By Matt Fotia聽
There is little more than a month between us and the start of the 2025 SSN season, and even though there is still plenty of water to go under the bridge, we still thought it was high time we dusted off the old crystal ball and predicted how each team will line up come April 5.聽
Find out where we landed below.聽
THUNDERBIRDS聽
GS: Romelda Aiken-George聽
GA: Lauren Frew聽
WA: Georgie Horjus聽
C: Tayla Williams聽
WD: Latanya Wilson聽
GD: Matilda Garrett聽
GK: Shamera Sterling-Humphrey聽
INT: Hannah Petty, Kayla Graham, Lucy Austin聽
As the old saying goes, don鈥檛 fix what isn鈥檛 broke.聽聽
The Thunderbirds were unstoppable in the back half of the 2024 season with this starting seven and won鈥檛 spend too much time debating before they go into their round one fixture against Vixens with an unchanged starting line-up.聽
Keep an eye on their offensive line-up this season though, with five shooting options amongst their ranks.聽
The Thunderbirds won't change a winning formula.VIXENS聽
GS: Sophie Garbin聽
GA: Kiera Austin聽
WA: Hannah Mundy聽
C: Kate Moloney聽
WD: Kate Eddy聽
GD: Joanna Weston聽
GK: Rudi Ellis聽
INT: Lily Graham, Zara Walters, Emily Mannix replacement (TBC)聽
It's rinse and repeat for the ever-challenging Vixens.聽
Much like their rivals the Thunderbirds, the Vixens have no real reason to mess around with their starting seven considering their impressive 2024 campaign.聽聽
Simone McKinnis could get funky and move Zara Walters in WA and roll Hannah Mundy into C and skipper Kate Moloney into WD, but it鈥檚 very doubtful she鈥檒l run that system straight off the bat.聽
It may come into vogue as the season develops, especially with veteran Emily Mannix out for the foreseeable future.聽聽
Kate Eddy's versatility will be a weapon for the Vixens.FEVER聽
GS: Mwai Kumwenda聽
GA: Shanice Beckford聽
WA: Alice Teague-Neeld聽
C: Jess Anstiss聽
WD: Sunday Aryang聽
GD: Fran Williams聽
GK: Kadie-Ann Dehaney聽
INT: Olivia Wilkinson, Jordan Cransberg, Ruth Aryang聽
All eyes on the goal shooter bib out west.聽
We expect Dan Ryan to play it safe and give the experienced Mwai Kumwenda the nod, despite some noise that Victorian youth product Olivia Wilkinson will team up with Sunshine Girl Shanice Beckford in goals.聽聽
The only other change we could see is the move of Sunday Aryang back into GD, but Ryan has showed his desire to start the older Aryang sister in the wings before rolling her back into the circle when danger looms.聽
Shanice Beckford will get first crack at the goal attack bib for the Fever.LIGHTNING聽
GS: Cara Koenen聽
GA: Steph Fretwell聽
WA: Liz Watson聽
C: Leesa Mi Mi聽
WD: Mahalia Cassidy聽
GD: Courtney Bruce聽
GK: Ash Ervin聽
INT: Tara Hinchliffe, Reilley Batcheldor, Ava Black Replacement (TBC)聽
The competition鈥檚 scariest squad is out to redeem itself in 2025 and will boast some of the most intimidating bookends in SSN history if Belinda Reynolds decides to pair Courtney Bruce and Ash Ervin.聽
Ash Ervin should line up alongside Courtney Bruce.Ervin has shown her potential to break open games, just like Bruce, and together they could challenge the likes of Wilson and Sterling-Humphrey for pure fear factor.聽聽
Add onto this the Diamonds front three of Koenen-Fretwell-Watson and it鈥檚 all dreamy on the Sunshine Coast.聽
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MAVERICKS聽
GS: Shimona Jok聽
GA: Sasha Glasgow 聽
WA: Tayla Fraser聽
C: Molly Jovic聽
WD: Amy Parmenter聽
GD: Kim Brown聽
GK: Olivia Lewis聽
INT: Maisie Nankivell, Eleanor Cardwell, Lauren Parkinson聽
Parmenter, Jovic and Brown are the only locks in this line-up.聽
The Mavericks first big signing way back in December 2023, was English superstar Eleanor Cardwell, but we expect the Mavs to start their second SSN campaign with Cardwell on the bench, preferring the Shimona Jok-Sasha Glasgow combination.聽
Shimona Jok will be a reliable shooting option for the Mavericks in 2025.Tayla Fraser will get the nod at wing attack, while the dynamic Olivia Lewis should hold out the returning Lauren Parkinson for the GK bib.聽
SWIFTS聽
GS: Grace Nweke聽
GA: Helen Housby聽
WA: Paige Hadley聽
C: Verity Simmons聽
WD: Sharni Lambden聽
GD: Maddy Turner聽
GK: Sarah Klau聽
INT: Allie Smith, Sophie Fawns, Teigan O鈥橲hannassy聽聽
The only real decision for long time Swifts mentor Briony Akle to make is who gets first crack at the wing defence position.聽聽
Does she allow Allie Smith to make her claim in round one or will new co-captain Maddy Turner start in the wings with Teigan O鈥橲hannassy rolling in behind.聽
We think neither, confident Akle will hand recruit Sharni Lambden a Swifts debut in their season opener against the Fever.聽
As an aside, check out that attacking set-up. Stunning.聽
Verity Simmons will slot straight into the Swifts starting seven.FIREBIRDS聽
GS: Mary Cholhok 聽
GA: Tippah Dwan聽
WA: Lara Dunkley聽
C: Imogen Allison聽
WD: Hulita Veve聽
GD: Ruby Bakewell-Doran聽
GK: Isabelle Shearer聽
INT: Emily Moore, Macy Gardner, Ashlee Barnett聽
It's a new era for the Firebirds and it begins with two brand new internationals starting on court for the ladies in purple.聽
Imogen Allison beats out 2024 MVP Macy Gardner for centre position, while it would surprise no one if Ugandan superstar Mary Cholhok played every single minute of the Firebirds 2025 campaign.聽
Defensively Isabelle Shearer will get first crack at goalkeeper, but rookie Ash Barnett is ready and willing to jump in if required.
Isabelle Shearer will beat out Ash Barnett for the Firebirds GK bib.聽聽
GIANTS聽
GS: Matisse Letherbarrow聽
GA: Sophie Dwyer聽
WA: Maddie Hay聽
C: Jamie-Lee Price聽
WD: Amy Sligar聽
GD: Jodi-Ann Ward聽
GK: Matilda McDonell聽
INT: Erin O鈥橞rien, Hope White, Jo Harten聽
In 2025 we predict Julie Fitzgerald will finally rip the band-aid off and will start England and GIANTs legend Jo Harten on the bench for the round one encounter with the Firebirds, giving young starlet Matisse Letherbarrow first crack at the goal shooter role.聽
Jo Harten could become a super-sub for the GIANTS in 2025.Amy Sligar will start in wing defence, although the option of playing Jamaican star Jodi-Ann Ward there and pairing McDonnell and O鈥橞rien could be tempting for one of the game鈥檚 greatest ever coaches.聽