SCOTTISH Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) franchise Strathclyde Sirens have been developing their game in recent seasons and finished 2020 on a high with a win at home over Surrey Storm. They are a really exciting franchise intent on building their fanbase and gathering momentum in the UK netball scene. Draft Central spoke to head coach Lesley MacDonald and superstar midcourter Gia Abernethy about their on-court lineup for next year and how they hope to engage new fans through their innovative app and Sirens lifestyle brand. 

This week we heard the news that Australian Diamonds legend Madi Browne will be making the move to Yorkshire to be part of the inaugural Leeds Rhinos VNSL team. This announcement has created a huge amount of excitement and media attention, and MacDonald feels this is a credit to the upward trajectory of netball in the UK.

“This season we (the VNSL) have attracted a huge quality of players from abroad… and I think it’s going to increase the quality of our league across the board,” MacDonald said. “Just the opportunity to either play with those athletes or play against them, and I think it’s great that so many of the high profile athletes like Madi Browne are taking the opportunity to come and play within our league. It’s a great thing for our league, but I probably won’t be saying that when we come up against them!”

Another import who made her mark in the Superleague last season was South African international Zanele Vimbela. It was revealed last month that the athletic and rangy defender was returning for a second season with Sirens, however, an announcement was made this week that she will now miss the season due to injury. Vimbela ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) whilst playing in the Telekom League in South Africa, and has been ruled out for 2021. Sirens have yet to announce who will replace her, and this injury will come as a disappointment to the side after her outstanding performance last year.

“She started really well for us last season and I think took a lot of people by surprise in terms of what she put out there in the first three games,” MacDonald said. “From our perspective, that’s exactly why we brought her to Strathclyde Sirens. I think she will be a star for the Sirens, as a number of our new signings will be as well.”

Another key player who will not be representing Sirens on court this season is Scottish Thistles captain Claire Maxwell, who recently has announced her pregnancy. MacDonald notes that this will provide an opportunity for her squad to develop depth and find new leaders.

“We’re obviously delighted for Brownie (Maxwell) and Chris. Brownie is a fantastic player, she would be a massive loss to any team. It provides an opportunity for someone to step up and take that on, we’ve relied on Brownie for a number of years, and this allows us to bring through some of our youngsters.”

Fortunately, Maxwell will still play a key role in the Sirens campaign in 2021. Having previously been a player/assistant coach, she will make the move to coaching full time for this season, and pass on some of the expertise learned over her 14 seasons in the VNSL. 

“She’s going to be a huge loss for us in terms of our playing, she’s such a tenacious, passionate, and driven athlete,” MacDonald said. “She is our benchmark and everyone within the Sirens aspires to be that. I’m disappointed we’re going to lose her from a playing perspective but I’m absolutely delighted we will be able to have her as a full-time assistant coach.”

A player who will be looking to lead the midcourt in Maxwell’s absence is 2020 captain, Abernethy. The formidable centre court player is back for her third season with the franchise and is raring to go after the early cancellation of the Superleague this year. 

“Having a season booked in and ready to go is exciting,” Abernethy said. “We’ve managed to retain the majority of our team from last year with a few extras who have been training partners with us for the last couple of years as well as Bethany Dix coming up from down South. The combination of having much of the core group from last season but also some fresh faces makes it really exciting.”

“I’ve quite enjoyed seeing the recommitment of the majority of players to the franchises they were with for the 2020 season. Having a season cut short after three matches you never really got to find out what potential that playing group could have done. The loyalty in me is quite excited to see that a lot of people have re-signed to really see what they could have built on.”

Abernethy represented Australia at Under 21 level and was a training partner for the Adelaide Thunderbirds before moving to the UK. She mentioned some of the differences between the elite leagues in these two countries. 

“The VNSL just feels a lot more collective as a league. When you travel away, you all have dinner afterwards and the home team has to put on a meal where you all sit in the same room and you mingle. It’s still competitive, but a lot more that everyone is happy for each other. Whereas back home it’s so competitive and tight on the ladder, bonus points come into play and you’re straight on a flight home, just a little bit more businesslike.

“Over here you really feel like everyone gets treated as people before players, and the league makes a real effort to make sure everyone feels comfortable, in order to attract international players to come over.”

Like most VNSL teams, Sirens are back in training following a comprehensive return to play framework and have been getting players back on the court in line with Scottish COVID-19 restrictions, which differ to England.

“We’re starting to find our new normal at the moment,” MacDonald said. “It’s been a significant amount of work from the team behind the team to allow the players to get to this point. There was a period of time where they weren’t even allowed to use a ball in training, so there was a huge amount of motivation from the girls to get to where we are.”

The franchise operates on six training slots per week, which includes three strength and three court sessions, and they are currently working back up to full contact training. As the VNSL is semi-professional, many players also juggle work commitments around their training, including Abernethy. 

“I am also so fortunate that Netball Scotland has helped me out with an administrative role, something to do during the day. As we know, it’s on it’s way up but Superleague here hasn’t got all full-time athletes, we’ve got teachers and solicitors in our team so our training has to work around normal working hours.”

As the VNSL continues to develop and strive towards becoming fully professional, all the franchises are constantly looking to grow their fanbases and better connect with their members. Sirens have been paving the way in terms of marketing and launched a brand new fan app earlier this year. They developed Sirens Lifestyle as a way to connect with fans and members during COVID with fitness tips, recipes and ideas, and they are also the only Superleague side to have an account on TikTok.

“The app is something that has been in the pipeline for a long time, and something that this year the franchise and the marketing department have put into play which is absolutely amazing,” MacDonald said. “It’s just trying to find those little opportunities to engage with the fans and different ways to engage with them because everyone is going to be slightly different in how they use their social media.”

Sirens have an engaging marketing strategy which spans across their new website and social media and chose to announce their players for 2021 on the app to create even more excitement. As the netball world becomes more digitally connected, Strathclyde Sirens are ahead of the curve and providing the full package for Scottish Superleague fans and members.