The Netball Show
S7 Ep60: Lindsay Chapman (05th Sept 2024)
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She's finally back over here. Yeah, definitely. What an exciting player to have back in the UK. She's obviously been playing for Melbourne Mavericks, which is Tracy Neville's team, isn't it, out in the some court super netball and I think she had a brilliant season, maybe didn't have loads of court time, but she's just that long-bomb specialist, isn't she? And what's exciting for me with that team is that obviously they've got their sort of holding shooters, so the Stiggy Burger has stayed, you've got Betsy Creak in there as well, but by bringing in Gabi Sinclair, you're going to have that movement but also a goal attack that's not afraid to put up the ball and I think that's going to be really key for them. That movement with Jess Shaw and hopefully Gabi coming into that mix, I think, could be really exciting for them. And also, she's an Aussie player, so she plays in structure and I know that Joe Tripp really likes the structure and sort of giving each player a role and so they know what they're doing and playing in that sort of defensive zone that she brought out with stars last year and weren't stars brilliant, you know, last year around here, I'm pretty sure you will love watching them. So I think some of that style will come through with Birmingham Panthers. I think it's good as well that she's managed to get the likes of Jess Shaw, Gabi and Ziggy as well and they've followed her to Panthers. Absolutely and I think that's credit to Joe and the sort of culture that she created because I don't know what you think about last year but they just seemed really happy as a team and I know we talk about this quite a lot in network connections and personality but I think you could feel that on the court with them. I think they genuinely are friends, you know, and then they've got this sort of culture where they all understood each other and I'm sure that'll come through. They've brought across Zarinika as well, haven't they, who I just adored, obviously play for Harrison's Mavericks now, London Mavericks and I just think she's quite, she's like a little bulldog, you know, she's sort of everywhere and she's not one of the, yeah and you're not sort of always talking about her but she's always there doing the job and putting the pressure on those wing attacks. So yeah, we'll see how this team do. Jazz and Alia as well, they're another two people from last season and just the shea fact that they're still with Panthers now as well. I just think, you know, Jazz Brown had a standout season last year and I think we saw a different kind of style from her and she worked really well with Joe Tripp and when I spoke to Joe, she's brought in a new player Gabrielle Coffey as well. Now Joe isn't going to be playing this year, she's going to be focusing completely on the coaching side of things but Coffey plays in quite a similar way to her. So I think that, you know, that connection that can be built between Coffey and Jazz Brown could be one to watch and I think there's much more to come from Jasmine Brown as well. Not an unfairist, you've spoken to Chelsea, I've spoken to Chelsea. What challenges do you think she's going to face? Well, I think, I think it's a really big job, you know, Nottingham Forest in terms of the football team very, very well known. So there's sort of an expectation there already with the netball team, although they are a brand new franchise and I think it's just going to be establishing those connections quite quickly and creating a culture that everybody can get behind. So what is Chelsea going to bring to that role and what she's going to ask those girls to follow because when I was speaking to Serena about it, you know, she sort of said, you need to really trust the person on your left and on your right, you're going into battle essentially with these girls and, you know, you need everybody to be on the same page and to believe the same thing so that those connections do flow through court and I think that that, to generate that quite quickly for Super League 2025 is not going to be easy and that'll be a build. You know, I don't know, we can't necessarily expect everything straight away from this league, it's going to be a process. But what I love about the team that Chelsea has put together is that she's thought about the pairings. So she's got a sort of bookend, as it were, each end of the court in terms of goal shooter and goal keeper and she's brought in two new internationals to do that. So again, a South African player that's been playing out in Australia, who's called Strutka, and Kadondi, who we recognised from the Uganda chicrains as well. So, you know, really sort of explosive power, something a little bit different in that defensive circle. But then she's recruited, recruited hairs of people. So she's got Tash Pavlin and Jada from Team Bath. So there's two there in terms of defence. Then she's got Hannah Layton and Iona Christian from Stratholite Sirens. Again, it's a two and Rhea Dixon and Freya Henschel from Loughborough Lightning. So she sort of thought about pairings that already work and how she can build on that. Let's look at London Mavericks. The way things have been announced, I don't know about you, but I was really impressed just the way they went through the whole process. I think they look slick, didn't they? And they sort of built up to that in their own socials as well. And you and I've been watching this closely. I've been watching the press releases. And I think the team behind the team here is really important. So Tamsin Greenway, Mickey Austin, Melbourne's Fields in there as well. They've got a whole sort of coaching, physio, but also well-being side of things. And it just looks really professional. And I think that's a statement of intent from them. In terms of signings for them, I mean, Ellie Ratu stays, doesn't she? And what a player she is. Susie Liversidge, I think, could be interesting bringing her in. But for me, it's Isabella Phillips. You know, she had what I felt was a standout season. Full London pulls stepping into that sort of centre wing defence position last year. So what can she bring to this side as well? What did you think signing wise for them? It was nice because I'd recently spoken to Cam as well. And she was obviously, she mentioned Izzy. And the she effect as well that not only have you got that team on court, but you've got, as you've just said, the likes of Mel, the likes of Mickey. And even if we go down to the pathway, the likes of Super Amy, Sofia Kanbapper as well, just building from that level as well. Obviously, they can then move it up to Super Lee, the stars of the future. Oh, I think that's key. And I think, you know, what we're doing when we're looking at these announcements is really concentrating on the 10. And 10 is going to feel really different to us, you know, and to those coaches as well, because if there is injury in the team, things could get tricky, you know, and we've seen a bit of that in the Australian League. So, what you put together underneath this 10 and underneath this Super League squad is going to be really important. And I think that London Mavericks have really thought about that. It'd be fair that this room is running out. So let's have a look at Cardiff Dragons. Maybe the headline there is that Leah and Jackie are back strong in defence. Yeah, definitely. You know, I think Leah Middleton was one of my favourite players last year. And I think she really came into her own. So I think, yeah, like you say, that's important for them. Beth and Dyke's back as well, that explosive power. And Chelsea Beard is new for 25. So I think Alex Johnson as well, coming across from Loughborough Lightning, we'll see, you know, we'll see sort of how that plays out. But I think they're going to really miss Nia Jones, if I'm honest. You know, I think she still had quite a long way to go, actually. So an interesting choice. But what they have done is kept a strong backbone and the culture that they built again, the sort of happiness that rippled through that team last year, and the way that they built and saw better performances from themselves. Like it gave them confidence. So let's hope to see more of that. When I saw the news about Sami and Shadina Lightning at the end of the quick little text and say, what on earth are you playing at? But that, to me, is one of the sparks of this whole signing window, really. Yeah. And that'll be talked about in different ways for different reasons. So I think that was one of the sort of controversial moments in terms of Sam Wallace being signed for Loughborough Lightning following the story in Australia. But she is a phenomenal netball player. And, you know, she has helped a side in Australia win that league. And that league is the best one in the world at the moment. Although we are going to challenge that here in the UK. And I think that she's going to bring something a little bit different to Mary. We're going to see more movement. We've got Barry Neil on that signing list as well. So those two, what can they do for Loughborough Lightning? But there will be a bit of PR to sort of manage there, I think. I suppose about giving her a chance, really, isn't it? Give her a chance. And what, like I've just said, what a talent she is, you know, and it would be a shame to lose that forever. And I think she definitely wants to sort of put her best foot forward with her netball as well. And I think Vic was very keen on that and sort of saying, you know, we'll work through things. And it's important to sort of recognise the skills that she does have and how she can bring that into the setup. Because they've got a really strong culture of PR to Lightning, you know, and they look after their team. They all work together. My goodness me, they're the Super League Champions, you know. And for me, they are, I've said this all the way along, you know, they're not necessarily star names, star names, star names. But they are the best team that work together. So how can she fit into that? Thundered, Gregy, done a decent job, hasn't she? Gregy always does a decent job, doesn't she? Yeah. In partiality there. But keeping Josie was maybe quite an important signing. Yeah, yeah. I think that's absolutely right. She's really stolid for them at the back. And she's she's putting in the Myles' Josie Hookle. You know, if you watch her Instagram on the off-season, she's fully committed to it. And she works really hard. I think having spoken to Gregy, it was a really tough signing window for her, you know. And she had to let go of players that she didn't want to let go of. One, because they are great netball players. But two, because they're great people. And I think that's important to all these clubs. But Manchester Thunder have their own style, don't they? So the likes of Shadim van de Merber, she has got a contract with Lightning. And my goodness me, watch out for her with Beth Cobton. That could be something to worry about. But, you know, I think that was really, really tough. And I was really fascinating in that swap in terms of South African for South African. So she's the only player that she brought in from outside the Thunder pathway, or the Thunder team, is Nicholas Smith from Loughborough Lightning. There's only one import as it were coming in. And that was because she needed to have that goal, keep her goal defense coverage rather than a goal defense wing defense, which is what Shadim does. So the way that Nicholas Mick works with Josie Hookle, who you've mentioned, and to be able to offer something different in that defensive circle, I think is the thinking behind that for Greggy, you know, and she's got such intent for this new move towards professionalization. So she's made the difficult decisions. And it was nice as well that she managed to elevate Ella and Emma. And that's what I'm saying. You know, there's 10 players on this roster, and nine of them have come through the Thunder pathway all with Thunder last year. You know, it's like, this is fully Manchester Thunder, and this is what they do. It's what they're known for. It's their brand. It's why there's so many Thunder players in the Roses, you know, they really nurture those players. Ella McCormick came on last season and had real impact, and they will want to build on that. And I love Emma Reiner. You know, we've seen her in the Super League before, and she's just sort of explosive to me, you know, and she offers something a little bit different on the court. And I think the move last year between Nat Metcalfe and Lois Pearson into that wing attack role, I think they just needed a sort of another option. And yeah, Emma's a great choice. London Pulse. Yeah, Pulse are a really interesting one for me. And I enjoyed speaking to Sam Bird about this, because how did you feel when you first saw the names? Because I looked at it and I thought, that's really defensive heavy. That's a heavy defense team, you know, in terms of the mid-court players as well. A lot of them are centre-wing defence, I felt. So where's that sort of attacking wing attack? Obviously you've got Alicia Scholes. But then Sam talked to me about Tyler Orr, and I think this is a player that we're going to need to watch. So she was the 11th player for the Adelaide Thunderbirds out in Australia, and let's face it, I mean, they weren't that pretty good. Teammate of Georgie Hodges as well. Yeah, who is just a gorgeous player, isn't she? With a brilliant name. But I think, yeah, Tyler Orr is going to maybe provide that link up between centre, bit of wing defence and wing attack. It's about getting the ball into Liv Sheen, because what they need to do, London Pulse, is up their number of goals per quarter. So if you looked at their scores from last season, they did a lot of winning, but they probably need to put more goals on the board, you know, when you're looking at Mary Tollock and maybe at Ziggy Burger as well. So we need to be getting that ball through. So it'll be fascinating to see how that settles. And well done to Sam Bird as well for keeping the likes of Fumi Fidoji, because there is no doubt people across the world in the netball zone are watching her like a hawk, you know, when they will watch the picture. Yeah. Yeah. And Rhinos, finally, obviously, the important thing, regardless of everybody else, it's in the team. Jesus back. Jesus back. Yeah. And that experience is so key, isn't it? And for me, what Leanna is doing is kept Joyce at the shooting end and kept Jiva at the defensive end. And that's going to be really key to them. And it's a build with Leads Rhinos. We have not seen the best from this team with this coach yet. So it's sort of how everybody else fits into that. And I think, you know, she took on Carolina Hanlon last year in order to have an experienced player in all thirds. And so what does that look like this year in the center of the court? Cassie Howard was stand out for me last year, but she's a young player. You know, how are they going to deliver that ball into Joyce to unlock her talent? Because I don't feel that happened. Oh, it certainly didn't happen consistently in terms of last season. So, you know, is Bethany Britain now? Is that the right signing? I again, another player that I just love watching play, you know, I mean, I play Centering Attack. So I've always got my eyes on those players, but she's creative and she can run the full time, you know. So that's a good signing, a good pick up. Rosie Harris is a local talent for them. So she's coming back and well done for picking up Ella Bowen as well, because Thunder didn't want to let her go. You know, they do want to let her go. And again, young player, really explosive and puts everything out there. So I think it's going to be how quickly leads Rhino sets into the season, settled down, you know, because they sort of kept full from last year. Is that enough to sort of hit the ground running? It's going to be quite a season. You're in speaking to all the coaches with Serena on a brand new edition of courtside. Lindsay, thank you as always for your time. Thank you very much, Andy. The net will show is now also available via Sky HD, Sky Q, and Sky Glass. Select Sport and we're on the podcast's rail.
We have been speaking to Lindsay as the NSL 2025 squads have been announced.