The Netball Show
S7 Ep67: Leah Middleton (12th Sept 2024)
(upbeat music) - Hi, this is Nat Metcalf. Flyhawk have developed a unique 3D kit designer that's fully customizable. So if you're looking for a new kit for your team for the new season, visit flyhawk.com or email info@flyhawk.com with your ideas now. - Nation Player is the easy to use, one-stop radio and audio app. Download Nation Player now on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Nation Player, where on are you? - The netball show with Flyhawk. Raising the bar for netball and winning sports. - It's in a ball show with Flyhawk, delighted to speak to Leah Middleton. Another season back at Dragons, Leah. And I'd imagine that after such a great 2024 season, it was pretty easy for you. - Yeah, absolutely. I think I definitely got back to my ways of just absolutely loving netball. And yeah, being in cart has definitely helped that. Absolutely love last year and can't wait to get going this season as well. - What was it like on user player obviously? 'Cause everybody was out of contract at the same time. So how did you take that? Was that pretty difficult to take? - Yeah, it was a big transition. And I do think it kind of affected everybody in different ways. I think for everybody though, there was this overwhelming feeling of uncertainty. And I guess probably a little bit of inner conflict because we're so excited that our league has gone professional and it's taken a step in a huge step in the right direction. But at the same time, it comes with massive change. And lots of people didn't know what that change would look like. So yeah, it was really exciting when we got the good news as a franchise that obviously dragons were gonna stay in. But then in comes the nervousness of whether or not you're gonna be given a contract for the following year. - What's our season been like a proper rest or maybe a festival here or two if you follow you on Instagram? - Yeah, I know the dragons obviously went to Madrid and hit up a concert and a festival there, which was super fun. But yeah, the off season has given some time, given me, especially some time to relax and recover from the season. Obviously last year, it was the first time I did international stuff as well. So I think for me, I just needed to take some time away for the body and for the mind. And yeah, I started back training now and feeling really refreshed and rare and to go. - And Cardiff would be nice for dog walks with Franklin. - Yeah, he's got to know all the local parks and he's inherited about 10 aunties which look after him as well with everyone busy. So he's a very lucky part. - Fantastic. We only recently saw that Nia's stepped away and signed first ones, he's certainly women. Obviously part of that squad with dragons as well last season. Maybe a word on her and what she brought to the team. - Oh, do you know what? Nia Jones is absolutely like no other. She's an outstanding teammate and on top of that, she's an absolutely brilliant friend. So yeah, we'll miss her around the netball courts but absolutely can't wait to get on a Swansea t-shirt and go and support her as many of the girls have already said. So we're all going to get around her and watch her, obviously taste her football dreams now. And yeah, super, super stoked that she's got an opportunity like this one. - Somebody that's returning to Bath after a little bit of the time away as Chelsea be it as well and obviously Beth and Dyke last season played a bath. So just to see them return really and a great chance for you to build new partnerships with them. - Yeah, absolutely. Obviously with Beth played with her at Wales staff. So super excited that she's back in the dragons fold. She's so speedy and I feel like no one can catch her. So even just at training, I think it's just going to bring us another level of intensity, which is great. And Chelsea, I mean, I got to train against her a little bit last year when she was kind of in that training associate role. She's super strong, accurate under the post. So yeah, same thing, super excited 'cause I've heard absolutely great things of her super league past and haven't got to see it. So I'm super excited to kind of see how she goes and just train against her and hopefully keep building those connections within the team. - What was it like working with Beth Akidell and obviously Elle as well last season? They were absolutely fantastic. - Yeah, absolute work courses in the mid court there and engines of our team. So excited that get to stay with Elle, fellow Aussie. And yeah, she definitely helps me out with those walks with Franklin. She's babysat him quite a few times, which is great. But on court, she's just an absolute demon. I mean, she's someone that works harder than anybody else. And she's just great. And Beth brings that really calming sense to the side. So, you know, two really, really good people to have with us. - Franklin's new coach from next season is Regina. Have you already had team ones a quick chat with her ahead of her arriving in the UK? - No, not just yet. So she's arriving soon, which is super exciting. And then we've all got meetings planned. So I'm sure she'll set out what she wants to see from us in the season that's coming up. And yeah, I can't wait to meet her having that New Zealand kind of flavour as well after having Jill this year is just going to be really good for us, I think. It will give us another tool. And yeah, just give us that extra level of, you know, netball knowledge that we can add to our game. - Tell me a little bit about the work you do for the club of court. You're the queen of birthday parties, aren't you? (laughs) - Yeah, so I love to organise a netball camp. But birthday parties too, I mean, whatever fits in. But, you know, I absolutely love it. Off-court, I do the community stuff for dragons, organising all of, you know, the school holiday camps or any master classes that schools might want. And just absolutely love it. Love coaching children, love being able to watch them improve. And yeah, super stoked to be able to continue that on next season as well. - We know about the partnership between you and Jackie from last season, but Alex Johnson will be joining as well. Do you know much about her game? - Yeah, so me and Alex actually joined the feathers at the same time. So no, Alex really well. And yeah, another one that's super exciting to be in the fold, a really tenacious defender, a one-on-one tagger, which is really beneficial. And yeah, I just imagine that she's going to do great things up on the NSL stage for the first time. - Obviously, we've seen the addition of night and forest netball and Birmingham Panthers as well. We've had a chance to see their squads on paper now. What do you think, and what do you think of them? - Yeah, I mean, look, I just think every squad's going to be strong and I think every squad has their strengths. Both Nottingham and Birmingham have looked to have recruited really, really well with some brilliant players. And it will probably just be about putting those combinations now out on court, they'll obviously new sides. But yeah, super excited to see what they can bring. I think it's always exciting when there's new franchises and there's always a really cool vibe around those teams. So yeah, it'll be exciting come that season opener to see what they can kind of do. I'm actually not too sure who we've got yet. So it'll be interesting whether or not we pull one of them in round one, but yeah, looking forward to it. - It gets to this stage now where almost blink and there's the start of the season. - Oh, absolutely, this pre-season block goes so quick. And I mean, before you know it, you're playing and then before you know it, it's over again. So I guess, especially for NSL 2.0, being the first year, it's just so important to take in every moment, you know, even those pre-season sessions that right now we're doing remotely, you know, enjoying them as hard as that is. And especially for me, yeah, enjoying the grind. And yeah, just taking every moment as it comes because it's honestly such an amazing opportunity for us over here in the UK to have our league going in the direction that it is. - It's easy to say about how much did you enjoy the games at the arena? And just the fact that everybody was maybe all decked out in green as well as you ended the court. - Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Those utility games were super, super special. And it's funny because it didn't feel like it was my first year playing for Dragons last year. You know, I looked to the crowd and recognized the fans and yeah, it was just amazing. It was a really epic vibe in that arena. And I just can't wait to get back there to be honest because it was completely decked out in green. It looked fantastic. And Dragons as a franchise did such a good job to put on a show. So yeah, it would be really good once we get back in there. - Definitely I'm into build because obviously there was a real belief last season. - Yeah, absolutely. I mean, since stepping foot into that Dragons environment, I could just tell there was something special with the group. We're really close-knit. We're great friends off the court. And I just think on the court, it enables us to kind of build those connections nice and strong. And we have those really open conversations with each other and everyone has a really good respect for one another. So it is really exciting. I said something really cool, which actually stuck with me. And she said, you know, the closeness of our group is a little bit like our superpower on court and I genuinely believe that. I think all of us have this belief within ourselves that we can take it to any team. So yeah, it is super exciting. And I'm really happy that we were able to keep the core group together along with some really key additions. So yeah, it'll be good going, I think. - Yeah, that's really great to hear. Everything Cardiff Dragons in the meantime, online cardiftragons.com. Leah, thanks for your time. - Thanks so much for having me. - The net will show is now also available via Sky HD, Sky Q, and Sky Glass. So let's sport and we're on the podcast rail. [MUSIC PLAYING]
The Netball Show will sponsor Leah Middleton into the 2025 NSL season.