IT has been a big year of Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) that saw a host of new faces enter the league. While many may have been elevated training partners due to the extended bench there are a couple of players who made their long-awaited SSN debut with one boasting international experience. Draft Central has composed a countdown of the Top 15 SSN debutants for 2020 with second spot falling to young gun Sunday Aryang.

A real excitement machine for West Coast Fever, Aryang dipped into her big bag of tricks throughout their campaign to well and truly prove her worth and subsequently earn herself a permanent spot in their 10-player roster for 2021. A raw talent, Aryang did not shy away from the opportunity to ply her trade in a variety of positions across the court such is her defensive calibre. The youngster proved that she is a damaging prospect in both goal defence or goal keeper while also showcasing her defensive class out in wing defence. Her closing speed and unsuspecting nature allowed her to continuously attack the ball carrier and win ball back for the Fever.

More of a space defender, Aryang made opposition teams pay if their passes were not pinpoint, able to read the play with great ease and end up in the right spot every time to reclaim possession and send West Coast into attack. Her three-foot marking was another key element of her game play, persistently blocking the attackers vision with her lean and hands over pressure. Learning off Australian Diamonds goal keeper, Courtney Bruce, Aryang proved she was not afraid to go out hunting and use her speed to intimidate teams.

Aryang’s confidence steadily grew throughout the course of the year while her partnership with the likes of Bruce, Stacey Francis and fellow youngster Olivia Lewis also developed to create a strong wall in defence. The 19-year-old used her quick footwork to dance around her opponents and create turnovers and intercepts time and time again no matter who she was partnered with. The defender got down to business the moment she stepped out on court and oozed a sense of calmness despite only being so young and new to the SSN scene.

One of the most exciting aspects about her game was her ability to both come on as an impact player and change the course of the game with her tenacity and read of the play or put in a full 60 minute effort and grind out the match. Either way, Aryang showcased that she was not a one-trick pony, instead she was able to seamlessly transition all three positions and have an impact. Her composure was also paramount for West Coast, able tp come onto the court and immediately have an impact thanks to her high netball nous and general court coverage. Often injected into the game to provide a spark, Aryang did not disappoint and most importantly did not crumble under the pressure as shown in her preliminary final appearance against the Swifts where she came on and single-handedly changed the course of the game with her drive through the centre and go-go gadget arms to reel in intercepts.

Across her 14 games, Aryang managed 11 intercepts, 28 deflections and seven rebounds while also highlighting her cleanliness with ball in hand to only register eight general play turnovers. With so much raw potential it is exciting to see what is next for Aryang and whether or not she will take the next step up to become an even more prominent defender for the Fever.

—

Countdown so far

#3 Georgie Horjus
#4 Molly Jovic 
#5 Emma Cosh 
#6 Jodi-Ann Ward
#7 Lauren Moore
#8 Allie Smith
#9 Maddie Hay
#10 Elle McDonald
#11 Tayla Honey
#12 Nyah Allen
#13 Tayla Williams
#14 Binnian Hunt
#15 Tyler Orr

Related articles

Courtside comments // Season review courtside comments // Season stats defence //