WITH netball done and dusted for the 2020 calendar year, the team at Centre Pass have decided to create a Netball Fantasy Draft that includes a series of mini-podcasts delving into the reasoning behind player selections. Following suit with the extended benches in Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) and given the high calibre of players to choose from each person will have a 12 player roster and one position will be discussed per episode. With one out of the five bench spots down the next episode focuses on the second bench spot as the team edges closer to finalising their respective lists.

The Centre Pass Podcast team were all on the same wavelength in this episode with the trio all opting for a midcourter to fill their second position on the bench. Selecting a pair of defenders and a goaler in the previous episode, a midcourt flavour came into play this time around with with all three players regular fixtures in both the ANZ Premiership and SSN and able to provide an element of diversity from the respective starting sevens. Versatility was a key element that came into play when selecting the players while also considering on court connections that could develop.

Picks:

1^st Taylah – Maddy Gordon
2^nd Sophie – Maddy Proud
3^rd Jarrad – Verity Charles

Maddy Gordon

The talented midcourter is an excitement machine that is able to inject plenty of speed and dynamism to the attacking third. Her speed off the mark is second to none, while her ability to secure circle edge and deliver the ball into the goalers is also key. She is cautious with ball in hand and works in overdrive to thread the needle through the mess and either release quickly into the circle or transition the ball down the court. There is no denying that Gordon is a livewire both in the attacking and defensive thirds with her quick give and go and spatial awareness. She is able to light the court up with her flair and tenacious attack on the ball, hustling hard for the loose ball and not often outmuscled despite only being 19-years-old. Gordon has the capacity to win her own ball given her defensive tendencies and overall read of the play with impressive closing speed and a deceptively good leap. She will complement the gut running style of midcourters Kim Ravaillion and Liz Watson who are renowned for their endurance.

2020 ANZ Premiership stats:
291 feeds, six intercepts, 19 deflections

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Maddy Proud

Proud is a constant workhorse, with her cuts and drives to the top of the circle a key feature of her game play. The NSW Swifts representative reads the play exceptionally well and covers the court with great ease despite the occasional time spent on the floorboards. Her quickfire passes into the circle makes her hard to stop while her ability to swing between centre and wing attack with great ease also makes her highly versatile. Proud is constantly on the lookout for an intercept through the midcourt using her footwork to zip across the court in an instant. She is a menace on circle edge able to deliver the ball with precision and variety making her a constant threat. The midcourter will provide an element of energy and leadership in the front end and will play an exciting role alongside the likes of Madi Browne and Serena Guthrie making her an easy selection for Sophie.

2020 SSN stats:
208 goal assists, five intercepts, 21 deflections

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Verity Charles

Elevated to the Diamonds program for the 2020/21 season Charles was a staple through the midcourt for the Fever with her star power coming to the fore. A real energiser bunny with a wealth of attacking attributes the 29-year-old is renowned for her ability to flick between centre and wing attack in an instant. She has great spatial awareness and a willingness to release the ball from range or on circle edge. Her 1-2 punch around circle edge is impressive and is a strong presence in the air able to reel in the high ball despite being on the shorter side. Charles is quick on her feet and uses her netball smarts to out-position her opponent particularly around circle edge to claim prime place atop the circle. she has a big bag of tricks that enables her to keep the defenders guessing and is a strong threat in the attacking third able to set up attacking forays with her leadership and overall read of the play.

2020 SSN stats:
317 goal assists, 10 intercepts, 20 deflections

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All three players are highly versatile midcourters that can switch between the positions and have a profound impact. Gordon provides that element of run and gun in a midcourt boasting the likes of Ravaillion, Watson and Jade Clarke who are renowned for their dogged style of play. The New Zealander is also more than capable of swinging into wing defence thanks to her ball winning capabilities. Proud and Charles play a very similar style given their attacking mindsets and consistent approach to weave the ball down the court and deliver into the circle. Jarrad’s selection of Charles will connect well with Jhaniele Fowler in at goal shooter given their connection at the Fever while for Sophie the inclusion of Proud will provide another versatile option to join an already stacked midcourt.

To catch up on the rest of the selections tune into our other episodes:

Centre
Goal shooter
Wing attack
Wing defence
Goal attack
Goal defence
Goal keeper
Centre Pass Podcast Bench 1

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Centre Pass Podcast Bench 2