. her long arms and partnership with Fran Williams steadily developed throughout the series as the duo created a strong wall to force the Ferns wide such was their footwork.