EACH week the Draft Central team will focus on one Suncorp Super Netball player across the round and take a look at their individual highlights, key moments and improvements across their match. Our Round 13 focus is Tara Hinchliffe, with the Queensland Firebirds defender continuously building in form and applying constant pressure down in goal keeper. Each set of notes showcases the opinions of our writers individually.

Still only 22-years-old, Hinchliffe has been a consistent strength down back alongside Kim Jenner and has really tidied up her act in season 2020, with her experience over the past few years seeing her step up to the plate well. While she had a quiet start to the season in comparison to Jenner, Hinchliffe has had a huge purple patch over the past few rounds with her ability to adapt her play-style coming to the forefront. The entire Firebirds defensive unit seems to be gelling a lot better which has allowed the goal keeper to read the play well down the court and come in for a timely intercept or deflection. In her Round 13 effort against the Melbourne Vixens, Hinchliffe came away with five gains (three intercepts, one rebound, one deflection resulting in a gain) and two pickups in what was a strong showing from the up and coming defender.

Here’s what we had to say:

By: Sophie Taylor, Draft Central Senior Editor

Hinchliffe’s improved decision-making has been clear in 2020 and in this outing against the Vixens she proved once more that she is a force to be reckoned with. Her anticipation and clean hands were on show in the battle against Mwai Kumwenda in the opening term, forcing the goal shooter into dangerous positions and using her footwork to constantly switch up her positioning to keep the feeders guessing. Pairing with Jenner, the two were a constant barricade both in and around the circle and continuously fed off each other’s excitement-building ways. Hinchliffe has found her form this season while also staying away from the whistle and overall played a constant nagging-defender role in this match to allow Jenner and Gabi Simpson to continue their ball-winning ways. While Hinchliffe had a quiet patch early in the third when the Vixens came out flying, she proved that she is never down and out of the contest with her vision down court and anticipation to snatch an intercept and propel the ball back to the attack.

By: Taylah Melki, Draft Central Managing Editor

The goal keeper was on song from the opening minute of the game injecting herself into the contest with her hands over pressure, read of the play and smothering nature to clog up the space. Hinchliffe never looked out of the contest and paired seamlessly with Jenner to confuse the space and cause headaches for the feeders. Her three-foot marking and aerial presence were on show throughout the match creating tips and deflections while her constant footwork to dance around the body of her opponents kept the Vixens guessing. A testament to the development of her game, Hinchliffe only racked up 10 penalties highlighting her ability to adapt to the umpires instructions as she worked in overdrive to be a menace down back and lull the Vixens into a false sense of security to then go out hunting. Her connection with Jenner was unstoppable as the two peeled off their players to cover one another’s and continued to mount pressure on the well-oiled and experienced shooters in Caitlin Thwaites, Tegan Philip and Kumwenda. Hinchliffe’s hustle for the ball was unquestionable while her drive through the defensive third allowed Simpson and Jenner to roam freely through the centre.

By: Lucy Pollock, Draft Central UK Writer

Hinchliffe has had a standout season for the Firebirds this year. Overall her performances and contributions to the Queensland side have been significant and she has found even more maturity in her game. Her quick footwork and rangy arms earned her an early deflection in this match which set the tone, and she is proving to be such tough opposition for experienced goal shooters in the SSN. Her tenacity to rebound or pounce on any loose balls helped spur the Firebirds into the lead, and she is so persistent in the one-on-one battles. Her partnership with Jenner is formidable, and Hinchliffe knows exactly when to come out for a fly, when to set up in the goal circle and her aerial ability means there is no easy passage to goal. She can sometimes be costly in terms of penalties but seemed aware of this in the game against the Vixens and kept herself out of trouble with the umpires. She consistently found opportunities to turn over the ball for the full 60 minutes and her scrappy, never-say-die attitude allowed the Firebirds attack multiple chances to reap the rewards. Whilst Jenner has had a breakout season this year, Hinchliffe is not to be forgotten or left behind and she is developing into a deadly goal keeper for the Firebirds. 

By: Kate Cornish, Draft Central volunteer writer

Tara Hinchliffe is one half of the Queensland Firebirds defensive duo that has impressed during the 2020 Super Netball season. In Round 13 against the competition’s leaders, the Melbourne Vixens, she more than had her work cut out for her, starting the game against one of the most unpredictable goalers in the competition, Kumwenda. Hinchliffe had a flying opener to her game with a number of deflections and an early intercept. She put doubt in the minds of the Vixens feeders from the start and her dynamic combination with Jenner was winning the battle against the Vixens attacking end. Her ability to push Kumwenda towards the top of the circle paid dividends; Kumwenda was uncomfortable sitting high and her usual easy access to post was being denied. Hinchliffe had to mix up her approach when Thwaites was introduced into goal shooter in the second quarter. The form, confidence and smarts of Thwaites while she was on court took some sting out of the Firebirds defence and the game began to even up as Hinchliffe was kept relatively quiet trying to contain Thwaites. The Firebirds managed to hold onto the win in the end, and that was largely due to the fantastic start they were gifted by the teamwork and understanding between Jenner and Hinchliffe, who could very well be the Diamonds’ next generation of defenders.