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. Entering the top five is  ANZ Premiership side Southern Steel.

It was a trying season for the Southern Steel with a couple of key pillars going down with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and therefore forcing the side to reassess their options and look elsewhere for replacements. Prior to both players being struck down with injury Jennifer O’Connell was a commanding presence under the post while Georgia Heffernan was a handy cameo. Livewire and Trinidad and Tobago product Kalifa McCollin provided plenty of flair and excitement inside the goal circle, taking the brunt of the action with her teammates going down around her. However the Steel have a very different look heading into season 2021 with a number of new faces joining the squad and generating plenty of excitement, with the aforementioned trio not apart of next year’s squad.

In terms of new faces there is none more promising than former Saracens Mavericks and England Roses goal shooter George Fisher with the youngster committing to come and ply her trade out in New Zealand. She is a rock under the post able to withstand the physicality and use her height to full advantage to reel in the high passes and more importantly score at a high rate. She will be partnered alongside two-time premiership player Tiana Metuarua who has made the jump from the Central Pulse to the Steel. The young goal attack is highly versatile, crafty with ball in hand and a real smooth mover that can slot them from range or directly under the post making for an exciting shooting combo.

The fresh faces do not stop there with Renee Savai’inaea joining the club and set to bring plenty of dynamism through the midcourt with her change of direction and quick hands. Her partnership with Metuarau could be one to watch out for given their ability to read the play and link-up. The formidable combination of Shannon Saunders and Gina Crampton will no longer exist at ANZ Premiership level with the latter joining the Northern Stars meaning Saunders will have to up the ante in 2021.

There are a number of promising defenders for the Steel with Taneisha Fifita a real excitement machine with her intercepting ability and lean over the shot. Fifita can turn a game on its head and with another preseason under her belt will be aiming to have even more of an influence alongside the ever-reliable Te Huinga Selby-Rickit down back. Kate Heffernan had moments of magic throughout the 2020 season and will be eager to elevate her game to the next level in the upcoming season. She is a real energiser bunny that has deceptive speed and an uncanny ability to use her long arms to cause chaos and create turnovers.

It has been a complete overhaul of players across the off-season with the Southern Steel bringing in a wealth of young up and coming players that have no shortage of star power and potential making for an exciting 2021 season. It will be interesting to see how they connect across the court with a new face in each third of the court.