2009 Nationals Preview Part 4a: The South (women)

And now we're on to the largest region in terms of participation - South. Nine teams across both divisions will be representing three states (four if we want to get technical about where players are from) and they're all gearing up for what looks to be a best ever performance from the region in both women and open.

I know the draw is out, but I have previewed every other team so far without seeing it, so for consistency's sake I haven't considered it when previewing South teams.

Right now, we'll have a look at the women...


BUSH
Home town: Hobart
Captain: Ash Martens
Qualified: 3rd from South
Last year: 7th

While this team advertises itself as Bush, it seems to be a mix of Bush, Southside and Suffer Jets. This leaves them with a substantially different list to last year - no Shavawn Donoghue, no Crystal Cheung and no Tania King. However the inclusion of Carlie Ryan and Lucy Keady from Southside will go a long way to alleviating those losses. All eyes, however, will remain on Ash Martens. Interpret that what ever way you wish to. Pottsy correctly predicted back in 2006 that Ash would walk on to the Firetails team, and given how dominant a player she was in the uni scene back then, it is safe to assume she plays a similar sort of game in the women's variety. Earlier I had them slated to make semis, but now I'm not so sure.

Key player: Ash Martens
For reasons outlined above.

Keep an eye on: Shannon Trenwith
Made her Nationals debut last year and a second season of women's will have seen her improve. Also, in general, keep an eye on the Tassie girls at the party.



INDIES
Home town: Adelaide
Captain: Alison Clarke
Qualified: 4th from South
Last year: 12th

While we're on the subject of vastly different rosters, the South Australian women's crew only have four players returning from last year. The four returners - Ali Clarke, Meghan Connell, Bron Dutch and Alex Rogers - and Sarah Pillar will be taking the burden of the workload. The rest of the squad aren't strangers to the sport, having come from uni clubs at Flinders and Adelaide and also from National Youth Training Camp. Ali Clarke will be a good leader for the young squad, but I don't think they'll be able to make the top eight.

Key player: Ali Clarke
Will be playing most points. Especially O points, which this team will probably face a lot of.

Keep an eye on: Bron Dutch
Probably the best D player on the team. Is capable of keeping a high workrate up for the duration of the tournament.



HONEY
Home town: Melbourne
Captain: Cath Matthews
Qualified: 2nd from South
Last year: 8th

Despite having a talented squad, Honey have never been able to do any better than 8th at Nationals. However 2009 looks to be their best season yet. Instead of getting smashed regularly by Team Box, they have been edging closer and closer to them. Their preparation for this year has been full on, with large turnouts at trainings, plus numerous lead-up tournaments (GCC, Kaiamana, BC Invite and Into The Wild) giving them vital big game experience. The three Australian reps - Cath Matthews, Mel Gangemi and Lauren Brown - will need to fire if Honey are to do well, but the depth of the rest of the list is a lot stronger than previous years. Definite chance at semis.

Key player: Lauren "Mama" Brown
Has the height and pace that can rarely be matched.

Keep an eye on: Kerry Justus and Bec Wallbridge
Another two tall receivers. Honey will look to play deep to these two a lot.



HONEY BEE
Home town: Melbourne
Captain: Tiff Mann
Qualified: 5th from South
Last year: -

Honey Bee are being revived after a three year absence from the show, with precisely zero players from 2006 still with the squad. They have recruited well to make a second team, drawing on Melbourne, Monash, Ballarat and Deakin unis to give a new crop of ladies their transition from state to national level. However their big problem is lack of experience - 3 out of 15 have played at Nationals previously. They will struggle to take down teams on day one but the weekend games should be more of a contest for them. If the Honey club is able to retain most of these girls into next season (and with South hosting Nats they should be able to), they will develop into a much better team and we could see Honey becoming the next two-team powerhouse in the vein of Wildcard, Fakulti and Chilly.

Key player: Jude Mitchell
Fast handler who is transitioning from role player to major player. Has learned a lot playing with Honey and Melbourne Uni.

Keep an eye on: Lauren Castillo
I couldn't praise the Deakin Uni team enough last year for the rapid development of their girls. Lauren is a very confident player who should settle into the women's game comfortably.



SPORTING TEAM BOX ATHLETICO UNITED
Home town: Melbourne
Captain: Joy Lee
Qualified: 1st from South
Last year: 6th

Fun fact: ST BAU have not lost a game in 2009. The closest they came was a 13-11 win over Honey in the pools at Regionals, and a 9-6 win over Wildcard X in the final of Into The Wild. The credentials of the squad are ridiculous - 10 current or former Australian representatives, countless Nationals tournaments played by all players, and an even more ridiculous number of in-jokes that are funny to approximately 17 people. No one out there is willing to back the final not being Box v 'Card, so there's not a lot of analysis to be done here. Only question to really ask is "Will the merger of Wildcard X and Y make a difference of 4 points?" Just between you and me, I think it does.

Key player: "One Mistake" Liz Edye
You don't get selected for the World Games team by being shit. One of the best female handlers (the best?) in the country.

Keep an eye on: Cat Phillips
After around about eleventy billion assists at Worlds, Cat is going to be a target of opposition teams. Can keep a cool head and will be able to deal with the extra defensive pressure.




The South men's preview to follow soon. Can't really say "tomorrow" because I have a plane to catch then.