ROUND 1 has been a long time coming for Collingwood Magpies and Australian Diamonds midcourter Kelsey Browne who missed a large chunk of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season, recovering from an aggravated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. A lot has changed since the last time she stepped out on court with a new coach at the helm and some fresh faces set to don the black and white dress for the upcoming campaign. Browne is excited about what the new group of Pies can deliver after a bit of a different preseason to previous years.

“We did three double session days which is a bit different for us. We would normally train six days a week but our scheduling was a little bit more than normal. We changed our weights program a little bit during the preseason as well and I think everyone is feeling really strong and fit and just comfortable in their bodies.”

“We’ve been playing some decent netball throughout the preseason, we’ve had a lot more practice matches than we got in 2020, as is the same with other teams but I think to have that match practice under your belt once again really puts you in good stead for Round 1.”

On a personal level, Browne is raring to go and as one of the more experienced heads in the attacking unit, will have to lead by example amongst the likes of Shimona Nelson, Molly Jovic and Gabby Sinclair who are still honing their craft.

“Obviously I got eight games in post my ACL last year but just never fully felt like I was playing at 100 per cent and I think knowing how I feel now in my body, obviously last year in any of the games I just didn’t really feel right but I’m really excited to start the season,” Browne explained. “We’ve had an awesome preseason at the Magpies, it’s been a bit different, very hard, but I think we are all ready and raring to go and ready to transition from preseason into the season.”

Also on her way back to the netball court after an ACL injury is dual-sportswoman Ash Brazill, who was unable make her way up to the hub last year and has spent over a year on the sidelines. However, she did get her chance to shine on the football stage for Collingwood on return from injury, with her reintroduction into the Super Netball scene long awaited not only internally by players, but fans alike given her impressive level of athleticism and endurance.

“She didn’t spend last year’s season with us so having her back in the group has been awesome. She loves to work really hard and is always really infectious with her energy,” Browne said.

“She just brings a bit of spark and we love having her around the club. So having her back from injury and she doesn’t even look like she’s missed a beat is really exciting for us.”

When it comes to fresh faces, youngster Jacqui Netwon takes the mantle in defence while Trinidad and Tobago product Kalifa McCollin is the other one to keep an eye out for with Browne highlighting just how quickly they have adapted to life at the Holden Centre.

“Both of them have come and done such a good job of coming into the group and really feeling a part of it. They both bring very different styles of play and both have incredible strengths that I think we’ve been able to capitalise on.”

“Kalifa is a really smart attacker, she can shoot the long bombs which is really exciting for us. She’s just an awesome person to have around the club and I think with Jacqui as well, this is her first contract, she’s spent a few years with Vixens as a training partner so she’s just really hungry to play. I just absolutely love having both of them a part of it. They have incredible playing skills and I’m really excited to see what they can do this year at SSN.”

Staring down the barrel of Round 1, Browne highlighted a couple of key learnings she and the Magpies playing group took from their numerous practice matches throughout the preseason.

“I think we’ve managed to find a bit of a groove as a new group. We were extremely new last year and we’ve got some time under our belts as a team now so just working through some combinations, really trying to refine what our style of netball is going to be for Collingwood in 2021. I think everyone is really confident in our game plan and it’s really exciting I think we’ve got a lot of trust and confidence out of our preseason games so that’s probably the main things that we’ve taken from those.”

It was a disappointing 2020 season, with Collingwood only registering one win and looking to improve on that feat this season given new and improved connections across the court.

“I think for us it’s been a little bit predictable for teams to play us in years before but I think we’ve got so many different players that can bring different things and have different strengths and I think it’s utilising that this year. We want to bring a fast game, be known for our intensity and that when you come up against the Magpies it’s going to be a hard game. I think if we can stick to that we will be going really well in 2021.”

With a new coach steering the ship, comes a new game plan and an overall new way of looking at things with Nicole Richardson focusing on providing players with confidence to unlock their full potential. Richardson’s clarity in relation to the direction of the club is another key aspect Browne highlighted as the side prepares for a big season of action.

“Richo has a really strong sense of where she wants to go and where she wants the club to go and the directive she wants to go in. I think for us that confidence in knowing exactly what game and what style of netball we want to play has been awesome. She’s chipped away at giving us you know, little tools and little titbits on how we can improve our game and I just think everyone has taken a huge leap forward in the growth of their personal game.

“But I think the biggest thing she has done is that she brings a lot of confidence to each player and really values each and every one of us. She has a really strong connection with the group, she’s been coming to all of our 7am weight sessions which I think for us says she really does care about us and I think that respect and that confidence and feeling valued by your coach is something that’s going to be really important for us this year.”

Set to face off against Sunshine Coast Lightning in the opening round on Saturday afternoon, Browne and the Magpies have one thing in mind and that is to improve their win-loss record from last year.

“I think for us it is about winning more games. But I think the process is that if we can stick to what we’ve decided to do as a group those will come and that will be really exciting. If we can get a few early wins it’ll build the confidence and hopefully we can see what we can do in the back-end of the year.”