Netball: Aussie teams consolidate ahead of second season

England goalkeep Geva Mentor has joined Adelaide for this year's ANZ Championship. Photo / Mark Mitchell

It has been an off-season of consolidation for the five Australian teams as they prepare for the second season of the transtasman netball league.

Most seem to have come back stronger, particularly the Melbourne Vixens and the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Adelaide look a real threat this year, although outstanding Australian defender Mo'onia Gerrard has been missing from early pre-season matches with injury.

They have a powerful midcourt courtesy of the talented von Bertouch sisters, Natalie and Laura, both tried and proven Australian representatives.

Laura von Bertouch has been wooed back on court by Thunderbirds coach Jane Woodlands, after retiring in November 2007.

The sisters' combinations with shooters Kate Beveridge and Natalie Medhurst, and England defender Geva Mentor give the Thunderbirds a strong look right through court.

The Vixens have co-captains Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield both back from knee surgery.

They have also picked up tough English defender Ama Agbeze, who played for the West Coast Fever last year, as coach Julie Hoornweg looks to improve on last season's disappointing finish.

And with Australian representatives Natasha Chokljat, Caitlin Thwaites and Julie Prendergast aboard, the Vixens have the firepower to mount a real finals threat.

Champions New South Wales Swifts have shown strong pre-season form and have an intimidating line-up led by top Australian shooter Catherine Cox.

Kimberley Smith (nee Purcell) will have a tough job to fill the wing defence shoes of Selina Gilsenan, who has retired.

The Swifts have the services of some talented Australian internationals, including defender Rebecca Bulley, midcourter Kim Green and eagle-eyed shooter Sue Pratley.

The Queensland Firebirds have had some late adjustments to make as shooter Megan Dehn, who played for Steel last season, withdrew in March.

She has been replaced by Carla Dziwoki, 27, a former Firebirds captain and Australian under-21 representative.

Dziwoki, finishing a season with Team Northumbria in England's Superleague, will continue a comeback to top level netball after knee reconstructions in 2006 and 2007.

The Firebirds also boast top Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken, Australian representatives Lauren Nourse and Laura Geitz, versatile England attacker Tamsin Greenway, and Demelza McCloud, who last year turned out for the Canterbury Tactix.

New West Coast Fever coach Jane Searle has been brought in to replace Sue Gaudion, axed after the Fever notched just two wins from 12 matches last year.

The Fever finished ahead of only the Central Pulse at the end of round robin play.

The Fever's roster again looks a little light, although shooter Caitlin Bass and goal keep Susan Fuhrmann have both begun what promise to be burgeoning careers in the Australian national team.

- NZPA