WITH the GIANTS, Adelaide Thunderbirds, Queensland Firebirds and West Coast Fever all missing out on finals action we assembled a Team of the Year comprised only of bottom four team players. After narrowly missing out on finals, the GIANTS have four players named in the squad with Queensland, Adelaide and West Coast featuring two players apiece.

GK: Shamera Sterling (Adelaide Thunderbirds)

Sterling immediately found her feet in Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) setting records and posing a dominant threat in the defensive circle for Adelaide. She was not afraid to contest every ball that came her way while her aerial skills were second to none leading the way with 120 deflections, 68 intercepts and 35 rebounds. She was a lynchpin down in defence owning the circle with her timing, quick footwork and ability to read the play and impact the flow. She created plenty of hesitation on the feed and capitalised on her opportunities to get tips and deflections to help propel the ball back down the court.

GD: Layla Guscoth (Adelaide Thunderbirds)

Prior to rupturing her Achilles in the World Cup, Guscoth was instrumental for the Thunderbirds. She oozed plenty of experience and class with ball in hand to regain possession for her side with her commitment to the take impressive. Guscoth was key through the midcourt providing plenty of back-up play and help with transition down the court.

WD: Amy Parmenter (GIANTS Netball)

In her first season with the club Parmenter did not leave any stone unturned with the young wing defence putting her opposition through their paces. She showcased her speed off the mark and skill to get hands to ball time and time again for the GIANTS and while she started in centre she well and truly found her feet in at wing defence. Parmenter was key to the GIANTS defence end applying good hands over pressure and shadowing her opponent’s every move to limit easy access into the circle. Her transition down court was also a focal point of her game throughout the season providing that dynamic movement in the middle third.

C: Jamie-Lee Price (GIANTS Netball)

The switch up paid dividends with Price relishing the extra space across the court. the former wing defence made the move into centre for the GIANTS and has not looked back with her offensive work just as impressive as her defensive craft. Though she still has plenty to learn Price has shown that she is a game changer given her athletic ability and vision into the circle making her a real threat for opposition teams.

WA: Kim Green (GIANTS Netball)

In her last season, Green left nothing in the tank with the veteran putting on a show in the attacking third. Her commitment to the ball, strength and pin point precision passes are second to none often slicing through opposition defence. Her drives to the top of the circle were a key feature of her game along with her quick hands circle edge to feed the ball into the shooters.

GA: Gretel Tippett (Queensland Firebirds)

The Firebirds goal attack had a stellar 2019 season often steering the ship in attack. She was the first Australian to shoot 100 consecutive games at national level highlighting the impressive nature of her season. Tippett well and truly lifted her load in attack and backed herself from range credit to her growing confidence and plethora of skills. Her sheer athleticism and attacking flair proved hard to stop once again in season 2019 with Tippett taking her game to new heights.

GS: Jhaniele Fowler (West Coast Fever)

Fowler was the mainstay for the Fever under the post with the Jamaican shooter leading all comers with a season high 709 goals. She was cool, calm and composed with ball in hand and while at times she was forced to change up her game play and come out the circle she relished the opportunity to add another string to her bow. Fowler used her strength to hold space close to post and showcased her aerial skills continuously throughout the season to reign in errant passes.

BENCH: Gabi Simpson (Queensland Firebirds), Caitlin Bassett (GIANTS), Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever)

Simpson, Bassett and Bruce all played a huge role for their respective sides throughout 2019. Bruce missed large chunks of the season with an arm injury sustained early in the season and then a punctured lung. Although she had a relatively interrupted year she made the most of it when on court with her leadership and defensive prowess on full display. The Fever goal keeper notched up 77 deflections for her efforts displaying her ability to win ball back for her side. Sticking with the defensive element Simpson had a testing year with the Firebirds only managing the one win but led from the front. The Queensland wing defence worked tirelessly across the court to assist with transition while also applying strong defensive pressure to nullify her opponent earning herself a spot in the Draft Central Team of the Year. Australian Diamonds captain and GIANTS recruit Caitlin Bassett also left her mark on the competition with 492 goals. She adjusted her game play throughout the season working with English international Jo Harten with the two proving to be an ominous threat when on song.