WITH her first win under her belt for the Collingwood Magpies, star goal attack Nat Medhurst played an integral role in the attacking end for the black and white. It was a solid performance by the Magpies, with the side making history, winning their first Round 1 game in their short history. Collingwood came away with a 14-goal victory over two-time reigning premiers the Sunshine Coast Lightning with Medhurst finishing the game with 11 goals from 14 attempts at 74 per cent showcasing her importance in the goal circle. She also racked up plenty 22 feeds and 17 centre pass receives highlighting her work across the court to be a real play maker in the attack end for her side.

After a long pre-season Medhurst was pleased to get back on the court and really stamp hers and the clubs authority on the competition early on in the season.

“Obviously that last quarter the way we were able to play and our long court transition which I think we struggled with a bit for the first three quarters it was just beautiful,” Medhurst said. “There was so much space and to finish off that way against obviously the two-time reigning premiers and to have a win is the best thing.”

Medhurst was not the only one to get her first win in Collingwood colours with the likes of fellow recruits Shimona Nelson, Geva Mentor and Kelsey Browne also soaking up the win. Collingwood also proved that they have plenty of depth bringing on Melissa Bragg, Kelsie Rainbow and Gabby Sinclair in the last quarter with the latter two both making their league debut. 2019 has brought many changes and in its short time Magpies Netball, have already established an important brand in the netball sphere and set high expectations for the club to perform.

“You know I think for us as a club we really want to start with a clean slate and whilst everyone will compare to the previous years the focus really is about us and what this team is about and we are so incredibly tight knit,” Medhurst said. “You know we know everyone’s got their backs and it’s exciting.”

With their first win on the board in front of a home crowd, Medhurst is excited about the rounds to come with her focus on absorbing the winning atmosphere.

“We want to enjoy our wins and that’s constantly reiterated to us, that we are enjoying what we are doing for us older ones,” she said. “So we are certainly doing that, you know the whole vibe and everything a first win at home. “Hopefully that will set us in the right tone particularly next week because we are up to Brisbane next week for the Firebirds.”

Immersed into a new club and new team, Medhurst had nothing but praise for her teammates and the culture associated with the club with their strong connections down the court holding up in the win.

“The club in general like coming here they have been so incredibly welcoming and I think you see how it is a massive club,” she said.

Given her new role at the club, Medhurst found herself amongst the thick of it on Saturday with her clever movement across the court and attacking flair on show throughout the game. She dished off pinpoint passes into the young Jamaican shooter Nelson who impressed under the post with 46 goals from 54 attempts, with the partnership between the two growing in stature.

“She’s [Nelson] come in leaps and bounds so she is only going to keep getting better but she does have that aerial game, up in the air and she can move. Her ball skills are pretty good for a tall person which is usually quite rare dare I say it,” she said.

While the Magpies are gifted with Nelson as a key target in the goal circle, Medhurst highlighted the importance of remaining an option under the post.

“But also you know we don’t want to be predictable I think, I obviously know that back at Fever I know what that was like, you know the same with the Firebirds,” she said. “So we want to know that we have two people whether that’s myself at goal attack or Gabby who can be a threat and that we are playing the ball. “If we are getting in a good position to feed Shim.”

With more time on court to perfect their game plan the Magpies could become an even more dominant threat with star players across the court working seamlessly to apply pressure and win the ball. Medhurst simply outclassed Lightning goal defence Karla Pretorius who starred last year, credit to her strong drives and hunger for the ball.

“So, when we can really get that balance and timing together it can work beautifully,” she said. “You know I think in that last quarter to score 18 goals, at one point it was 15-5 which is just phenomenal and you know I was able to get into the circle and be a threat.”

The Magpies are set to face the Queensland Firebirds on Saturday at QNSC Arena in Queensland where they will be hoping to make it two from two.