IT was a big round of Suncorp Super Netball with yet another draw and some blowout games. The New South Wales (NSW) Swifts snatched first spot on the ladder while the Vixens flexed their muscles with a big win against the Lightning. Credit to their impressive the performance the NSW Swifts earned three spots in the Draft Central Team of the Week. The next best was the Firebirds, GIANTS and Vixens who all claimed two spots apiece while the Magpies and Lightning did not get a nomination for Round 6.

GK: Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts)

Riding a high from her Diamonds call-up Sarah Klau showed why she was selected with her impressive defensive pressure. She worked tirelessly all game attacking the hands of Shimona Nelson and contesting every ball that came her way. Her clever footwork to get around the body of Nelson and go out hunting for the Swifts put doubt in the mind of the Collingwood feeders. Klau highlighted her ability to impact the play and also play a solid one on one style of play to try and shut down her direct opponent. Her connection and combination with defensive teammates Maddy Turner and Kate Eddy also enabled her to use her read of the play and timing to go and cherry pick intercepts. Credit to her immense pressure and defensive effort she won the Player of the Match finishing the game with four intercepts, eight gains and eight deflections.

GD: Kristiana Manu’a (GIANTS Netball)

Up against Silver Ferns goaler Maria Folau, Kristiana Manu’a went to work and won the battle. Her defensive pressure, speed off the mark and athleticism allowed her to contest every ball and apply good hands over pressure. She utilised her assets to try and clog up the space and reduce the influence of her direct opponent under the post. The connection between her defensive partner Sam Poolman continues to grow with each game providing support play, dropping back at the right time and then going out hunting. Though her defensive work was impressive her ability to drive through the midcourt was also important in helping to create attacking forays for the GIANTS. She showcased her read of the play and timing to claim four gains, two intercepts and seven deflections for her efforts.

WD: Amy Parmenter (GIANTS Netball)

It was a break out game for the 21-year-old who showed great composure and tenacity to fight hard and win the ball against a quality opposition. She outworked and outhustled Chelsea Pitman doing all the right things to block her from getting to circle edge. Her quick footwork, impressive timing and ability to read the play won her Player of the Match honours picking up seven gains, four intercepts and six deflections. Parmenter really stamped her authority on the competition highlighting her ability to take control of a game and reduce the impact of star players with her attacking and tagging style of game plan. Her work around the circle edge was also impressive showcasing her balance, poise and control to get tips and create turnover opportunities for the GIANTS.

C: Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens)

The Melbourne Vixens captain led from the front with her words of wisdom resonating with each and every player. She contested hard and highlighted her defensive mindset applying good strong hands over pressure to amass two gains and two intercepts. Her ability to nullify 200 gamer Laura Langman made her a sure start for the Team of the Week credit to her immense pressure. Her clever ball movement and precision passes is a real feature of her game while her composure with ball in hand to assess all options makes her a damaging player on the circle edge. Moloney’s vision allowed her to thread the ball into Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip racking up 20 goal assists from 30 feeds.

WA: Caitlyn Nevins (Queensland Firebirds)

The veteran wing attack took control in the attacking third for the Firebirds delivering the ball seamlessly into Gretel Tippett and Abigail Latu-Meafou. Nevins had to adjust her delivery style in the absence of usual goal shooter Romelda Aiken but used her netball smarts to get into damaging positions and hit the circle edge hard. Her quick hands and high release passes worked well while her composure to work the ball around the circle edge allowed her teammates to reposition and get into better scoring position. She did a wealth of work to bring the ball down into the attack end with a game high 29 centre pass receives. Her hot hand around the circle end also made her an influential player for the Firebirds amassing 39 feeds with 32 goal assists. While her attacking prowess was impressive her ability to slow down her opposition in transition allowed her to get hands to ball defensively picking up two gains and one intercept.

GA: Gretel Tippett (Queensland Firebirds)

It was another stellar performance by the Australian Diamond who is going from strength to strength. Given the forced changes in the goal circle for the Firebirds Tippett has stepped up and taken ownership of the scoring utilising her accuracy under the post and sheer athleticism to outrun and outmanoeuvre her opponent. Her creativity and attacking flair is hard to stop with the goal attack impressing with a lay-up and proving too strong for the Fever defenders who struggled to contain her explosiveness. She converted 35 of 36 attempts at a whopping 97 percent while her work over the transverse line was also important for the Firebirds. Her connection with Latu-Meafou continues to grow with the two creating good screens and space for one another to drive into.

GS: Sam Wallace (NSW Swifts)

Sam Wallace continues to impress as the season goes on with the Trinidad and Tobago shooter oozing composure and skill under the post. Her athletic and laid back side poses a real threat for her opposition while her ability to turn and shot makes her a valuable asset for the Swifts. Her dominance under the post forced Collingwood goal keeper, Geva Mentor to the bench as the Swifts goal shooter used her clever body positioning and footwork to hold her ground. She showcased her range and accuracy slotting 45 from 47 at 95 percent.

Bench: Courtney Bruce (West Cost Fever), Maddy Proud (NSW Swifts), Tegan Philip (Melbourne Vixens)

Tegan Philip had arguably one of her best games of the season with the Melbourne Vixens goal attack putting on a masterclass up against Karla Pretorius. Philip did a wealth of work across the court to deliver the ball into Thwaites while also driving hard and putting up her fair share of shots to pose a threat on the scoreboard with 26 from 31 at 84 percent. Through the midcourt Maddy Proud was unlucky to not get the starting nod credit to her hard work and delivery into the Swifts shooters racking up 29 feeds. Proud showed her versatility switching into centre in the second quarter and then back into wing attack making her a key player for NSW. Defensively, Courtney Bruce has made her way onto the Draft Central Team of the Week bench credit to her solid effort over the weekend. Her ability to go out hunting and use her body to out position and push her opponent up high was important for the Fever. The Australian Diamonds goal keeper was in absolutely everything that came her way picking up eight gains, three intercepts, nine deflections and three rebounds.