A LONG-TIME formidable force in the ANZ Premiership, two-time reigning premiers Central Pulse are in a really tough position this season facing an influx of changes over the off-season and, just in the days leading up to the season proper, confirmation that starting goal attack and New Zealand Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio will sit out of proceedings until further notice. Ekenasio has cited fatigue as her reason for sitting out of the start of the season, and according to Pulse CEO Fran Scholey, she is on “extended medical leave”. “She’s had a massive 18 months of netball, netball, netball, and she’s such an amazing leader that she takes on everything and she needs to make sure she takes care of herself first,” Scholey said. “I 100 per cent commend her in having the ability to say actually I need a rest. I just need to reset.” Whilst Ekenasio’s absence opens up an opportunity for a young goaler to step up and ply their trade at the top level, it is a huge blow to the side which was looking to go for a “three-peat”, and begs the question of who would be most likely to, and most suited to take the goal attack bib. What makes Ekenasio such a formidable force is the way she goes about her role in goal attack, continuously stepping up to the plate and most importantly leading her side to victory. Whilst she may not always put up the most attempts, what she does do is invoke a sense of calm and cleanliness in the goal circle, utilising her excellent footwork to find the hole in defence and slip into small spaces to evade her defenders. What Ekenasio also does really well is draw attention away from Aliyah Dunn, but also draw the young goal shooter into the game with ease. Dunn’s quiet demeanour on court sees Ekenasio automatically take the more significant role of playmaker to use her vision to spot the goaler at an advantage, and the big question for the Pulse this season now is realistically how well Dunn will hold up without Ekenasio holding ground out the front. No doubt Dunn is more than capable of stepping up, however without that assistance and endurance from Ekenasio the side could really suffer out the front. Factor in the loss of versatile attacker Tiana Metuarau to the Southern Steel this season – who stepped up well and was influential during her time in both goal and wing attack last season – as well as a couple of untimely personnel changes, such as premiership winning coach Yvette McCausland-Durie at the end of 2020, Karin Burger to the Mainland Tactix and Katrina Rore sitting out of the 2021 season with pregnancy, and the side will decidedly come into the 2021 season on the back foot. Ultimately, it will be up to Dunn and returnee Te Amo Amaru-Tibble to hold down the fort until further notice, with Amaru-Tibble returning to the main squad for the first time since 2017. The side has also been able to secure the services of Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic training partner, Ivana Rowland as an interim replacement, who the side will hope can assist in reducing the pressure on the front-end. Meanwhile, the likes of Whitney Souness, Maddy Gordon and Claire Kersten will need to be at their best to ensure ball continues to find the goals, and ultimately there is no greater or more versatile trio to get that job done. With Souness a specialist wing attack, she is able to create pinpoint passes and form an excellent one-two punch on circle edge, whilst Gordon showcased her versatility last season standing up in wing attack despite coming from a defensive background, and Kersten is more than capable of rotating through all three midcourt positions, which opens up a number of opportunities for the side.