IN the final round before the break for World Cup it was the Melbourne Vixens that dominated our Draft Central Team of the Week with a staggering five players making the side. With so many Vixens players in the team the likes of the West Coast Fever, Queensland Firebirds, NSW Swifts and GIANTS did not have players feature in the line-up.

GK: Emily Mannix (Melbourne Vixens)

The goal keeper broke the record set by netball great Sharni Layton in Round 9 racking up a whopping nine intercepts. The talented defender brought out all the party tricks in her match-up against GIANTS shooters Caitlin Bassett and Jo Harten cherry picking passes and propelling the ball back down the court. Mannix showcased her impressive timing throughout the match and her skill to win ball cleanly with a mere 10 penalties to her name. She continued to go from strength to strength pushing her opponents up high and confusing the space in the circle credit to her partnership with teammate Jo Weston.

GD: Karla Pretorius (Sunshine Coast Lightning)

It is no surprise that Pretorius made the side once again after yet another dominant performance over the weekend. The tenacious defender continues to shock with her dynamic movement, speed to ball and sheer ability to do the unthinkable. While she excels at the flashy stuff, her work to nullify the influence of her opposition goal attack is second to none shutting down their drives into the circle and doubling back on the goal shooter when needed. Pretorius finished with five gains, two intercepts and three deflections showcasing her nous to cleanly get around the body of her opponent and continuously win ball back for the Lightning.

WD: Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies)

The Magpies finally got back on the winners list with the efforts of Brazill not going unnoticed. The flashy wing defence dialled it back a bit this game and in doing so absolutely dominated Caitlyn Nevins who only managed eight feeds for the entire match. Though she did not feature highly on the stats it was the off the ball work that she did that made her such a dominant force, clogging up space and applying good hands over pressure to create doubt into Nevins mind when feeding into the likes of Gretel Tippett and Lenize Potgieter. Brazill’s drive through the midcourt also played a huge role the Magpies who rely on her athleticism and gut running to provide support in the middle third. The exciting wing defence managed two gains, one intercept and one deflection.

C: Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens)

It was a true captain’s performance by Moloney who led from the front right from the get go. Despite feeling unwell the gut running centre worked hard both in defence and offence to move the ball across the court and keep up with Jamie-Lee Price throughout the match. The experienced centre displayed her pin point precision passing letting balls go into the circle with ease and using her turn of speed in attack to hit the circle edge time and time again. Moloney had an absolute day out with a whopping 21 goal assists, two gains, two intercepts and five pickups showcasing her complete and utter control right across the court.

WA: Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens)

Liz Watson returned to form starring against the likes of youngster Amy Paarmenter who felt the full brunt of Watson’s dominance and class. The wing attack showed that she can turn a game on its head with her clever ball placement and excellent vision into the circle. Watson did not take a backwards step coming out hard at the centre pass top scoring with a huge 32 receives while her second phase work was equally as impressive. Her ability to feed the ball seamlessly into the circle makes her such a damaging prospect while her classy footwork and strength around the circle makes her near on impossible to stop amassing 32 goal assists from 45 feeds.

GA: Nat Medhurst (Collingwood Magpies)

The veteran goal attack well and truly came to play against the Firebirds and she showcased her full bag of tricks to pick them apart. Medhurst lifted her load in attack both in the goal circle and feeding into Jamaican shooter Shimona Nelson dominating against the likes of Tara Hinchliffe and Kim Jenner. From the first whistle her timing was on and accuracy to post never wavered converting 18 from 18 at 100 per cent credit to her lovely high release. Her connection with Kelsey Browne and Kimiora Poi out the front was impressive allowing her to drive into the circle and turn to post with ease. she led the way with feeds racking up a game high 41 with 31 goal assists highlighting her ability to take ownership in the attacking end.

GS: Caitlin Thwaites (Melbourne Vixens)

It was another impressive performance by Thwaites who commanded the ball in the goal circle and showcased that she was not afraid to go to post. Her improved movement in the circle and combination with Tegan Philip is going from strength to strength making them a damaging duo. Thwaites oozed class and composure with ball in hand to work the ball around the circle edge and open up space to get into a more damaging position nailing 40 from 42 at 95 per cent. Her strong holds and read of the play allowed her to attain clever body positioning and use her feet to keep the defenders at bay making her hard to stop when the ball came her way.

BENCH: Shamera Sterling (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Laura Scherian (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Tegan Philip (Melbourne Vixens)

All three players were unlucky to not make the starting seven but instead have found themselves on the bench. Shamera Sterling had another blinder for the Thunderbirds shutting down her opponent and using her long reach to get into the head of Sophie Garbin. The lanky defender picked up an impressive 11 gains, six intercepts, five deflections and four rebounds showcasing her defensive prowess once again. Through the midcourt Laura Scherian really dominated with her speed and dynamic movement opening up that attack end for the Lightning. Her vision and quick hands allowed her to catch defenders on the hop and provide easy ball into the goalers. Tegan Philip is the fifth Vixen to make her way into the team credit to her impressive workload in attack over the weekend. Her strong drives and accuracy to post really stood up throughout the match while her composure with ball in hand made her hard to stop throughout the match.