THE Round 4 edition of Draft Central’s Team of the Week is here, featuring some returning names as well as some fresh faces to the mix this week after some big results across the past weekend. All but one team have a member in the 10-player side this week, with Collingwood Magpies dominating with three players on the list, while GIANTS Netball miss out despite an inspired win. Sunshine Coast Lightning are next with two players making the team, while NSW Swifts, Melbourne Vixens, Queensland Firebirds, Adelaide Thunderbirds and West Coast Fever all have one player featured.

GK: Geva Mentor (Collingwood Magpies)
Geva Mentor is a key member of the Magpies, forcing turnovers and piling on the pressure in defence week in week out. Her dominance against the Thunderbirds in Round 4 kept the shooting trio of Maria Folau, Sasha Glasgow and Cody Lange to only 73 per cent shooting accuracy, while her ability to confuse the space gave her partner in crime, April Brandley the opportunity to create turnovers and feed the ball back forward. Mentor finished with seven gains, four intercepts and three rebounds against the Thunderbirds.

GD: Karla Pretorius (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
With three of four possible Team of the Week nominations so far this season, Karla Pretorius has starred through defence and has proven time and time again that she can change games at the drop of a hat. Her ability to read the play and skill getting back for an intercept is unrivalled, while her footwork and hands over pressure forces wayward ball across the court. Against the Swifts last round, Pretorius finished with eight gains and six intercepts -four in the third quarter alone – stepping up as the Swifts tried to force their way back into the match.

WD: Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies)
Another player who has featured in a number of Team of the Weeks, Ash Brazill proves time and time again that any ball can be turned over – as she did a number of times in the first quarter against the Thunderbirds last week. Brazil’s timing is second to none, while her cleanliness through defence and pressure around the goal circle provides key back up to the circle defenders. Brazill’s agility and speed through the midcourt is pivotal in the Magpies’ transition into attack, picking up two gains, six deflections and an intercept for her efforts in Round 4.

C: Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts)
Paige Hadley has been a revelation in centre this season, switching the bib and relishing the extra space as she flies down the court. Her partnership with Maddy Proud is phenomenal, with the pair solid week in week out credit to their smooth movement through the midcourt and speed off the mark. Hadley’s ability to get on the circle edge provides vital ball to her shooters, while her skill in getting away from her defensive player has been a key attribute this season. Hadley picked up 18 assists from 30 feeds as well as one gain and one intercept in a solid day out.

WA: Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens)
Despite a draw in Round 4 against the cellar dwellers, West Coast Fever, Liz Watson has proved time and time again that she has the ability to turn the game on its head. Despite being five goals down with less than five minutes in the match, Watson’s composure shone as she turned over the ball to recover missed opportunities and feed the ball back into attack, gathering 28 goal assists from 39 feeds. Watson’s footwork and intuition through attack is exceptional, while her hands over pressure through the midcourt can change a game for the better.

GA: Gretel Tippett (Queensland Firebirds)
Though not having won a game yet this season, Gretel Tippett is another player who has dominated our Team of the Week credit to her accuracy at the post, speed through the midcourt and ability to take charge of a game. Tippett’s 41 goals at 100 per cent against the GIANTS in Round 4 did not win her best on court, but certainly sent a warning to the rest of the competition that she has the ability and volume of shots to win a game on her back alone. Tippett’s sheer athleticism and creativity with ball in hand makes her a real threat both in attack and through the midcourt.

GS: Shimona Nelson (Collingwood Magpies)
Shimona Nelson had arguably her best game yet in black and white last week, shooting 52 goals against the likes of Shamera Sterling proving that she has the ability to be a target goaler in the circle. Despite her young age, Nelson’s reach, vertical leap and ability to put ball to post makes her a key target for defenders, and her composure against the Thunderbirds proved that she has what it takes to win games for the Magpies despite heavy pressure.

BENCH: Shamera Sterling (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Laura Langman (Sunshine Coast Lighting), Jhaniele Fowler (West Coast Fever)

It is not often that players with equally phenomenal stats as those mentioned above sit on the bench, however Shamera Sterling, Laura Langman and Jhaniele Fowler are three game breakers who put in the effort but did not get the chocolates in our Round 4 Team of the Week. Sterling’s equal record of eight intercepts stunned fans over the weekend, while her ability to adapt her gameplay worked in her favour as she proved she could tighten up on Nelson at the post. Despite the exceptional statistics to her name, Sterling’s presence on court could not stop Nelson from slotting goals. Laura Langman was unlucky to miss out on the centre position, putting in the hard yards against the Swifts and making every ball count. Langman’s defensive pressure around the circle was phenomenal, while her smooth movement down court allowed for teammates to slow the ball down and settle through attack. Finally, Jhaniele Fowler’s effort over the weekend against the Vixens would be enough to win GS almost every week, putting up a sensational 51 shots from 54 attempts and moving freely in attack.