DUDSVILLE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

It is the 11th and final season of the national netball league. In 2008, we go dancing with the Kiwis in the much-anticipated Tasman Trophy, but for now it is business as usual and the Swifts will hope nothing changes.

The stellar season of the Sydney team in 2006 makes it hard to look past them for this year. Alison Broadbent may have retired and a couple of young guns have headed to Canberra but the core of this brilliant team is intact.

Other teams must turn green with envy when they look at the Swifts' roster and see Ellis, Gerrard, Gilsenan, Cox and Pratley. It will take something special to derail their campaign.

Rest assured, the Adelaide Thunderbirds will give it a good crack. Marg Angove has made way for new coach Tania Obst and she too has a strong squad with which to work. Demelza Fellowes is playing in New Zealand this season, but anchored by the Von Bertouchs there is no reason to think the Thunderbirds would not be a top-three side again.

Melbourne Phoenix finished third last year and a look at the gains and losses in their playing group does not suggest a major change in outcome for them. Then again, if they learnt from 2006 and they have a kind run with injuries they could easily figure in the grand final.

The question for Phoenix is whether they can generate the power through the mid-court to topple the Swifts and Thunderbirds. Abby Sargent (nee Teare) makes a welcome return to the competition and it will be interesting to see her combining with Sharelle McMahon.

One of the weaknesses of the national league is that we find ourselves talking about the same contenders each year and it looks little different in its final season. There still appears to be a big gap between the top three and "the rest".

Despite this undeniable gulf, there is much to enthuse about with the improvement in Perth and Queensland, where the Orioles and Firebirds have made significant progress.

Sue Gaudion is in charge of a much-changed squad at the Orioles but she will be keen to carry on the fine work of Carole Byers before her.

The Firebirds have Vicki Wilson backing up as coach and they will hope to consolidate after their best-ever season in 2006, when they finished fourth and went close to making the preliminary final.

They had a shocking late run with injuries and they surely cannot be that unlucky again.

That leaves the Kestrels, Jaegers and Darters. The strength of their squads does not engender optimism but as the Firebirds proved last year, a motivated, well-coached team can reach a level beyond expectations.

What the players in these teams will be doing is trying their best to impress. 2008 will bring a new dawn for netball on both sides of the Tasman and new franchises.

Eight teams will shrink to five. That means survival of the fittest, fastest and most skilful. In that environment, do you play for yourself or play for your team?

Just something to keep in mind as you watch the season unfold in 2007. Enjoy!

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