THE 2020 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season saw plenty of fresh faces step up to the plate, with Draft Central introducing its Courtside Comments series which focused on one player across the round and their individual highlights, key moments and improvements during the match. Now that the season is done and dusted, Managing Editor Taylah Melki and Senior Editor Sophie Taylor look back at each player’s season as a whole, discussing their overall form in 2020.

>>>ALL 2020 COURTSIDE COMMENTS

In the first of our three Courtside Comments post-season wraps, we delve into the four shooters focused on during the home and away season with Tippah Dwan (Round 2), Georgie Horjus (Round 5), Gabby Sinclair (Round 8) and Alice Teague-Neeld (Round 9) all producing some impressive performances. When it came to goals scored – including super shots – Dwan led the pack with 184 goals at 73 per cent accuracy, closely trailed by Horjus with 174 at 72 per cent. With the duo both in their debut season and realistically given the chance to prove themselves due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Gretel Bueta‘s pregnancy, there is no doubt they had an outstanding impact for their respective teams. Third ranked in this group for goals scored was Sinclair with 151 at 66 per cent, while Teague-Neeld comparatively only put up 78 at 55 per cent but it was her effort off the ball that impressed. When it came to goal assists, Teague-Neeld came in fourth across the competition with 240, trailed by Sinclair next up with 208, Dwan (146) and Horjus (136) – which makes sense given the higher workload of the latter duo inside the circle.

Here’s what we had to say:

Tippah Dwan – Queensland Firebirds (GA)

Courtside Comments: Round 2

By: Sophie Taylor, Draft Central Senior Editor

Dwan is one of the most exciting young prospects in the Australian pathway, with the smooth moving goaler developing well throughout the season and continually finding ways to step up her game and have an impact both in and around the circle. While she inevitably had some patches where her form was down, the youngster proved she is more than capable of taking control in the goal circle and played a pivotal role in the Firebirds’ move up the ladder. Not only did her control grow from our Round 2 Courtside Comments, but so too her confidence with the 20-year-old developing well and adding strings to her bow, generating some great defensive stats to her name to go with her great footwork and evasiveness. It is hard to believe that this season was Dwan’s first at the top level, and with plenty of development left in her it is safe to say that the young prospect is one to watch in the future.

By: Taylah Melki, Draft Central Managing Editor

It was a scintillating season from start to finish for Dwan who made that goal attack position her own for the Firebirds. A replacement player for Diamonds star Bueta, Dwan proved that she is more than capable of donning the goal attack bib and did so in convincing fashion. She was a phenomenon for the Firebirds, setting the court alight each time she stepped out on court with her speed and stellar vision across the court to frequently deliver. Her consistency hardly wavered, fronting up to each game with a pep in her step and a hot hand. The supplementary shooter to partner in crime Romelda Aiken, Dwan highlighted her sheer netball nous to dish off precision passes into the towering Jamaican or back herself in. Dwan was a solid option inside the goal circle, using her quick footwork to edge closer to the post while also showcasing her class and skill to nail them from distance especially in the super shot period.

Georgie Horjus – Adelaide Thunderbirds (GA/WA)

Courtside Comments: Round 5

By: Sophie Taylor, Draft Central Senior Editor

Another exciting prospect, Horjus was a player who had nothing to lose and everything to gain from stepping out on court in Round 1, putting on a show and ultimately sewing up the goal attack position as the season went on. In her first season as a training partner, the diminutive youngster used her zippy footwork, playmaking skills and accuracy to prove an excellent addition to the Thunderbirds lineup this year. Horjus was one of those players who continuously stepped up her game, adjusting her feeds and was highly accurate as an impact player, rarely overawed by the contest. She consistently used her smaller build and zippy footwork to weave her way down court, and proved to be a huge threat both inside and outside the circle credit to her ability to spot a player on the lead and deliver. Like Dwan, Horjus has still got plenty to develop, but that is what makes her such a threatening prospect. She will be another to keep an eye on given how much versatility she provided out on court this season.

By: Taylah Melki, Draft Central Managing Editor

There is no denying that Horjus took the competition by complete and utter storm with her court coverage, nifty footwork and quick hands constantly on show for the Thunderbirds. An unknown prospect at the start of the season, Horjus quickly became a household name given her explosive nature and impressive performances week in, week out. The 18-year-old starred each time she stepped out on court and showcased maturity beyond her years, unfazed by the more experienced players. Horjus was both a playmaker and threat under the post, cutting and driving to carve up the court while her ability to settle and sink them from range time and time again was mind boggling. Her partnership with the likes of Lenize Potgieter and Chelsea Pitman allowed her to go about her business whether that entailed her floating into the circle, drilling them from range or bursting along the baseline such was her repertoire. Her versatility often caught many defenders off-guard with Horjus able to flick a switch and turn it on to keep her side in the hunt.

Gabby Sinclair – Collingwood Magpies (GA)

Courtside Comments: Round 8

By: Sophie Taylor, Draft Central Senior Editor

While not a first year player, this was Sinclair’s chance to prove she can consistently compete at SSN level and while her side laboured at the bottom of the ladder for much of the season, Sinclair proved she is capable of stepping up to the task. A very different goal attack to the now-retired Nat Medhurst – who had more of a playmaker role at the Magpies – Sinclair had to adjust her game significantly and was a tough player to crack given her persistence and continued perseverance. With so many changes out the front, Sinclair was one of the constants for the Magpies with her swift foot-speed, ability to shoot from range and excellent vision across the court, and showcased a real ability to perform under pressure, feeding to her goalers with ease.

By: Taylah Melki, Draft Central Managing Editor

Sinclair quickly became a key playmaker for the Pies in what was a trying season for the black and white army. With no Medhurst, Sinclair did the heavy lifting out in goal attack using her drive and speed off the mark to receive the ball and weave it down the court. Although caught outside the circle at times, Sinclair showcased her hot hand to deliver the ball on a silver platter to Shimona Nelson and create opportunities for Collingwood to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Sinclair was not afraid to drive along the baseline and command the ball from the feeders and while she was not the predominant shooter still displayed her willingness to go to post whether it be from range or under the post.

Alice Teague-Neeld – West Coast Fever (GA/WA)

Courtside Comments: Round 9

By: Sophie Taylor, Draft Central Senior Editor

Teague-Neeld has had an inconsistent couple of years, but coach Stacey Marinkovich needed someone to step up and take charge in the circle, and that is what Teague-Neeld did in 2020. While she does not pile on the goals on a consistent basis, there is no denying Teague-Neeld’s ability to impact the play off the ball and away from the goal circle, with her drive towards the ball and constant attacking forays allowing time for her teammates to adjust their positioning and go again. She took on a bigger workload in 2020 with her confidence developing throughout, and while she was not always the most accurate to post, there is no denying the rebounding ability of Jhaniele Fowler allowed her to take her chances and prove she is a real contender on court.

By: Taylah Melki, Draft Central Managing Editor

It was a much improved season for Teague-Neeld with the goal attack finding her confidence in the attacking third and elevating her game. Although she did not put up a wealth of shots and was not overly accurate under the post, it was the work she did out the front that impressed and was crucial to the Fever’s success. Her ability to dictate the state of play with her ball movement and drives enabled the Fever frontend to release into Fowler with great ease and put plenty of pressure on the scoreboard. Teague-Neeld showcased her ability to go from range and convert on the super shot often standing up when the side needed her to and used her fancy footwork to dance around her opponent and pop out at the last second.

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Courtside Comments: Gamechangers – Semi-finals // Preliminary final // Grand final

Centre Pass Podcast // Georgie Horjus interview