Kelsey Browne during the clash against the Thunderbirds Picture (Suncorp Super Netball/ Twitter)
With the second half of the season underway, the Super Netball reviews continue. It’s now time for the Collingwood mid-season review.
After only winning one game in 2020, things are certainly on the up at Collingwood. At the half way mark of the season, the Magpies have won three games already and there are no plans on slowing down.
What’s Worked?
The return of on-court leaders: Having both Ash Brazill and Kelsey Browne back out on court has worked wonders for what was a relatively inexperienced side.
Brazill is a proven game changer, and to have her influence out on court brings back something that the Magpies lacked in 2020. Brazill also brings a range of flexibility to the Magpies line up, having the ability to play in both wing defence and centre.
Browne brings a lot of speed to the mid-court, and her feeds into Shimona Nelson have been on point this season.
She is currently leading the league in goal assists with 159 for the season, proving how good of an asset she is to the Collingwood mid-court.
What Hasn’t?
Unsettled line-up: The Magpies play their best netball when they aren’t using their rolling substitutions.
All the games that they have won they’ve used little to no substitutions for the whole match. In the Magpies’ first win of the season against the Thunderbirds, they didn’t change from the starting line-up that was named at the start of the match.
Whereas games tend to blow out when the Magpies have chopped and changed the seven players out on court too much without letting the game play out.
More SSN Mid-Season Reviews
Sunshine Coast Lightning Mid-Season Review: In the box seat
NSW Swifts Mid-Season Review: Holding steady at home
Queensland Firebirds Mid-Season Review: Consistency is the key
Season Highlight
Collingwood always play well in Tasmania and 2021 was no different. After defeating the Thunderbirds at John Cain Arena, the Magpies were faced with the task of coming up against the Queensland Firebirds.
It wasn’t easy, but the Magpies were able to pull of the win against the Firebirds by three points. The win was the side’s first back to back win since 2019.
Season Lowlight
The game against the Fever isn’t one that the Magpies will look back on too fondly. The first few minutes of the match were close, but the Fever ran away with it from there, inevitably defeating the magpies by ten points in the first quarter alone.
The Magpies ended up losing the game by 23 points, they ended up giving away 73 penalties for the game which was 19 more then what the Fever gave up.
Looking Forward
While heartbreaking, the loss in extra time to the Sunshine Coast Lightning has proven how far the Magpies have come.
It’s certainly a new look Magpies outfit in 2021, and once they bring more consistency into their game and limit skill errors, turnovers and a high number of penalties, Collingwood will become the side that many expected since the team first joined the competition.
Predicted Finish
Fifth. After finishing last in 2020, the Magpies have made a significant improvement for this season.
Collingwood will be eyeing off yet another victory in Tasmania when they take on the Swifts at the Silverdome in round 13, while playing both the Giants and the Vixens at John Cain Arena in the back end of the season.
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