WITH Round 10 done and dusted it was the Melbourne Vixens that dominated our Draft Central Team of the Week with four nominations while the Sunshine Coast Lightning notched up two nominations credit to some strong wins. There were plenty of milestone players named in this weeks team given their impressive performance throughout the round.

GK: Phumza Maweni (Sunshine Coast Lightning)

Fresh off the World Cup the Sunshine Coast Lightning goal keeper imposed herself right from the get go. Maweni showcased her sheer strength and aerial abilities to get her hands to ball time and time again. The South African international forced her SPAR Proteas teammate in Lenize Potgieter to the bench credit to her ability to shadow her every movement and cause hesitation feeding into the circle. Even matched up against Romelda Aiken, Maweni displayed her skill to read the play, pick off any errant passes along with contesting the ball in the air and attack Aikens hands to force turnovers. She ended the game with five gains, three intercepts and four deflections.

GD: Kristiana Manu’a (GWS GIANTS)

In her fiftieth national league game Manu’a left her mark on the match forcing her direct opponent Nat Medhurst to the bench. The goal defence applied strong physical pressure and used her three foot marking to block Medhurst’s vision into the circle. Her quick footwork and skill to get around the body cleanly allowed her to stay in play and pick up three gains and one intercept while her transition through the midcourt was equally as important for the GIANTS. She worked well in tandem with Sam Poolman with the two confusing the space and attacking any crosscourt ball to force turnovers. She also showcased her strength under the post amassing two rebounds while also gaining three deflections credit to her timing and speed off the mark.

WD: Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies)

The Magpies wing defence notched up her hundredth national league game and left no stone unturned with her dynamic movement and strong drive through the midcourt helping to spur her struggling side. Brazill starred once again winning plenty of ball back for Collingwood and using her sheer athleticism to out manoeuvre her opponent. While she is renowned for her defensive pressure picking up four gains, one intercept and three deflections she showcased her attacking skill in the opening term with a stint in centre. She used her slick ball movement to deliver the ball into the shooters while also applying good hands over pressure to try and slow down the GIANTS transition.

C: Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens)

The Melbourne Vixens captain impressed from the first whistle showcasing her sheer endurance and netball nous to work her way into space. Her ability to run both ways and be a key player for the side really stood out using her cuts and drives to hit the circle edge with precision. Her pin point deliveries into the shooters was second to none amassing 25 goal assists credit to her clever ball placement and vision into the circle. She also amassed three pickups highlighting her intent and pressure to win the loose ball which is a real feature of her game.

WA: Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens)

Although a bit tired from her heavy World Cup duties the Vixens wing attack displayed her sheer class and experience throughout the match. Watson found good space in the attacking third varying her passes into the shooters and using her dynamic movement to cut through the defence and hit the circle edge. She got plenty of ball in the attacking third leading the way for the Vixens with 27 goal assists doing a wealth of work to move the ball down with speed and precision.

GA: Gretel Tippett (Queensland Firebirds)

The Australian Diamond continued her dominant form under the post, commanding the ball and showcasing her attacking flair to impose herself on the contest. Tippett was crucial in the goal circle for the Firebirds setting up clever plays and using her speed to burst along the baseline while using her strength to hold her space in the circle. She nailed an impressive 30 goals from 31 attempts at 97 per cent while also racking up 16 feeds highlighting her ability to feed into Aiken time and time again. The goal attack shouldered the load early on with her partnership with Aiken growing in stature throughout the match.

GS: Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning)

The 23-year-old goal shooter had an absolute blinder nailing a whopping 37 goals from 40 attempts at 93 per cent. She had a real coming of age game showcasing her dynamic movement, strong holds and accuracy to post. Koenen proved hard to stop with her strong drives along the baseline and silky footwork to edge herself closer to the post. The Lightning shooter proved that she was not afraid to turn and shoot from anywhere in the circle backing herself and playing with confidence.

BENCH: Kadie-Ann Dehaney (Melbourne Vixens), Renae Ingles (Melbourne Vixens), Jhaniele Fowler (West Coast Fever)

There were plenty of star players throughout the round with Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Renae Ingles and Jhaniele Fowler all narrowly missing out on Draft Central’s Team of the Week starting seven, instead securing a spot on the bench. Jamaican international and Melbourne Vixens goal keeper, Kadie-Ann Dehaney imposed herself after coming on late in the second quarter. The lanky defender used her strength and aerial skill to limit her opponents influence under the post amassing four gains, three intercepts and six deflections for her efforts. Through the midcourt teammate, Renae Ingles dominated with her slick movement and strong defensive pressure. Her hands over pressure won her plenty of ball picking up three gains, three intercepts and four deflections while her drive through the midcourt was equally as impressive. West Coast fever goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler continued her hot form piling on another 43 goals from 47 attempts at 92 per cent. The Jamaican shooter shouldered the load in attack once again, using her height, clever footwork and aerial skill to edge closer to the post and convert.