The season is over, the CPA sorted so now it’s time for clubs to start confirming their rosters for 2022. Check out all the latest whispers.
Champion midcourter Kate Moloney will rack up a decade at the Vixens after becoming the first player to re-sign with the club for 2022.
Co-captain Moloney, who has played 126 Super Netball and Trans-Tasman league matches for the club since making her debut in 2013, won the club’s most valuable player gong last season in a difficult year for the club.
The Vixens are adamant they can bounce back from their wooden spoon season to reach the finals again next season with the right recruitment moves and having already locked in coach Simone McKinnis for the next four years, making Moloney their first signing is a show of strength.
“I’m so excited to have signed on with the Vixens, and to be coming into my tenth year at the club,” Moloney said.
“I absolutely love the Vixens and everything the team, from players to staff, stands for so this was a no-brainer for me.
“We’ve taken a lot of learnings from this year, and I know we’re going to put that into our efforts for the 2022 season – starting now. We’re eyeing off the trophy.”
Moloney is currently in Perth with fellow Victorian Diamonds players, preparing for Australia’s series against the England Roses, which is yet to be confirmed.
The Vixens’ second signing will be revealed tomorrow
DIAMONDS SHOOTER SOPHIE GARBIN FREE AGENT AFTER LEAVING SWIFTS
Diamonds goaler Sohpie Garbin is looking for a new home after the NSW Swifts confirmed the two-time premiership winner would not return to the club in 2022.
The announcement is the biggest yet of the 2022 trade period where all Super Netball players are off contract.
The 24-year-old, who has shone for the Swifts in limited time on court behind international shooters Sam Wallace and Helen Housby, has decided to take up a contract elsewhere to ensure she’s a regular starting player.
It is not yet known where Garbin will land in 2022.
But she will not be quickly forgotten at the Swifts, where she made 49 appearances and a mark on the club from her debut match in 2018 in which she turned in a stellar performance against former Diamonds captain Laura Geitz.
Garbin, who won premierships with the Swifts in 2019 and 2021, said it had been an honour to play for the club.
“I will be forever grateful for the experiences and opportunities I’ve had since joining four years ago,” Garbin said.
“A lot of players don’t get the chance to win a premiership and I’ve been lucky enough to win two in my time at the Swifts.
“The decision to leave has been one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make but I would like to thank everyone at the club, its supporters and Netball NSW for an amazing four years.”
Swifts coach Briony Akle wished Garbin all the best for her next chapter.
“Sophie has been a pleasure to work with and while we are sad to see her go, we understand her decision,” Akle said.
“The nature of professional sport means that players always come and go but … I would like to wish her all the best for what’s next and look forward to a great match-up next season.”
Scroll down to see full team lists and changes.
SUPER NETBALL CONTRACT PERIOD
The season is over, the CPA deal is sorted so now it’s time for clubs to start confirming their rosters for 2022.
Last week Netball Australia confirmed a landmark new pay deal for all players in the Super Netball tournament, now it’s time for the eight clubs to confirm their line-ups for next season.
With Super Netball’s franchise agreement for all clubs expiring at the end of the 2021 season before clubs were renewed, all player and high performance (coaching and support staff) contracts expired in September, leading to an off-season contract frenzy.
Check out all the latest signing news and important dates here.
SIGNING PERIOD
From Monday September 6 clubs have had exclusive rights to re-sign players already on their rosters.
Clubs can also sign any of their existing permanent or temporary replacement players or training partners to be included in their 10 contracted final squad players.
Players can only be signed on a one or two-year contract.
Contracts are then sent to Netball Australia to be registered, with player announcements expected from September 13.
Clubs can also sign any player who was not contracted to another club, as a squad member, replacement player or a training partner.
Clubs have also been able to initiate conversations with squad players, permanent or temporary replacement players or training partners from other clubs but contracts cannot be signed until Monday 13 September.
FREE AGENCY PERIOD
The contract signing period for all free agents is from 13 September 2021 until 8 October 2021.
On Friday 8 October 2021 all teams must have signed contracts for their 10 squad players for the 2022 season.
Contracts be signed on a one-year contract for the 2022 season or a two-year contract for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
CLUBS
NSW Swifts
2021 finish: Premiers
Coach: Briony Akle
2021 squad: Sophie Garbin, Paige Hadley, Nat Haythornthwaite, Helen Housby, Sarah Klau, Lauren Moore, Maddy Proud, Maddy Turner, Sam Wallace, Tayla Fraser.
Gains: N/A
Losses: Sophie Garbin
Signing rumours: Coach Briony Akle is the club’s first target, with the coach team keen to lock in the coach that has led the club to two premierships in the past three years.
After sealing the 2021 title, Akle said she was keen to keep her group together to build on the success they have managed in recent seasons.
Big questions: Can the Swifts retain three quality shooters? Sam Wallace, Helen Housby and Sophie Garbin formed a magnificent trio in the circle for the Swifts but will Diamonds squad member Garbin look for a new home to ensure a starting spot?
Giants Netball
2021 finish: Minor premiers, runners-up
Coach: Julie Fitzgerald (Unsigned)
2021 squad: April Brandley, Sophie Dwyer, Jo Harten, Maddie Hay, Kristiana Manu’a, Matilda McDonnell, Amy Parmenter, Sam Poolman, Jamie-Lee Price, Kiera Austin (injured), Matisse Letherbarrow (injury replacement).
Gains: N/A
Losses: Sam Poolman (retirement), Kristinana Manu’a (Central Pulse, NZ)
Signing rumours: The Giants are on the hunt for defenders after losing both Sam Poolman and Kristiana Manu’a since the grand final. Poolman announced her retirement on Sunday, while Manu’a will link with the Central Pulse in New Zealand’s ANZ Championship.
Big questions: Teen ace Sophie Dwyer showed she can handle the heat as a starting goaler after stepping up in the absence of the injured Kiera Austin from the opening game of the season. Big with Austin set to return to partner Jo Harten, will Dwyer remain in the orange dress?
West Coast Fever
2021 finish: Third
Coach: Dan Ryan
2021 squad: Jess Anstiss, Sunday Aryang, Courtney Bruce, Verity Charles, Emma Cosh, Jhaniele Fowler, Stacey Francis, Sasha Glasgow, Olivia Lewis, Alice Teague-Neeld
Gains: Dan Ryan (coach)
Losses: Stacey Marinkovich (Diamonds program)
Signing rumours: The Fever have signed former Adelaide Thunderbirds head coach and Australian men’s netball captain Dan Ryan from the English Super League as head coach to succeed Australian mentor Stacey Marinkovich, who has left the club to join the Diamonds full-time.
Big questions: The biggest question surrounds star goaler Jhaniele Fowler and whether she returns to the club. The best goaler in the world has dominated Super Netball since her arrival in 2018 and latest rumours suggest the Jamaican captain will be back in 2022 to continue that.
Sunshine Coast Lightning
2021 finish: Fourth
Coach: Kylee Byrne (locked in until 2023)
2021 squad: Mahalia Cassidy, Cara Koenen, Phumza Maweni, Maddy McAuliffe, Kara Pretorius, Peace Proscovia, Laura Scherian, Kate Shimmin, Steph Wood, Ashlee Unie (injured), Maddison Hinchliffe (temporary replacement player), Binian Hunt (temporary replacement player).
Gains: N/A
Losses: Phumza Maweni, Peace Proscovia, Binian Hunt (Pulse, NZ)
Signing rumours: The Lightning announced at its presentation night that goaler Peace Proscovia and defender Phumza Maweni would not be returning to the club, confirming rumours on the departure of the internationals and opening a spot at each end of the court. Young midcourter Bini Hunt will head to New Zealand to link with the Pulse in the ANZ Championship.
Big questions: Will the Lightning look to internationals to replace Maweni and Proscovia or promote from within? Another international defender is rumoured to be on the Lightning radar.
Queensland Firebirds
2021 finish: Fifth
Coach: Megan Anderson
2021 squad: Romelda Aiken, Gretel Bueta, Lara Dunkley, Tippah Dwan, Rudi Ellis, Tara Hinchliffe, Kim Jenner, Jemma Mi Mi, Kim Ravaillion, Gabi Simpson
Gains: N/A
Losses: N/A
Signing rumours: Little change expected at the Firebirds with their relatively settled squad expected to be among the big movers in 2022 if they can stay injury free.
Big questions: Will Tippah Dwan stay in Brisbane? After a breakout season in 2020, Dwan stayed at the club to play with mentor Gretel Bueta but it may be time for her to spread her wings if she wants to be a regular starter. With Kaylia Stanton’s departure from the Vixens confirmed, could Dwan move to Melbourne?
Collingwood Magpies
2021 finish: Sixth
Coach: Nicole Richardson (locked in until 2023)
2021 squad: Melissa Bragg, Ash Brazill, Kelsey Browne, Molly Jovic, Kalifa McCollin, Geva Mentor, Shimona Nelson, Jacqui Newton, Gabrielle Sinclair, Jodi-Ann Ward
Gains: N/A
Losses: N/A
Signing rumours: Little talk coming out of the Magpies, except for their excitement at a new season after pushing from wooden spooners to finals contenders in the past 12 months.
Big questions: Kalifa McCollin took some time to settle into the pace of Super League last season and her place could be under pressure if the Magpies decide to look for other options to support Shimona Nelson in the circle.
Adelaide Thunderbirds
2021 finish: Seventh
Coach: Tania Obst
2021 squad: Matilda Garrett, Sam Gooden, Georgie Horjus, Elle McDonald, Maisie Nankivell, Hannah Petty, Lenize Potgieter, Shamera Sterling, Shadine van der Merwe, LaTanya Wilson
Gains: N/A
Losses: N/A
Signing rumours: After a difficult two years due to Covid, questions surround the continued involvement of all the international players, with rumours swirling some are looking to end their time in Australia.
Big questions: The Thunderbirds’ youth policy is starting to pay off but can they keep their entire squad together to capitalise on the growth of players who are starting to become experienced Super Netball campaigners?
Melbourne Vixens
2021 finish: Eighth
Coach: Simone McKinnis (locked in until 2025)
2021 squad: Ruby Barkmeyer, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Kate Eddy, Mwai Kumwenda, Emily Mannix, Kate Moloney, Allie Smith, Kaylia Stanton, Jo Weston, Liz Watson (injured), Hannah Mundy (temporary replacement player)
Gains: Kate Moloney (2022)
Losses: Kaylia Stanton (released)
Signing rumours: The Vixens are on the hunt for a goal attack and after announcing on Sunday that Kaylia Stanton would not return in 2022, have made roster room for a new goaler. Several teams have great depth in their goal circles, with the likes of the Firebirds’ Tippah Dwan, Giants’ Sophie Dwyer and Swifts’ Sophie Garbin all capable of holding down a starting spot.
Big questions: The Vixens’ defence was stellar again in 2021 despite their wooden spoon finish but can they hold on to three international circle defenders in 2022 with defenders in demand after the confirmed departures of Phumza Maweni (Sunshine Coast) and Sam Poolman (Giants)?