COLLINGWOOD Magpies made light work of the NSW Swifts in both of their preseason matches in Tasmania over the weekend, highlighting some developing connections and the side’s scoring prowess. The Pies had a relatively stacked line-up in comparison to the Swifts who were missing a number of key players such as Maddy Proud, Paige Hadley and Sarah Klau given their Australian Diamonds commitments, while Helen Housby and Nat Haythornthwaite were also missing from the side.

Game 1 saw the Magpies romp home a 30-goal win (75-45) with their experienced heads leading the charge and impressing across the court to keep the young Swifts side at bay. Boasting an incredibly raw side with a number of fresh faces taking the court and new partnerships in each third, the Swifts struggled to keep up with the Magpies who were flying and ironing out the creases ahead of the upcoming 2021 Suncorp Super Netball season.

Although it was a relatively scrappy start to the match, the Swifts settled first nailing the first two goals of the match with youngster Kelly Singleton taking no time to showcase her range and accuracy to post. There were a number of turnovers that littered the first five minutes of the game but Sam Wallace provided a steady head under the post as the New South Wales side skipped out to an early four goal lead. The new-look defensive combination of Jodi-Ann Ward out in wing defence and Jacqui Newton in goal defence started to impress with the Collingwood duo winning ball back and putting in the hard yards to nullify the influence of the Swifts attackers. Ward’s aerial ability came to the fore throughout the match and was a key reason for the momentum swing for the Pies as she capitalised against Courtney Castle who was still trying to find her rhythm at the elevated level.

Collingwood’s ability to put the foot down in the final five minutes of each quarter proved to be the difference with Gabby Sinclair highlighting her accuracy from long range to nail the two-point shot and increase the lead. Trinidad and Tobago star Kalifa McCollin made her debut for the black and white, quickly finding her rhythm under the goal post and using her creativity to keep the Swifts defenders in Lauren Moore and Maddy Turner guessing. Unfortunately for the Swifts, Collingwood grew with confidence as the game went on, moving the ball with freedom down the court and picking apart their defensive unit to gain easy access into the goal circle. The midcourt battle was enthralling as a couple of young guns in Molly Jovic for the Pies and speedster Tayla Fraser for the Swifts went head to head. The two did not take a backwards step, constantly engaging in an arm wrestle around the circle edge and using their fancy footwork to create attacking forays for their respective sides while Mel Bragg also chimed in with her tireless work through the centre to hit circle edge with great conviction and pinpoint accuracy.

Neither side was afraid to pull the changes as training partners Nyah Allen and Emma Ryde made their way onto the court for the Pies and did not miss a beat as they continued to pepper the post with goals. The Swifts seemed to be all out of answers for Collingwood as they posted a convincing win credit to their silky transitions and surety on the pass.

STARTING SEVEN:

COLLINGWOOD:

GS: Shimona Nelson
GA: Gabby Sinclair
WA: Molly Jovic
C: Mel Bragg
WD: Jodi-Ann Ward
GD: Jacqui Newton
GK: Geva Mentor

NSW SWIFTS:

GS: Sam Wallace
GA: Kelly Singleton
WA: Courtney Castle
C: Tayla Fraser
WD: Emily Burgess
GD: Maddy Turner
GK: Lauren Moore

Game 2 had a similar ending, as the Pies collected a whopping 41 goal victory over the Swifts to make it a clean sweep (83-42). The explosive nature of the Pies was too much to handle for the Swifts who simply could not stop the quickfire connections down the court especially given the number of developing connections across the court.

After impressing in Game 1, McCollin got the nod in goal attack with her connection with Nelson steadily building as the game went on and the Pies eager to allow their partnership to continue to foster. Sinclair proved handy out in wing attack with her court coverage, dynamic movement and spatial awareness to continuously deliver into the circle for Collingwood. The Swifts on the other hand could not get their signature game play up and running, forced onto the backfoot by a well versed Collingwood side that was intent on using its experience to inflict pain. Goal keeper, Geva Mentor was up against Sophie Fawns for the Swifts with the level of exposure for the two players at complete opposite ends of the scale and ultimately reflected in the scoreline.

Olivia Coleman secured the starting goal keeper position and was forced to use every bit of her athleticism to match Nelson in the air while Leilani Rohweder also got the nod at wing defence replacing former Northern Mystics defender Emily Burgess from Game 1. The new look defensive unit meant it took a while for all the pieces to click and really limit the fluidity of the Collingwood line-up which was playing with confidence given their performance only days before. Although the Swifts were blown out of the water on both occasions by Collingwood it was an all-round great opportunity for both sides to try out new combinations across the court and give young up and coming players a chance to ply their trade for their respective sides, putting their best foot forward in the absence of marquee players.

STARTING SEVEN:

COLLINGWOOD:

GS: Shimona Nelson
GA: Kalifa McCollin
WA: Gabby Sinclair
C: Molly Jovic
WD: Jodi-Ann Ward
GD: Jacqui Newton
GK: Geva Mentor 

NSW SWIFTS:

GS: Sophie Fawns
GA: Kelly Singleton
WA: Courtney Castle
C: Tayla Fraser
WD: Leilani Rohweder
GD: Lauren Moore
GK: Olivia Coleman