THE 2019 Draft Central Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year is here, featuring 10 key players from across seven of the eight SSN sides. Despite a mostly successful season, GIANTS Netball is the only club with out at least one representative, while the only sides with more than one player featured in the side are fittingly Grand Finalists, NSW Swifts and Sunshine Coast Lightning.

GK: Shamera Sterling (Adelaide Thunderbirds)

The Thunderbirds may not have won many games this season, but when they did often it was well and truly off the back of Shamera Sterling’s defensive pressure in the goal circle. The young defender may not have the experience to control games the way Geva Mentor can, but it’s her ability to impact the contest and provide a surprising element down back that forces teams to think about every single feed heading into the goal circle. While it can be argued Sterling got a large volume of turnover ball because the side was losing and their opposition occasionally got lazy with feeds, full credit still goes to Sterling for regularly being that star player the Thunderbirds needed to spark the side into action. Her hands over pressure, rebounding ability and deceptively quick footwork found her with the loose ball time and time again, finishing off the season leading the defensive rebounds tally (35), deflections (120) and second for intercepts (68).

GD: Karla Pretorius (Sunshine Coast Lightning)

While Sterling pipped Karla Pretorius to the post to a number of defensive stats this season, Pretorius proved to be a key player for the Sunshine Coast Lightning yet again, sitting in first for intercepts (69) and being the stalwart defender every side aspires to have. Pretorius’ ability to confuse the space and find the loose ball was second to none, consistent to a tee and conceding less penalties than many of her defensive counterparts – sitting in 12th overall for penalties (166), almost 100 less than fellow Lightning defender Phumza Maweni with 261. It’s Pretorius’ speed that catches her opponents off guard, with a quick takeoff and impressive aerial ability seeing her find plenty of turnover ball, often phasing her opponent out of the game altogether. While Pretorius’ impact inside the circle impressed, it was her ability to speed the ball back up the court that gave her the edge over the rest of the competition, providing a constant threat across the court.

WD: Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies)

Apart from a stellar few weeks in the centre bib, Ash Brazill was by and large the most impressive and consistent wing defence in the competition this season. Her versatility was key, finding the ball anywhere across the court and propelling it back down to provide a massive threat both through the defensive and middle thirds. It is Brazill’s athletic ability that finds her in the side, with dominant performances week in and week out and one of the most consistent players in the Magpies line-up. Brazill’s ability to provide hands over pressure as well as the excitement of circle edge intercepts found her one of the most watched players on court, ultimately finding enough turnover ball to push her side into a finals campaign. Brazill finished up the season with 18 intercepts and 68 deflections, getting hands to plenty of ball and putting doubt in attackers minds with her speed, anticipation and netball smarts.

C: Laura Langman (Sunshine Coast Lightning)

Laura Langman’s ability to play both the defensive and attacking game was second to none in 2019, providing the spark the Lightning needed to turn the tides and come from behind on a number of occasions. Langman’s speed, agility and strength moving down the court proves why she is one of the most effective midcourters in the world. The Lightning captain worked seamlessly with her side this season, not skipping a beat after missing the 2018 season and continuously putting on exceptional performances to lead her side to a minor premiership finish. Her consistency makes her a constant threat both on circle edge feeding into her attackers and deflecting through defence, with bullet passes and aerial ability to boot. Langman’s defensive and attacking prowess was clear during the season, racking up 246 goal assists from 512 feeds as well as 16 intercepts and 34 deflections.

WA: Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens)

Similar to Pretorius, it was unquestionably Liz Watson who was the most dominant and consistent wing attack all season. Even after coming back from the Netball World Cup, Watson continued her exceptional form to be the number one for goal assists in 2019 with 430 from 627 feeds, proving an impressive ability to find circle edge and feed to the advantage of her goalers. Watson also collected a whopping 376 centre pass receives, sitting in second on the leaderboard, along with nine intercepts and 28 deflections across 16 games, proving that along with her attacking skill she has the ability to turn the ball over to advantage. While Watson’s speed and footwork is impressive, it’s her ability to spot her goalers at the post and shoot lightning-quick passes into the goal circle that make her key to both the Vixens and Australian Diamonds lineups.

GA: Gretel Tippett (Queensland Firebirds)

Unconventional goal attack Gretel Tippett had the season of her career in 2019, keeping the Firebirds in most games even when everything seemed to be thrown against them. Tippett’s accuracy and volume rocketed this season, shooting 394 goals from 411 attempts at 96 per cent accuract for the season, proving time and time again that she has the star power and excitement to change the game. Her daring style of play makes her a constant threat, using her height to find the ball with ease and challenge every defender she comes across. Tippett finished third in the competition for centre pass receives (325) credit to her speed off the mark while also showcasing her versatility, switching up her play style when required to make a seamless transition for every challenge the Firebirds faced, coming out the other side as one of the most consistent goalers in the competition.

GS: Sam Wallace (NSW Swifts)

Sam Wallace was one of the most consistent goal shooters in season 2019, flying under the radar but putting up solid performances every round to be the stalwart option at the post for the Swifts. She upped her game this season, finding more volume and accuracy than prior seasons, shooting 648 goals from 695 attempts at 93 per cent accuract – a whopping 233 goals more than her 2018 season. Wallace was also awarded the coveted Grand Final Player of the Match, dominating at the post against the defensive calibre of the Sunshine Coast Lightning and taking advantage of every ball fed her way. The goal shooter only picked up 18 penalties across 17 games proving her cleanliness with both ball in hand and with hands over pressure, while her aerial ability came to the forefront this season to ensure ball in hand at the post.

BENCH: Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts), Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts), Jhaniele Fowler (West Coast Fever)

While all three of these players had impressive seasons, they unfortunately fell short with their respective counterparts taking the top spot. Sarah Klau dominated in season 2019, finding enough ball to generate a much deserved Australian Diamonds selection and elevation, credit to her cleanliness with both ball in hand and on the body. Klau’s speed saw her find plenty of turnover ball, while her ability to find and mark her opposition created opportunities to generate some of the flair and excitement the Swifts have lacked over the past few seasons. Paige Hadley is another who came out of her shell in 2019, forging ahead early in the season to snap up a recall into the Diamonds. While Hadley started the season in wing attack, she well and truly made the centre bib her own after Maddy Proud went down to injury, finding plenty of the ball around the circle in attack and relishing the extra space when going down court to defence, putting on the accelerator to generate turnovers. Jhaniele Fowler may not have had the same impact as her 2018 campaign, however she well and truly carried the Fever through rocky patches despite at times carrying an injury of her own. Her height, accuracy and volume make her a formidable opponent in the ring, plucking the ball out of the air and rebounding with ease.

While these three players were selected for the Draft Central bench, a number of other players staked their claim during the season with the likes of Kate Moloney Cara Koenen, Renae Ingles and Geva Mentor also thrown in the mix.