WITH the ANZ Premiership season just around the corner we take a look at each teams chances heading into the year and a key player to keep an eye on. The second team in our preview is the Northern Stars.

Coach: Kiri Wills
Captain: Grace Kara
2019 finish: 2^nd

Last year brought plenty of excitement for the Northern Stars with the team making it to the big dance after hitting some good form late in the season. They dropped off midway through the year but recovered when it counted however they simply could not get over the line against the Pulse in the grand final. Their connections across the court and defensive pressure were second to none able to intercept the ball and propel it back down the court making them a real threat.

2020 predictions/expectations:
It will be hard to replace the wealth of players that departed the club with the likes of Temepara Bailey, Ellen Halpenny and Kayla Cullen all leaving notable holes in the Stars line-up. But they have plenty of young players that will be searching for their moment in the spotlight. The Stars took many by surprise last year and will be looking to do the same this year despite having less star power. With Halpenny retiring and Australian, Charlee Hodges leaving the inclusion of Jamie Hume will be huge with the goal attack able to stand up under pressure and shoot from range. Mila Reuelu-Buchanan found her feet through the midcourt as the season went on and will have to carry more of the load with Bailey gone and new recruit Lisa Mather coming into the side. Grace Kara will be another one looking to step up and enforce herself with her experience and ball speed a couple of key aspects of her game. Defensively Storm Purvis has skills to boot with her hands over pressure and three foot marking. Although it may take a while for all the cogs to click into gear the Stars could push for a top three spot in 2020.

Key player:
After a breakout international season expect big things from the talented goal shooter Maia Wilson. The 22-year-old oozes excitement able to break a game wide open with her strong holds and ability to score quickly. She is a confidence player and will rely on the influence of teammates to help get her up and about but when she is firing she is hard to stop. Wilson has a plethora of skills able to get up for the high balls and display good ball control to reel errant passes in. She can shoot from anywhere in the circle making her the key cog in attack for the Stars and has shown throughout pre-season tournaments that she can pull her weight out in goal attack.  She could be the key to unlocking the Stars success in 2020.

Team list:

Kate Burley
Jamie Hume
Fa’amu Ioane
Grace Kara
Lisa Mather
Julianna Naoupu
Storm Purvis
Mila Reuelu-Buchanan
*Daystar Swift (Trinidad & Tobago)
Maia Wilson