Bec 1Who will win the 2010 ANZ Championship - Part 1
January 3rd 2010 10:34
This is a first in a ten-part series where I will profile each of the 10 teams in the ANZ Championship, five from Australia and five from New Zealand, and discuss their chances of winning this year's championship. I'm also interested in hearing your views on this subject.
To start this series, I think it's fitting to lead with the 2009 premiers, the Melbourne Vixens. Can they be the first team to win back to back titles? I believe they have a very strong chance in achieving this milestone.
For starters, they are the only team in the competition who have been able to retain their main line-up. There have been a lot of changes to other sides which will make this year's championship once again an exciting and nail-biting competition.
The only changes to the Vixens are that Ama Abgeze has joined Central Pulse and Sarah Wall the Queensland Firebirds. Maybe the most disappointing to leave the Vixens is Amy Steel, who has also joined the Firebirds. Steel only played one game last year for the Vixens, but was impressive when she replaced injured Bianca Chatfield in that match. Despite the lack of court play, Steel was selected onto the Australian Netball Diamonds.
However, experienced midcourter, Wendy Jacobsen, is back after an injury stopped her 2009 campaign with the Vixens. She has also recently been married, now known as Wendy Jones.
Tegan Caldwell and Kara Richards also join the Vixens line-up. Both were Victorian Fury teammates.
They join a star-studded line-up including Australian Diamonds captain Sharelle McMahon, who was the third ever netballer to reach 100 Test games for Australia, last year.
The highest award in netball, the Liz Ellis Diamond, was awarded to Julie Corletto, who continues her Vixens campaign this year.
Vixens co-captain Bianca Chatfield returns along with Renae Hallinan, who made her debut for the Australian Diamonds last year and was named Australia's international player of the year at the 2009 netball awards following an outstanding season.
Natasha Chokljat, Caitlin Thwaites, Chelsey Nash, Kathleen Knott and Brooke Thompson also continue with the Vixens.
To start this series, I think it's fitting to lead with the 2009 premiers, the Melbourne Vixens. Can they be the first team to win back to back titles? I believe they have a very strong chance in achieving this milestone.
For starters, they are the only team in the competition who have been able to retain their main line-up. There have been a lot of changes to other sides which will make this year's championship once again an exciting and nail-biting competition.
However, experienced midcourter, Wendy Jacobsen, is back after an injury stopped her 2009 campaign with the Vixens. She has also recently been married, now known as Wendy Jones.
Tegan Caldwell and Kara Richards also join the Vixens line-up. Both were Victorian Fury teammates.
They join a star-studded line-up including Australian Diamonds captain Sharelle McMahon, who was the third ever netballer to reach 100 Test games for Australia, last year.
The highest award in netball, the Liz Ellis Diamond, was awarded to Julie Corletto, who continues her Vixens campaign this year.
Natasha Chokljat, Caitlin Thwaites, Chelsey Nash, Kathleen Knott and Brooke Thompson also continue with the Vixens.
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