The Sunshine Coast’s elite netball team is ready to put last year’s sorry season behind it and return towards the top of the national league.
The Lightning stunned the eight-team Super Netball competition after their inception in 2017, winning two straight titles.
But they experienced an uncustomary fall from grace last season, when they missed the finals for the first time and collected the wooden spoon.
It’s hoped that was just a blip on an otherwise exceptional record.
Assistant coach Jenny Brazel said they could bounce back.
“All teams go through lower periods,” she said.
“We’re looking at where we can be better and what changes we can make to ensure we can work back towards the top.
“The group has embraced it. There has been a great mindset and shift and we have put in some good building blocks to set ourselves up for success.”
There is hope the team can turn their fortunes around, with new coaches, some new players and the return of a club legend.
“There has been lots of changes since last year,” Brazel said.
She said the arrival of coach Belinda Reynolds, who replaced Kylee Byrne, was already telling.
“She has come with a lot of fresh energy and a fresh set of eyes,” Brazel said.
Reynolds was a successful assistant coach at West Coast Fever.
Brazel is also a newcomer to the club after a previous stint as an assistant at the Firebirds and, more recently, as coach of the USC Thunder.
The playing group has had some changes too.
The retirement of Kate Walsh led to a call-up to goalkeeper Ashleigh Ervin, a former Firebirds training partner, and a long-term knee injury to Reilley Batcheldor led to the call-up of goal shooter Charlie Bell from the state pathways program.
Then just this week, the club announced that defender, vice captain and Australian representative Tara Hinchliffe had suffered a serious knee injury (ACL rupture) during the pre-season Team Girls Cup tournament and will miss the season. The club will recruit a replacement player before the start of the season.
But it’s the return of experienced goal defence and South Africa star Karla Pretorius that could be crucial and will help fill the void left by Hinchliffe’s absence.
The 32-year-old was the most valuable player in the 2017 grand final and is three-time player-of-the-year at the Lightning.
She returns after welcoming daughter Kara in June.
“It’s wonderful to have Karla back,” Brazel said.
“She’s a big boost in so many aspects. She comes with wonderful experience and since she has returned, she has not missed a beat (in pre-season).
“She’s wonderful in the training environment because she is so sharing. She really wants to help the young defenders.”
Meanwhile, Australian representatives Cara Koenen and team captain Steph Wood again loom as key threats at the front of the court.
Brazel expected the Lightning to strike back in 2023.
“We’ve got really high expectations,” she said.
“I think the players have really embraced the change and new game plan that Belinda has brought.”
Their promise was on display during pre-season games, including the Team Girls Cup, where Bell impressed, and they finished fourth.
“We’ve got so much versatility,” Brazel said.
“We can out some great combinations out there and our younger athletes have really stepped up (in the pre-season), so we’re really happy and we want to make a big improvement on last year.”
Brazel expected the Lightning to be boosted by a passionate support base.
“A number of our fans made the trip to the Gold Coast for the Team Girls Cup,” she said.
“The great thing about Lightning fans and the community is they have stayed so engaged and embraced this team so much.
“They ride every wave, the ups and downs, and are fiercely local and strong. We love our fans.”
The Lightning will likely move into a new home at the 6000-seat Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre, which should be built by 2028 to host basketball at the 2032 Olympics.
But the Lightning relish playing at their current venue, the 3000-seat UniSC Stadium at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
“The new centre will be a wonderful complex but our home at UniSC is also wonderful and it’s a bit of a cauldron here,” Brazel said.
“We will move with the times, but we love and embrace the facility we have.”
For more information, including membership and ticket details, see Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The team: Steph Wood, Cara Koenen, Karla Pretorius, Laura Scherian, Mahalia Cassidy, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Tara Hinchliffe (injured), Reilley Batcheldor (injured), Annie Miller, Ashleigh Ervin, Charlie Bell (replacement player), replacement player to be named. Coach: Belinda Reynolds. Assistant coach: Jenny Brazel.
Fixtures: Sunday, March 19, 1pm v Giants (home); Saturday, March 25, 4pm v Firebirds (away); Saturday, April 1, 7pm v Thunderbirds (home); Saturday, April 8, 7pm v Vixens (away); Sunday, April 16, 4pm v Swifts (home), Tuesday, April 25, 12.30pm v Magpies (away), Sunday, April 30, 2pm v Fever (home) Sunday, May 7, 4pm v Swifts (away); Sunday, May 14, 2pm v Vixens (home); Saturday, May 20, 5pm v Giants (away); Saturday, May 27, 6pm v Magpies (home); Saturday, June 3, 7pm v Fever (away); Saturday, June 10, 7pm v Thunderbirds (away); Sunday, June 18, 2pm v Firebirds (home).
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