This year has been different to any other and, as we approach the start of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball Season, we wanted to hear from members of our purple family about what the Birdies mean to them. In the first of our Firebirds Fan Blog's, we hear from Schelle Tick about what she's missed about her favourite team during the COVID break, and what she is looking forward to most about the season.
I’m a passionate netball fan and super proud to be part of the purple family - So when COVID-19 took hold and our amazing Suncorp Super Netball season was delayed, and I couldn’t watch my favourite ladies in the purples dresses take the court as planned - what did I do?
Yes, you guessed it, I watched the entire 2019 season all over again, just to get my fix.
The 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season delay was a shame yes, but it gave me something I didn’t anticipate, it gave me insight to our ladies in purple. Their videos and posts shared on social media, gave us the opportunity to see them from a unique perspective, not just netballers, not just professional athletes, (who we admire), but quirky and fun personalities that we don’t often get to see – this just made me even prouder to be part of the purple family.
Our birdies have been part of our lives for so long, and have made us cry with happiness, sadness and relief. We have cheered them on from the sidelines, in our lounge rooms, at one point for me even at the Airport (poor people around me). So when Suncorp Super Netball finally gets started, and our purple team take the court, we know they have everything needed to shine.
Why do I say this, why do I have the confidence to say this?
Because we have our reliable and extremely talented core, Gretel, Romelda and Gabi (Gabi, never take that yellow ribbon out – ever. It’s your power source) and the brilliant Ine-Mari.
Then we have Mahalia in the mid court, who gives us calm, patience, and stability, along with our pocket rocket Jemma. These two ladies are a good balance for each other.
Then we have the option of Lara, an exciting new recruit, who has great movement to get to the circle edge and a lot of strength. She reminded me of Gabi when I watched her play the Fury and Giants game in 2018, so strong.
Of course, we cannot forget Macy, I would really like to see Lara and Macy together as an attack mid court, Lara will bring the strength and Macy the speed, which everyone needs to keep up with Gretel anyway.
Our Birdie’s defence end….WOW. Gabi, Tara, Kim and Rudi, how SUPER exciting is this year going to be, WOW WOW WOW, and we finally have a new tall and extremely agile defender in the mix with Rudi.
Of course, we will always have our dynamic duo of Tara and Kim, but when playing against the super tall shooters, there is so much more pressure on our mid court and a lot of frustration as a spectator seeing how close we get, so recruiting young Rudi was fantastic. I loved watching her in the Fury final in 2019, she may be tall, but she can move those feet around the body of the shooter, and she will only get better with experience.
We have a great combination of talented experience and youth, which can also be scary as there is a lot of unknown factors about this team. I’m excited though and I hope to see some different combinations take the court early in the year, to see our depth and give our new young players time out on court to let them show us what I know they are capable of.
GO BIRDIES
