There’s just six rounds to go in Super Netball season 2023, with all players keen to put their best foot forward in what is a contract year for all our stars.
With a CPA yet to be finalised beyond this season, our players are coming out of contract – so now’s the time to shine.
Here’s five players who are enjoying a breakout year in Super Netball – and looking to cement a spot in 2024.
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MACY GARDNER (Firebirds)
Macy Gardner may be out for the next five weeks with her wrist injury, but she’s shown enough to prove she deserves to be in the league.
The midcourter has been in outstanding form this season, really taking her game to another level.
She’s shown what she’s capable of when called upon by coach Bec Bulley and it’s a really exciting time to see her growth.
Gardner has played just one full game this season, as she’s been used as a second-half impact player by Bulley for most matches.
The midcourter is averaging 16 feeds and more than nine goal assists in her limited minutes on court this season.
REMI KAMO (Firebirds)
The more consistent court time Remi gets, the more her combination with Ruby Bakewell-Doran is going to grow and develop – and that’s a scary prospect for opposition sides.
Tall, strong defenders are hard to come by for teams to build their list on, but at the age of 29 Remi has shown she’s got what it takes at this level.
A lot of our imports are in defence positions so it can be hard to teams to find goal keepers who can play straight away without coming through a training capacity.
Kamo is the perfect example of you just never know when your opportunity is going to come, and sometimes for players it’s going to be later.
Remi is not a youngster but she’s still a rookie in terms of elite netball experience.
But she’s taking on the best in the business week in, week out, whether they are Australian Diamonds or international superstars, and I think Remi is really setting herself up to be a player who needs to be on a list next season.
This year she’s played all 60 minutes in six of the Firebirds’ eight matches – averaging almost four gains a game, and more than four deflections to go with her 10 rebounds for the season.
Firebirds secure second season win | 01:37
ANNIE MILLER (LIGHTNING)
Midcourter Annie Miller has been great and very unassuming this season.
She’s consistently doing the job for coach Belinda Reynolds at wing attack, teaming up with the Lightning’s Diamonds duo in Steph Wood and Cara Koenen.
Reynolds has changed the way Lightning plays in 2023 and that’s where Annie Miller has found her game suits the way Belinda wants them to move the ball.
Averaging more than 27 feeds per game this season, Miller is also registering almost 13 goal assists and more than 17 centre pass receives when she steps out on the court.
Miller has been the big improver for the Lightning this season.
EMILY MOORE (Firebirds)
New Queensland coach Bec Bulley knew exactly who to turn to when Firebirds star Gretel Bueta announced she was pregnant – bringing NSW goaler Emily Moore north with her.
There’s always been such potential around Moore, given how good she’s been in the level below Super Netball.
Moore’s game time is increasing each week out at goal attack as she forms a partnership with second-year star Donnell Wallam.
The more we see of Moore, the more you can see what an asset she could to be for Super Netball wherever she lands next season.
While her super shot accuracy is sitting below 50 per cent (7/15), she’s shown enough confidence to go to post in her limited minutes on court with 20/27 goals for the season.
When you look at the Firebirds’ ladder position, you can judge however you like, but they are working hard to develop Australian talent – and that’s traced back to Bulley’s connection with the development pathways.
Vixens withstand Firebirds to seal win | 01:13
TEIGAN O’SHANNASSY (Swifts)
The Swifts rookie goal keeper has had snippets of court time but not enough to really show what she can do.
Her height has been a real asset for the Swifts this season, and to be able to bring her on and have two really tall defenders – alongside Sarah Klau means they can switch and change players.
Klau’s game is building out at goal defence so to have the tall in Teigan O’Shannassy come on – she can win ball.
And she’s fairly clean, too.
She is gradually building her timing and that combination with Klau – it’s been great to see coach Briony Akle give her that time on court.
The versatility of a Super Netball squad is so important – it’s not so much about a strong seven, but having a 10 who can rotate on court, and having O’Shannassy there helps Akle shuffle that Swifts back-end.
Making an appearance in only five games this season, O’Shannassy has already racked up eight gains, 13 deflections and two rebounds – while conceding only 21 penalties.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
While those five have made big impressions, there’s honourable mentions to two not so much rising stars, as more experienced campaigners, in Thunderbirds Tayla Williams, Vixen Olivia Lewis and Firebirds training partner Hulita Veve.
Williams was a player many tipped to be one of the top youngsters of this year – and she’s proven that after eight rounds.
The Thunderbirds midcourter has just been confirming what everyone knew she had in her game.
For Lewis, the risky move to head east and play for the Melbourne Vixens is now paying off.
The defender has won a starting role, ahead of former Diamond Emily Mannix, and shown she has the skills to match it with the best.
Lewis is getting ball in hand, and can no longer be considered just an impact player – which is a tag she’s had for such a long time at both the Vixens and her former club the West Coast Fever.
One of the hardest things to do as an athlete is where you feel like you’re not progressing anymore because you may have to sit on the bench, or you may not get that opportunity at the next level so sitting in that waiting pattern is really hard.
I feel for players like that who haven’t had the chance to sink their teeth into games and show these teams what they can do – but now is Olivia Lewis’ time.
