When God handed out the first set of netball bibs in the first century AD, she decreed that the G in four of the seven positions stood for "goal". As in Goal shooter. Goal attack. Goal defence. Goal keeper. In modern netball the G might as well stand for other things. Glamour shooter. Glitz attack. Genius defence. Glory keeper. There is no doubt the circle is where it's at on court, and it'ss goal shooting and goal defending that have won and lost titles in recent times.
In 2017, things seem different. This year there is a huge amount of talent in the midcourt across the league, and this is where games, reputations and the championship will be won and lost.
![Kim Ravaillion is showing outstanding form for the Magpies.](/web/20170407070610im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/n/z/r/j/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gunzlt.png/1488337189528.jpg)
In the first two rounds every team – bar the Thunderbirds in round two – scored more than 50 goals. Further, every team – bar GWS Giants in round two – scored fewer than 60 goals. What this says is that given all the changes to teams in the off-season, not one shooting or defence line has got their act together yet and been able to blow a team away on the scoreboard in attack, or screw their opposition down in defence.
The opening games of the Suncorp Super Netball are being won and lost in the engine room of any team – the midcourt. These players often escape scrutiny and miss out on praise because they are neither hogging the glory scoring goals, nor hogging the drama in stopping them. Yet it is their defence that will provide protection and slow the ball down for inexperienced back lines and their precision that will deliver quality ball to shooting combinations trying to find their groove.
Saturday night's double-header in Melbourne, where the two Melbourne teams will take on the two Sydney teams, will showcase this perfectly. The first match between Collingwood Magpies and GWS Giants will be a classic encounter between two of the best and most experienced midcourts in the league.
For the Giants, former Diamonds vice captain Kim Green's combination with English international Serena Guthrie and emerging talent Jamie-Lee Price is looking formidable. Guthrie is still learning the centre position – having spent most of her international career on either wing – so needs to avoid falling into the trap of trying to do everything and be everywhere, and rather give Green the space she needs to run the show. Price, at wing defence, provides plenty of menace at the back of these two thoroughbreds.
Their job on Saturday won't be easy given they will be up against the incumbent Diamonds midcourt of Kim Ravallion and Maddie Robinson, who are augmented at the back by former Diamond Ash Brazill. They were almost unstoppable against the Firebirds in round two. It should be a fascinating game of chess between two midcourts with 228 Test caps between them.
Contrast this with the second game between the NSW Swifts and Melbourne Vixens, where a grand total of 21 Test caps will be on show in the middle. These clubs are old rivals bedding in new teams, and have two of the most exciting, up and coming midcourts in the game. For the Swifts, Paige Hadley is the only one with international experience, yet the combination between her, Maddy Proud and Abbey McCulloch is exciting, dynamic and with a bit of time could morph into something Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander is keen on.
The Vixens have an edge in terms of the time they have spent together; Kate Moloney, Liz Watson and Chloe Watson know each other's game inside-out. Yet they were outplayed by Sunshine Coast last weekend and will be looking to make amends. One of their main strengths is how hard they work defensively and they will need to be at their best against the speed of the Swifts, who have an impressive target in Sam Wallace at goal shooter.
For both these teams Saturday night is an opportunity to test themselves against their peers. For those of us watching, this game will showcase where the next generation of Diamonds midcourters will come from.