IT has been an unconventional year of netball and as 2020 comes to a close the Draft Central team casts an eye to the future and which teams we are excited to see take the court for the 2021 season. There has been a number of player changes throughout the offseason across the ANZ Premiership, Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) and Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) with retirements, pregnancies and injuries impacting some teams. But that does not mean that next year will not be action packed with some fresh faces elevated to full time rosters and internationals joining new leagues. In at number three on the countdown is reigning SSN premiers, Melbourne Vixens.

The premiership-winning side has gone under a number of changes heading into the 2021 season with a couple of key retirements set to shape the future of the club. Fan favourite Caitlin Thwaites reinvented herself out in goal attack throughout the 2020 season but has since retired as has partner in crime, Tegan Philip therefore meaning a gaping hole has been left in the attacking third. Both Thwaites and Philip are renowned for their impressive long bomb shooting, accuracy to post and overall experience which will mean the side will have to look to the likes of new recruit and former West Coast Fever goaler, Kaylia Stanton to lead the way. A traditional goal shooter, it will be interesting to see how she works her magic out the front to feed Malawian goaler Mwai Kumwenda under the post. Kumwenda is showing no signs of slowing down and is an integral element in the Vixens’ side with her sheer athleticism but might have to shake up her game play to accommodate for the likes of Stanton.

Aside from both Thwaites and Philip retiring, the squad has remained relatively the same with Jo Weston and Emily Mannix forming a strong duo down back while the influence of Kadie-Ann Dehaney is undeniable. With another season under her belt in the Vixens dress the influence of Kate Eddy could become more profound with the wing defence able to seamlessly swing into the defensive goal circle and provide another option showcasing just how much talent the Vixens have. Youngster Allie Smith has also signed on for the 2021 season with the wing defence starring throughout the season with her space marking, attacking mentality and intercepting ability. The Vixens have steadily developed a strong cohort of defenders that can all rotate in and out of the circle without skipping a beat and will once again boast a strong defensive unit that can inflict pain given their space marking, lean over the shot and smothering pressure.

With a plethora of options down back the Vixens are somewhat spoilt for choice however one could argue that they lack that extra attacking option if the likes of Liz Watson or Kate Moloney go down with injury. Two of the best in the business Watson and Moloney are the real barometers for the side able to turn a game on its head and provide that calming element which could be needed given the new faces in the goal circle with not only Stanton joining the fray but so too youngster Ruby Barkmeyer who is yet to make her SSN debut.

There is plenty of hype around the Vixens heading into next season but the pressure is on to whether or not they will be able to live up to the expectations of another finals berth given the calibre that has departed the club.