Bec 1Who will win the ANZ Championship - Part 5
January 7th 2010 10:36
The Queensland Firebirds will be another team to watch this year due to significant changes.
Under coach Vicki Wilson, the Firebirds were starting to make ground as one of the teams to beat in the ANZ Championship but Wilson was stood down at the end of last year by Netball Queensland.
It's amazing how Netball Queensland can even think for a moment to replace Wilson with former national teammate and part-time national team assistant coach Roselee Jencke. Jencke played for Australia from 1983-92, however, Wilson played with the Australian netball team from 1985-99, being one of only three netballers to represent their country in more than 100 games.
Wison led the Australian team to the first ever netball gold medal in 1998. She has also won three gold medals and one silver at the Netball World Championships.
One thing that Jencke will have on her side, that Wison didn't, is the addition of former Adelaide Thunderbirds GA Natalie Medhurst. Medhust, an Australian Netball Diamonds player, has been considered as having a similar playing style to the current Diamonds captain and netball legend Sharelle McMahon. McMahon is considered to be one of the world's best netballers and along with Liz Ellis make up the other two players to represent Australia in more than 100 games.
Medhurst will join another highly talented shooter Romelda Aiken, which will make the defenders' job a hell of a lot harder.
Other new players to the Firebirds line-up, which will add to the Queensland team's chances this year are former Melbourne Vixens players Sarah Wall and Amy Steel.
Jacqui Russell, Laura Scherian and Sophie Croft are all new to the Firebirds and to the ANZ Championship.
However, Queensland has lost former captain Peta Stephens who will play with Canterbury Tactix and Janelle Lawson has moved to the West Coast Fever.
The Firebirds have been able to secure Laura Geitz, Clare McMeniman and Lauren Nourse, all quality players particularly Geitz.
This will no doubt be an interesting year for the Firebirds, will the team be able to settle and work well together to claim their first ANZ Championship title? I'm not so sure without Wilson leading from the front.
Under coach Vicki Wilson, the Firebirds were starting to make ground as one of the teams to beat in the ANZ Championship but Wilson was stood down at the end of last year by Netball Queensland.
It's amazing how Netball Queensland can even think for a moment to replace Wilson with former national teammate and part-time national team assistant coach Roselee Jencke. Jencke played for Australia from 1983-92, however, Wilson played with the Australian netball team from 1985-99, being one of only three netballers to represent their country in more than 100 games.
One thing that Jencke will have on her side, that Wison didn't, is the addition of former Adelaide Thunderbirds GA Natalie Medhurst. Medhust, an Australian Netball Diamonds player, has been considered as having a similar playing style to the current Diamonds captain and netball legend Sharelle McMahon. McMahon is considered to be one of the world's best netballers and along with Liz Ellis make up the other two players to represent Australia in more than 100 games.
Medhurst will join another highly talented shooter Romelda Aiken, which will make the defenders' job a hell of a lot harder.
Other new players to the Firebirds line-up, which will add to the Queensland team's chances this year are former Melbourne Vixens players Sarah Wall and Amy Steel.
Jacqui Russell, Laura Scherian and Sophie Croft are all new to the Firebirds and to the ANZ Championship.
However, Queensland has lost former captain Peta Stephens who will play with Canterbury Tactix and Janelle Lawson has moved to the West Coast Fever.
This will no doubt be an interesting year for the Firebirds, will the team be able to settle and work well together to claim their first ANZ Championship title? I'm not so sure without Wilson leading from the front.
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