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. Coming in at number four is back-to-back ANZ Premiership champions, Central Pulse.

It was another strong season by the Pulse with the side claiming its second premiership and proving to be a powerhouse of the ANZ competition. With stars across the court and a good mix of youth coming up through the ranks the Pulse dominated right throughout, leaving no stone unturned. However heading into the 2021 season the Pulse will be missing a couple of key pillars both on and off the court. Two-time premiership coach Yvette McCausland-Durie has departed while Karin Burger has joined forces with Mainland Tactix. Despite being named in the squad, captain Katrina Rore is likely to miss, recently announcing her pregnancy meaning it will be up to the youth to stand up and lead the way.

With new faces set to join the fold in up and coming defensive dynamos Paris Lokotui and Parris Mason the Pulse will have a very different look about them, given their recent dominance and star power across the court. This is the first time both Mason and Lokotui will compete at the elite ANZ Premiership level, generating plenty of excitement around what they are capable of doing and the heights in which they can reach surrounded by the likes of Kelly Jury. Speaking of Jury, the goal keeper had a breakout season this year and with further development and court time could be an even bigger menace down back. Without both Burger and Rore it will be interesting to see how the Pulse shape-up defensively next year and whether or not they are able to inflict the same level of pain they have in recent years.

Despite retaining the services of formidable shooting duo, Aliyah Dunn and Ameliaranne Ekenasio the Pulse lost the highly versatile Tiana Metuarau who provided that element of movement to the attacking end. Dunn has only gotten better with time and another season as the lynchpin in a potent attack will only boost her confidence and skillset, given her ability to light up the court with her high level of accuracy.

With fresh faces aplenty, one familiar face has returned after a short stint with Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Speedster and livewire Whitney Souness provided plenty of speed and dynamism in attack and already has strong connections established with Ekenasio and Dunn. Her inclusion however, does pose the question of where will all the midcourters suit up given, Maddy Gordon’s breakout season in wing attack and Claire Kersten’s consistency through the centre.

There are plenty of moving parts for the reigning champs who are faced with unfamiliar territory given the number of youngsters stepping up to the plate and the new connections that will have to be quickly formed if they are to keep up with the rest of the competition.