LAST night the Melbourne Mavericks and West Coast Fever took an important step in their preparations for the upcoming Suncorp Super Netball season by playing out a practice match at Waverley Netball Centre. Although it was ultimately a narrow four goal win to the Fever, the scoreboard was not front of mind as plenty of questions were answered about both sides ahead of the new season.

Rookie Me Central was there last night, and took some notes on what was observed about both sides, and what those in attendance observed about where the two sides are currently at.

STARTING SEVENS

Melbourne Mavericks

GS: Shimona Jok
GA: Nyah Allen
WA: Maisie Nankivell
C: Molly Jovic
WD: Amy Parmenter
GD: Kim Brown (nee Jenner)
GK: Olivia Lewis
Other players used: Tayla Fraser, Kristiana Manu’a, Uneeq Palavi, Jessie Grenvold, Emma Walters, Montana Holmes

West Coast Fever

GS: Olivia Wilkinson
GA: Shanice Beckford
WA: Alice Teague-Neeld
C: Jessica Anstiss
WD: Sunday Aryang
GD: Fran Williams
GK: Kadie-Ann Dehaney
Other players used: Jordan Cransberg, Zoe Cransberg, Mwai Kumwenda, Ruth Aryang

WHAT WE LEARNT

Melbourne Mavericks

• The Mavericks had three of their contracted 10 players not playing last night, choosing to not play Eleanor Cardwell, Sasha Glasgow or Lauren Parkinson. With all three coming off some injuries suffered in 2024, it appeared to be that the Mavericks were being extra cautious with those three.
• The Mavericks really rotated their players last night, using all of their contracted players and training partners by the time the match finished. With no Eleanor Cardwell, Sasha Glasgow or Lauren Parkinson they were somewhat forced to do this, but it also seemed to be an active choice.
• The Mavericks were really utilising Shimona Jok’s aerial game to their advantage, and they were not afraid to pass long over the top to her. This part of her game was really on show at international level against Jamaica and could potentially be even more of a weapon then it was last season.
• Nyah Allen looks right at home in the Mavericks’ set up, despite only coming on as a Training Partner this season. If something happens to either Glasgow or Cardwell and Allen has to fill in this season, the Mavericks will be fine.
• Uneeq Palavi also impressed last night. Playing across both goal shooter and goal attack, she may have given away a bit of a height advantage at times but that was not a hindrance to her success on court.
• The Mavericks did make one interesting experiment in the second half, playing Maisie Nankivell out at wing defence. She is normally an attacking midcourter, but held her own in wing defence. With Amy Parmenter in their side it is not likely that they will need Nankivell in wing defence, but if the worst were to happen they have that option.

West Coast Fever

• By contrast to the Mavericks, player rotation did not seem to be front of mind for the Fever. The main goal for them seemed to be test out shooter combination and get some match minutes into their actual contracted players.
• Early in the match it seemed that Jess Anstiss was defending goal attack Nyah Allen more than wing attack Maisie Nankivell during first phase, which was an interesting glance into the team’s thinking and perhaps who was perceived as the bigger threat.
• Jordan Cransberg came onto the court during the second term but was not able to see out the quarter after picking up what appeared to be an ankle injury. She was replaced by sister Zoe and it will be interesting to see how much Jordan plays a part at Ballarat Blitz over the weekend as to the severity of the injury.
• Last night was the first chance we got to see Mwai Kumwenda out on court in the Fever colours, and she slotted in seamlessly. She has big shoes to fill replacing Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, but really held her own last night. She is still going to be a forceful presence for the Fever, but in a different way to Fowler-Nembhard, using her physical presence more than her height likes Fowler-Nembhard does.
• Just on the shooter debate, realistically the Fever’s best option is to start Kumwenda at goal shooter in round one. Wilkinson is a fine shooter that can her own, but Kumwenda is a more confident player and with no Fowler-Nembhard this season, the Fever need someone who is confident and sure of themselves.
• Ruth Aryang is a great choice for 11th player. She played out at wing defence last night, and although she is pretty tall, she is much quicker than her height would suggest.