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 6 focus is NSW Swifts starlet, Lauren Moore who has stepped up seamlessly to the SSN and is an excitement booster on court. Each set of notes showcases the opinions of our writers individually.

22-year-old Moore has had a breakout season at Suncorp Super Netball level, with Maddy Turner’s ongoing ankle injury expected to hit the Swifts a lot harder but was covered by the injection of Moore into the defensive unit. Moore’s combination with Sarah Klau is effective despite the two players typically being goal keepers, seeing Moore slot seamlessly into goal defence and gathering plenty of turnover ball to sit in at second in the intercepts tally with 16 for the season, dropping this week from top spot for the first time all year. Moore only played 26 minutes in the Swifts’ win against Collingwood Magpies in Round 6, collecting three deflections (none resulting in gains) and an intercept, also managing two pickups.

Here’s what we had to say:

By: Sophie Taylor, Draft Central Senior Editor

Moore had a slow start by her lofty standards and was caught flat footed a few times in what was an error ridden first quarter for the Swifts. Had some really great passages getting hands to ball but made a few costly errors throwing the ball away, with her connection with Klau sloppy early but building as the quarter continued. While Moore has been solid finding space early in the season, she had a hard time adjusting in this outing, running into clogged space on a few occasions and the side missed her run and carry through the midcourt. She was left exposed by an in-form Gabby Sinclair who was a workhouse out the front, not standing still long enough for Moore to take care of the loose ball. Moore made some good choices deciding which ball to let go, with her vision continuing to work even when she was not moving, but came off for the second half of the second quarter, unable to nullify Sinclair’s drives. She returned during the super shot period of the third, hustling well to create a deflection and put doubt on ball placement with her ability to both cherry pick and find the ground ball.

By: Taylah Melki, Draft Central Managing Editor

Although she did not play the full 60 minutes, Moore had somewhat of an influence in the opening term wearing Sinclair down in attack to keep her quiet in patches. The goal defence was good in transition able to read the space nicely to deliver ball into the attacking third and while she provided a strong option through the midcourt to start the game she slowly started to fade out of the match. Moore showcased her high netball IQ to double back on Shimona Nelson when need be and join forces with Klau under the post however there were a couple of shaky moments between the two allowing Collingwood to capitalise. Although Moore did not do all the flashy things that many have become accustomed to it was her one percenters that shone through with her lean over the shot getting in the head of the Collingwood shooters early. The Swifts goal defence played more of a shadowing style of role against Sinclair to limit her space and cut off any easy drive into the goal circle but struggled to maintain that intensity, coming off midway through the second. She was not afraid to contest each and every pass coming into the circle and despite being on the shorter side used her impressive elevation to get hands to ball to frustrate Collingwood in attack.

By: Lucy Pollock, Draft Central UK Writer

Moore has been a standout so far this season in the goal defence position. Her timing is impeccable and she quickly became a game-changer for the Swifts in several close games in the early rounds. She came into this season as a relative unknown, expecting to be sitting behind Turner and waiting for court time, but since Turner’s injury she has become a starting player in the Swifts backline due to her tenacity and athleticism. She did not manage to have the impact we have come to expect from her against the Magpies, and was giving Sinclair lots of space and getting caught in no man’s land. This meant she, unfortunately, spent a considerable amount of time on the bench in this game. What Moore had previously been able to create, in terms of confusing the space and hunting for the long cross-court balls, went missing in the opening quarter and she was not using her footwork as efficiently inside the goal circle to work in partnership with Klau. A bit of an off game for Moore but she will no doubt bounce back in the next round. 

By: Jarrad Gardner, Centre Pass Podcast host 

Moore continued her impressive 2020 campaign in defence for the Swifts. After replacing the injured Maddy Turner to kick off the season, she has gone from strength to strength. Against the Magpies in Round 6 she shared court time at goal defence with Sophie Craig but formed a strong combination with Klau when she was on the court. Was once again clean with her defence, not giving away too many penalties, allowing her and Klau to stay in play and force the Magpies’ shooters into tougher shots. Her fine form so far in 2020 gives Briony Akle the luxury of resting Turner until she is 100 per cent ready to go while still having a reliable defensive option on court. Possible matchups against Steph Wood and all three of the Vixens’ shooters in the coming week will be a major test for Moore but one that she should stand up to.

By: Kate Cornish, Draft Central volunteer writer

Somewhat of a revelation in season 2020, though she has been part of the NSW Swifts outfit since she was 17, Moore is enjoying some great court time and is having the season of her career. Gifted a start due to an on-going injury to team mate Turner, Moore, like so many other players this season, has grabbed this opportunity with both hands. In Round 6 against a Collingwood Magpies side that was desperate for a win, Moore lined up against one of the shortest players in the league, Sinclair. Moore played just under 30 minutes in this clash and while she had sat in first position on the stats ladder for most intercepts so far this season, in this game, Moore was not as dynamic as we have seen over the last few weeks. With fatigue no doubt playing a big part as she has racked up huge minutes in this condensed format, she still managed an intercept and three deflections to add to her tally but found it hard to be an option in transition through the midcourt courtesy of heavy legs and a smothering and intense Magpies defence. Akle’s decision to rest Moore allowed for Craig to tag Sinclair and moved centurion Paige Hadley into wing defence. Craig was the link in transition that Moore had been unable to provide. Despite not having a full game in Round 6, Moore has certainly done enough so far this season to create fierce competition for a starting spot in that defensive line-up, which is a fantastic headache for Akle to have.