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. The lists are just about complete with the third bench position filled in this episode.

It was once again a mixed bag of results for the Centre Pass Podcast team with each person selecting a variety of players to fill the apparent holes in their respective sides. One midcourter and two goalers were selected to join the bench with each player renowned for their flair and ability to change the course of a game in an instant.

Picks

1st Jarrad – Amy Parmenter
2nd Sophie – Mwai Kumwenda
3rd Taylah – Kalifa McCollin

Amy Parmenter

Nothing short of a fan favourite, Parmenter is still an up and coming prospect for Australian netball but definitely has the star power and calibre to wow each time she steps out on court. She is a real ball magnet that has an uncanny ability to snatch up the loose ball or slot into the right space at the right time. She is an exciting youngster who reads the play exceptionally well and does not take a backwards step throwing herself head first into every contest. Parmenter has great versatility able to switch into both centre and wing attack but does some of her best work when stationed in at wing defence able to swat away balls or create deflections to then regain possession and send the ball back into attack. She is an energiser bunny that can really set the tone defensively with her ball winning capabilities while is also strong through the midcourt with her transitional play.

2020 SSN stats:
25 intercepts, 62 deflections, 22 feeds

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Mwai Kumwenda

The Malawian international is a star in her own right, able to reel in the high ball credit to her impressive leap and overall athleticism. Although light in stature, Kumwenda is incredibly strong and does not get pushed off the ball using her nifty footwork to keep the defenders guessing. She is one of the most accurate shooters going around, able to hone in on the post and deliver time and time again at a high volume. Her split is second to none, able to edge closer to the post each time she receives the ball while her spatial awareness is also excellent. She dictates the space with her clever holds and body positioning to ward off the defenders and protect the drop of the ball into the backspace. Her strong hands enable her to absorb the frequent physical attention and provide that element of consistency and stability under the post.

2020 SSN stats:
430 goals (92 per cent), 24 super shots (56 per cent), 22 rebounds

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Kalifa McCollin

Somewhat of an underestimated player, McCollin is incredibly light on her feet and is quite nimble able to change direction in the blink of an eye. She is a real playmaker with ball in hand and has impressive timing along the baseline to pop out when needed. The Trinidad and Tobago product oozes a wealth of flair and dynamism able to light up the attacking third with her speed and aerial tricks despite being on the shorter side. She is quite versatile able to slide back into the goal shooter position and hold her own thanks to her high netball nous and smarts to create space. Although her accuracy can falter at times, McCollin is a consistent threat both out the front and under the post given her ability to command the ball and put up a decent amount of goals to keep the opposition guessing.

2020 ANZ Premiership stats:
262 goals (84 per cent), three rebounds, 90 centre pass receives,

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The three players selected all boast one similarity and that is their energy and flair, able to bring a wealth of movement and dynamism with them each time they step onto the court. Parmenter was an easy selection for Jarrad given her explosiveness and stellar court coverage which will pair well with the likes of Ash Brazill or Paige Hadley in the centre. For Sophie, the acquisition of Kumwenda was a no brainer with the Melbourne Vixens goaler able to inject a point of difference into the frontend to replace the likes of Maia Wilson and connect with Silver Ferns star Ameliaranne Ekenasio with plenty of accuracy. McCollin is an exciting prospect for Taylah’s side given the Trinidadian provides that short, sharp movement inside the circle to shake up the tall timber in Cara Koenen and Gretel Bueta. McCollin is a real speed demon that can light up a court within an instant which is exactly what was needed in that frontend.

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
Centre Pass Podcast Bench 2

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Centre Pass Podcast Bench 3