Netball’s biggest Power Couples: Part 1

By Matt Fotia 

The New South Wales Swifts set tongues wagging during the signing period when they announced the acquisition of New Zealand goal shooter, and arguably the games most exciting talent, Grace Nweke for season 2025. 

The 22-year-old has taken all before her in her short professional career, both domestically in New Zealand and on the international stage, leading the Silver Ferns charge to an unlikely 2024 Constellation Cup victory with her scary good performances. 

Nweke will link up with another superstar of the world game the Swifts, English Rose Helen Housby, and the pair are set to form one of the greatest Netballing power couples in modern history. 

But what other on court duos are in the conversation? 

Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley – NSW Swifts 

You don’t even have to leave the Swifts locker room to find another genuine power couple. 

Midcourt duo Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley have been doing the business at the SSN level for more than half a decade, leading the Swifts to three Grand Finals (2019, 2021 and 2023) and two Premierships (2019 and 2021) in their time together in red. 

A versatile one-two punch, Hadley and Proud can switch seamlessly between the centre/wing attack positions and have been the main drivers in the Swifts engine room since the SSN began. 

They’ve combined for more than 3500 assists at the SSN level and have worked so well in tandem due to both their similarities and their differences. 

Both players have been incredibly reliable, having both passed the 100 Swifts games marker, and have thrived on court with their boundless energy, running their opponents into the ground day in, day out.  

The pair also share a burning desire to do whatever is required to drag their beloved Swifts to victory and play the game with an unbridled joy and an enviable level of intelligence. 

While Hadley goes about her work with little fuss and is synonymous with the word poise, Proud is unable to stay of out the limelight, for better or for worse, showing exemplary bravery every time she steps on court. 

Hadley will be without her partner in crime this season, but there is no disputing the fear this midcourt duo have struck into their opponents since 2017. 

Natalie Von Bertouch and Laura Von Bertouch – Adelaide Thunderbirds  

Before the days of Tayla Williams, Hannah Petty and Georgie Horjus the Thunderbirds midcourt was run by a pair of Adelaide sisters. 

There was at least one Von Bertouch sister in the Thunderbirds side from the late 90’s (Laura debuted in 1998) until the end of 2013 season, when Natalie retired following the Adelaide outfit’s ANZ Championship triumph. 

Great players in their own right, the sisters had a duopoly on the Team of the Year C and WA bibs during the mid-2000’s. Laura was named in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy (CBT) TOTY in 2002 and 2004, before being joined by Natalie in 2005, 2006 and 2007. 

Together, the relentlessly creative pair kept the Thunderbirds at the top of the domestic game playing in four losing Grand Finals together (2001, 2002, 2006 and 2009).  
 
Unfortunately, the sisters never tasted premiership success together, despite both playing in two successful sides.  

Laura was a part of the Thunderbirds back-to-back CBT titles in 1998 and 1999, before Natalie made her debut, while Natalie captained the Adelaide side to victory in the ANZ Championship in 2010 and 2013, following Laura’s (second) retirement in 2009. 

With their speed, agility, all round dynamism and almost telepathic on court understanding, the Von Bertouch’s are without are doubt one of the great on court partnerships in the domestic netball history. 

Caitlin Bassett and Steph Fretwell (nee Wood) – Sunshine Coast Lightning 

When Caitlin Bassett and Steph Fretwell joined new franchise the Sunshine Coast Lightning in 2017 from the Fever and Swifts respectively, neither could have predicted the stranglehold they and their teammates would have on the competition for the next two seasons.  

With a whopping 21cm of height differential between the pair, this Power Couple is the ultimate big and little combination.  

Fretwell’s agility, creativity, intelligence, and general unflappability made her the perfect tonic to Caitlin Basset’s strong hold, graceful reaching, unerringly accurate gin. 

After helping guide the Lightning to a second on the Ladder at the end of the 2017 Home and Away season, the pair took their game to the next level during the finals.  

They held off the Vixens in the Major Semi Final by one goal, with Bassett (44/47 and 3 rebounds) and Fretwell (12/14, 29 feeds and 15 assists) instrumental in the win.  

There were no such worries in the Grand Final against the GIANTS, the Lightning running out winners by 17 goals. Bassett once again shot the lights out (49/51), while Fretwell weaved her magic out the front with 16 goals, 27 feeds and 20 assists.  

Inspired, the pair went to another level in 2018.  

The Lightning snuck into finals, finishing 4th, but were not to be denied another title, defeating the Firebirds (57-56), GIANTS (59-50) and the Fever (62-59) to claim a famous premiership. 

Once again, this all-conquering goal circle was at the heart of it all.  

Fretwell finished the finals series with 56 goals, 61 feeds and 48 assists, while Bassett shot 122 goals from 132 attempts, pulled in 13 rebounds, and was named Grand Final MVP, while Fretwell was named the Lightning’s Player of the Year. 

Bassett would leave the Lightning to sign for the GIANTS the next season, and while Fretwell was able to help drive the Sunshine Coast to another decider, they went down to the Swifts and have not troubled the final game of the season since. 

Bassett and Fretwell deserve to be on this list for their home and away performances alone, but their incredible finals record (5 wins, 0 losses) and ability to stand up when it mattered has etched them into folklore as one of the SSN’s greatest ever combinations.