2025’s predicted starting sevens

By Matt Fotia 

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. 

Find out where we landed below. 

THUNDERBIRDS 

GS: Romelda Aiken-George 
GA: Lauren Frew 
WA: Georgie Horjus 
C: Tayla Williams 
WD: Latanya Wilson 
GD: Matilda Garrett 
GK: Shamera Sterling-Humphrey 
INT: Hannah Petty, Kayla Graham, Lucy Austin 

As the old saying goes, don’t fix what isn’t broke.  

The Thunderbirds were unstoppable in the back half of the 2024 season with this starting seven and won’t spend too much time debating before they go into their round one fixture against Vixens with an unchanged starting line-up. 

Keep an eye on their offensive line-up this season though, with five shooting options amongst their ranks. 

VIXENS 

GS: Sophie Garbin 
GA: Kiera Austin 
WA: Hannah Mundy 
C: Kate Moloney 
WD: Kate Eddy 
GD: Joanna Weston 
GK: Rudi Ellis 
INT: Lily Graham, Zara Walters, Emily Mannix replacement (TBC) 

It's rinse and repeat for the ever-challenging Vixens. 

Much like their rivals the Thunderbirds, the Vixens have no real reason to mess around with their starting seven considering their impressive 2024 campaign.  

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’s very doubtful she’ll run that system straight off the bat. 

It may come into vogue as the season develops, especially with veteran Emily Mannix out for the foreseeable future.  

FEVER 

GS: Mwai Kumwenda 
GA: Shanice Beckford 
WA: Alice Teague-Neeld 
C: Jess Anstiss 
WD: Sunday Aryang 
GD: Fran Williams 
GK: Kadie-Ann Dehaney 
INT: Olivia Wilkinson, Jordan Cransberg, Ruth Aryang 

All eyes on the goal shooter bib out west. 

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.  

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. 

LIGHTNING 

GS: Cara Koenen 
GA: Steph Fretwell 
WA: Liz Watson 
C: Leesa Mi Mi 
WD: Mahalia Cassidy 
GD: Courtney Bruce 
GK: Ash Ervin 
INT: Tara Hinchliffe, Reilley Batcheldor, Ava Black Replacement (TBC) 

The competition’s 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. 

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.  

Add onto this the Diamonds front three of Koenen-Fretwell-Watson and it’s all dreamy on the Sunshine Coast. 

MAVERICKS 

GS: Shimona Jok 
GA: Sasha Glasgow  
WA: Tayla Fraser 
C: Molly Jovic 
WD: Amy Parmenter 
GD: Kim Brown 
GK: Olivia Lewis 
INT: Maisie Nankivell, Eleanor Cardwell, Lauren Parkinson 

Parmenter, Jovic and Brown are the only locks in this line-up. 

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. 

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. 

SWIFTS 

GS: Grace Nweke 
GA: Helen Housby 
WA: Paige Hadley 
C: Verity Simmons 
WD: Sharni Lambden 
GD: Maddy Turner 
GK: Sarah Klau 
INT: Allie Smith, Sophie Fawns, Teigan O’Shannassy  

The only real decision for long time Swifts mentor Briony Akle to make is who gets first crack at the wing defence position.  

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’Shannassy rolling in behind. 

We think neither, confident Akle will hand recruit Sharni Lambden a Swifts debut in their season opener against the Fever. 

As an aside, check out that attacking set-up. Stunning. 

FIREBIRDS 

GS: Mary Cholhok  
GA: Tippah Dwan 
WA: Lara Dunkley 
C: Imogen Allison 
WD: Hulita Veve 
GD: Ruby Bakewell-Doran 
GK: Isabelle Shearer 
INT: Emily Moore, Macy Gardner, Ashlee Barnett 

It's a new era for the Firebirds and it begins with two brand new internationals starting on court for the ladies in purple. 

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. 

Defensively Isabelle Shearer will get first crack at goalkeeper, but rookie Ash Barnett is ready and willing to jump in if required.

GIANTS 

GS: Matisse Letherbarrow 
GA: Sophie Dwyer 
WA: Maddie Hay 
C: Jamie-Lee Price 
WD: Amy Sligar 
GD: Jodi-Ann Ward 
GK: Matilda McDonell 
INT: Erin O’Brien, Hope White, Jo Harten 

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. 

Amy Sligar will start in wing defence, although the option of playing Jamaican star Jodi-Ann Ward there and pairing McDonnell and O’Brien could be tempting for one of the game’s greatest ever coaches.