The excitement is building ahead of this weekend’s team Girls Cup in Sydney where fans will get their first look at the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) stars ahead of the 2024 season.
The pre-season tournament is a great opportunity for teams to put all their pre-season practice into work with all eight teams facing off in the three-day tournament.
Reigning champs Adelaide Thunderbirds will kick off the tournament against the Melbourne Vixens whilst the Melbourne Mavericks’ first match will be against the Firebirds with the new-look Mavericks using this tournament as a vital lead-up to their opening match on April 14.
The hype and excitement coming out of the Mavericks camp has been impossible to ignore with a number of star signings along with the recruitment of a star coach giving you the feeling the newest addition to the SSN competition is building something very special.
One of those recruitments over the off-season was star defender Liv Lewis who departed the Melbourne Vixens after two seasons with the Mavericks acquiring one of the premier defenders in the competition.
Speaking to SEN.com.au on the eve of the team Girls Cup, Lewis says she can’t wait to step out with her new teammates telling fans they should expect to see a fast style of play from the Tracey Neville-coached side.
“I’m so excited, I’m someone that doesn’t love the hard running and conditioning side of pre-season so on the netball court is when the fun begins,” Lewis said.
“I’m super pumped to be at team Girls Cup and I guess be one final step closer to Round One.
“It’s an exciting time for us, we’ve had a few practice matches in the pre-season but it’ll be a good opportunity for us to see everyone in action and I guess vice versa for other teams to see us.
“We’re approaching it with a lot of excitement and no real expectations, we just want to get out there and play together as a team.
“I think you’ll find we’ll be really dynamic with the speed of the game where everyone brings their own individual flare and strengths to the team as well.
“We’ve got some players that I guess play different styles of netball, so I think the style that we’re playing is really exciting as it showcases a lot of individual strengths as well as working together as a team.”
With Sasha Glasgow ruled out of the Mavericks’ maiden season with that horror leg injury, Lewis says the depth of the squad and the quality of training partners will cover the void left by Glasgow.
“It was obviously horrible for Sasha to go down, she is such a valuable person and player so we really miss her,” Lewis added.
“We’ve got our trusty training partners in to fill Sasha’s spot so we’re excited to see them step up and we’re taking a few of them away with us to team Girls Cup so to see them take the court will be great and to have a really strong squad is great.”
As for Lewis’ relationship with head coach Tracey Neville, Lewis has been taken aback by Neville’s experience and determined attitude that is unlike anything she’s ever seen from a coach.
“Tracey is awesome, she’s unlike any coach I’ve ever had in the past, she’s energetic, I feel like you always know what she’s feeling and thinking at any given time as she doesn’t hide it very well which is awesome,” Lewis continued.
“She puts so much care into us players and obviously she wants us to perform on the court but she really genuinely cares about us off the court as well which is really nice to have as a coach.”
When asked for a player who’s impressed Lewis in the pre-season, the star defender gave a glowing endorsement for England international Eleanor Cardwell.
One of the best attacking players in the competition, Cardwell will join her former international coach Tracey Neville at the expansion club.
With Lewis leading the Mavericks’ defence, the 25-year-old has been keeping a close eye on Cardwell in the break.
“I'll throw Al Cardwell’s name out there, it was her first year in SSN and I feel like she came in and took the competition by storm,” Lewis said.
“I remember coming up against her as a defender was always a tough task and to see the way she operates off the court she’s a real professional athlete, she takes charge in training sessions, she’s an awesome leader so it’s been really cool to see her away from the netball court but obviously she plays as well as she does for a reason and it’s great to see all the behind the scenes stuff as well.
“She’s been an absolute weapon.”
The Mavericks will play their first game against the Melbourne Vixens on April 14 at John Cain Arena.
