#9 Ones to watch

With the countdown to the World Cup well & truly on, I thought it was about time we cast an eye over  the players to watch!

Here’s my attempt at predicting the hot shots who will become World Cup heroes in 2019 & beyond!

 🇯🇲 Shamera Stirling: Regular viewers of the Vitality Superleague will know about Stirling’s athleticism and elevation from her time at Loughborough Lightning. Who knew she’d step it up at least two gears in her debut season in Suncorp Super Netball with Adelaide Thunderbirds!? She has the potential to be THE stand out defender of the tournament and leave her mark on global netball. If she can have a quiet one against the Roses though I am sure we will all be grateful!

🇳🇿 Maria Falou: the experienced GA is pivotal to the Silver Ferns as they look to regroup under the guidance of Noelene Taurua. Maria has been a classy player for years but the added pressure of the New Zealand fans expectations and her husband’s controversial off court antics in the lead up to the World Cup, will shine the spotlight on her more than ever. Don’t bet against her rising to the occasion!

🇿🇦 Renske Stoltz: I had the absolute pleasure of watching her at Fast Fives in 2017. She isn’t likely to make Norma Plummer’s starting line up so you may be asking why I’ve got her down as one to watch! She has the potential to be a game changer - if she comes off the bench and has an effect like I think she can, anything can happen, for her and the SA squad.

🇦🇺 Grettel Tippett: I LOVE watching Tippet play for the Queensland Thunderbirds in Suncorp Supernetball - it’s her unorthodox approach and basketball-style lay ups that excite the crowd! Defenders just have no idea what she is going to do next! I suspect it would be tough to keep that approach when the Diamonds play a certain style, but she’s stayed true to her roots and reaped the rewards with a spot in the Diamonds 12. It will be between her & Steph Wood for the GA bib in the starting line up but i’d start with Tippett: I love a maverick!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Fran Williams: she only made her international debut last year but the 21 year old defender has already put her hand up for a place in the starting line up with a stand out season for Vitality Superleague finalists Wasps. Opponents won’t know enough about her to adapt their style and she has absolutely nothing to lose when she takes the court - makes for an exciting World Cup for Williams and it will be interesting to see if she’s still based in the UK for the 2019/2020 season!

 🇹🇹 Sam Wallace: whilst the Calypso Girls from Trinidad & Tobago are not expected to compete for the top spots, netball fans should keep a close eye on shooter Sam Wallace, currently having a stand out season for Suncorp Super Netball league leaders NSW Swifts. Her accuracy (96% against Giants!) is phenomenal but it’s her ‘no nonsense’ approach that excites me and will be a fabulous example to watching youngsters.

🇦🇺 Jamie Lee Price: a lot has been made of the selection of Price in the final Diamonds 12, particularly in her home nation, as she is expected to play WD for the defending champs whilst she has featured mainly at C for Giants in the Suncorp Super Netball League. As much as I would have loved to have seen Ash Brazill in Liverpool (seen by many as too hastily overlooked for that Yellow WD bib) Lisa Alexander will know what she is doing & hopefully we will see what she does, when Price  takes to the M&S arena court!

 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Emma Barrie: at just 17 years old Barrie is an exciting prospect for Scotland Netball.  She has been given the opportunity to compete at the 2019 World Cup and potentially gain her first Cap, after getting the nod  Superleague side Sirens, following Cat Tuiviti’s pregnancy announcement. I am really looking forward to her debut and following her career - it has the potential to be really exciting!

🇿🇦 Karla Pretorious: Wowsers, the Goal Defence has made 7/8 Suncorp Super Netball Net Points ‘Team of the Week’ line ups at the time of writing! She is in phenomenal form heading into the World Cup and will reap the rewards of playing with compatriot Phumza Maweni at Sunshine Coast Lightning. Playing with world class performers like New Zealand’s Laura Langman, week in week out, wouldn’t be doing her any harm at all!

I’m looking forward to revisiting this blog and assess the success (of the players and my predictions!) after the World Cup is all over!