By Matt Fotia
It’s every netball fan’s favourite time of the year.
We’re just days away from the return of the world’s best netball league, and right now anything is possible.
Make sure you’re up to speed with everything that’s happened since the Adelaide Thunderbirds went back-to-back with our comprehensive off-season wrap below.
ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS
The Thunderbirds will begin their quest for an unprecedented threepeat with a Grand Final rematch against the Vixens at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, buoyed by their recent Suncorp Team Girls Cup triumph.
Tania Obst’s list remains relatively unchanged, with midcourters Laura Scherian (retired) and Tyler Orr (NSL) replaced by Kayla Graham and 11th player Sophie Casey, while South African defender Sanmarie Visser has recently been signed as a Temporary Replacement Player for Romelda Aiken-George.
Reigning SSN Player of the Year Georgie Horjus will once again be the sides creative heartbeat, while skipper Hannah Petty said: “We can’t expect to do the same thing and get the same results.” when she spoke to netball.com.au earlier this pre-season.
MELBOURNE VIXENS
The 2024 runners-up will also take on the 2025 season with a virtually unchanged list.
Young goaler Lily Graham was upgraded from replacement player to part of the contracted 10, while young defender Maggie Caris has been named as Emily Mannix’s Temporary Replacement, after the veteran gave birth in January.
There were signs of the Vixens best at Team Girls Cup, even as they trialled new combinations, and captain Kate Moloney says they’re excited by the prospect of a home Grand Final.
"It's nice to see the Grand Final in Melbourne but there's a lot of work to be done before then,” Moloney said.
“We'll have our eyes set on being there at the end of the year, but we know it will be hard, hopefully we're one of the two teams that can put their hand up to be playing in that game.”
Young star Lily Graham has officially joined the Melbourne Vixens contracted 10.WEST COAST FEVER
It will be a new look Fever goal circle in 2025, with Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard taking some time out of the game, in turn presenting former Vixen Mwai Kumwenda and young Victorian product Olivia Wilkinson an opportunity to make their mark this season.
Meanwhile, Ruth Aryang joined the contracted 10, replacing Kelsey Browne.
Dan Ryan’s side impressed at Team Girls Cup, going down narrowly to the Thunderbirds in the final, showing the perennial contenders will be there, or thereabouts once again in 2025.
Captain Jess Anstiss spoke to netball.com.au late last year and outlined the Fever’s plans to combat their traditional mid-season slump.
“A little bit of fatigue hit us because of all the flying we have to do throughout preseason and in the season,” Anstiss said.
“We've come up with a solution to maybe have a bit of a mid-season break to see if that might help, we're trying all different things.”
SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING
It’s been a topsy-turvy off-season for the Lightning.
They managed to retain their list, including up and coming stars Ash Ervin, Reilley Batcheldor and Leesa Mi Mi, but unfortunately lost exciting midcourter Ava Black to an ACL injury late in the pre-season.
Samoan star Kristiana Manu’a was confirmed as Black’s replacement on the eve of the Team Girls Cup, where the Lightning snared two impressive victories against their local rivals the Queensland Firebirds and hometown heroes Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Speaking to netball.com.au late last year, Lightning skipper Steph Fretwell outlined her desire to return the Sunshine Coast outfit to its former glory.
“We’ve gone through patches where we were easy beats, if you could get on top of us, it would blow out,” Fretwell said.
“I want to get Lightning back into premiership contention, I want to be the team people know they're coming up against and know it's going to be a really hard match."
Sunshine Coast Lightning skipper Steph Fretwell is determined to restore her side to its former glory.MELBOURNE MAVERICKS
Sunshine Girls shooter Shimona Jok headlined the Mavericks off-season squad updates, with the former Magpie earning a spot in the Mavericks contracted 10 after taking out the club’s inaugural MVP award.
Jok’s replacement of Gabby Sinclair is the only official change the Mavericks have made this summer, however, the return of Sasha Glasgow and Lauren Parkinson from long term injuries will give the Mavericks a whole new look and feel in season 2025.
Tracey Neville’s side impressed at Team Girls Cup, grabbing two wins from their four outings and according to skipper Amy Parmenter, they have their sights firmly fixed on finals netball and growing their ever-evolving fan base.
"Our sights are on finals and pushing far into that Final Series, we want a premiership,” Parmenter said.
"Playing the Grand Final in Melbourne would be huge to help us achieve our goal of growing the Mavs’ fan base.”
NSW SWIFTS
The Swifts have been the team on everyone’s lips this pre-season, after Briony Akle and her team completed one of the biggest signings in SSN history, luring Grace Nweke across the Tasman .
Nweke isn’t the Swifts only addition though. Victorian product Sharni Lambden signed her first full time contract and former Fever midcourter Verity Simmons has joined the NSW powerhouse as a replacement for Maddy Proud who is expecting her first child and will miss the 2025 season.
With an impressive showing at Team Girls Cup and a superstar front three of Nweke – Housby – Hadley, the Swifts faithful have every right to be excited.
Co-captain Paige Hadley agrees that their time is now.
“Ultimately, we want to be in the top four and fighting for the ultimate prize, we've been in a few grand finals but want to get back to winning them,” Hadley stated.
“Unfortunately, we’re not getting any younger, a premiership is what we classify as success and after last season we want to let our netball do the talking.”
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS
No club has gone through more change in the last 12 months than the Firebirds.
They’re now under the stewardship of new coach Kiri Wills, have welcomed two massive imports in Ugandan shooter Mary Cholhok and English midcourter Imogen Allison, have given untried defender Ash Barnett a contract and will have a fresh leadership group, headed by co-captains Ruby Bakewell-Doran and Hulita Veve.
The Firebirds failed to win a Team Girls Cup fixture, but improved noticeably as the weekend progressed, something they’ll focus on during the season proper according to vice-captain Lara Dunkley.
“Being quite a young team, what's positive is everyone still wants to learn and be better every day, every training session, every game,” Dunkley said.
Youngster Ash Barnett got her first taste of elite netball at Suncorp Team Girls Cup.GIANTS
Will we finally see some changes to the GIANTS set-up in 2025?
Second year defender Erin O’Brien was at her eye-catching best during Team Girls Cup and is firming as a real chance to usurp Matilda McDonnell for the goalkeeper bib, while Matisse Letherbarrow once again showed good signs in combination with Diamonds goal attack Sophie Dwyer.
Youngster Hope White will be raring to go ahead of her first SSN season, joining the main squad as a replacement for Gina Crampton, and will be a fan favourite sooner rather than later, while a fully fit Maddie Hay will be a sight for sore eyes.
Speaking with netball.com.au late last year, skipper Jamie-Lee Price said there was plenty to be positive about for GIANTS fans in 2025.
“We have so much talent within our team, we've got a great bunch of youth and the last two or three years they've gained a lot more experience and confidence,” Price explained.
“The other thing is being able to finish games, we've been close over the last couple of years but haven't been able to finish our games.”
