[K2]

in reply to: 2022 QUAD SERIES (Jan) – Eng/Aus/NZ/SA #1335845

Great game against SA. I loved Bueta and Garbin. Garbin reminds me of that time Bulley got picked for the Diamonds World Cup team on the basis of being a really good bench player for the Firebirds (when she was behind McMenamin and Geitz) – the Diamonds needed someone who was good at coming on court and performing in tough situations, not someone who was used to be starting 7. I think that is Garbins special skill she can’t bring to Diamonds now – she is used to fighting for court time and having to perform well off the bench.

Aryang is such a prodigious talent, loved watching her debut

[K2]

in reply to: Caitlin Bassett says she’ll play for free to keep her SSN career alive #1334337

Not to sound heartless, but this reads as attention seeking. If she wants to keep playing as a training partner, great! If she does want the gig, she should just go do it. I don’t think she is winning herself favours with SSN teams by encouraging the media to paint it as an incredible sacrifice. I don’t think this is enticing any team to add her to the roster and I would love for her to pause and take the high road when it comes to not being signed (as much as I know it must hurt).

[K2]

in reply to: 2022 SSN rumoured signings/speculation #1333974

@Tully – I agree you can’t blame everything on the feeder. I didn’t watch Bassett last season so can’t comment on that (I am seeing mixed reviews here) but in the last Diamonds series she played I felt she was moving off her hold too early and not clearly holding her space for the feeder. Which then makes it difficult to feed into her unless you are confident about the connection.

Normally if shooters are consistently getting poor feeds, it says that you need to do something different to make it easier for the feeder rather than apportioning blame or allowing the same issue to occur over and over (hold front space, get on the move, etc). CBass did that quite well at Lightning but I am not sure we have really seen that attitude and ability from her the last few years.

TBH I actually think that change-up in GS tactics is something Romelda has done the best across the comp for years now. Just when you think the defenders have got her number, she completely changes how she holds or moves. The only thing she has always done consistently is miss right under the hoop lol.

[K2]

in reply to: 2022 SSN rumoured signings/speculation #1333932

@Cb98 – Thank you, that is good to hear. Unfortunately if I were a club I still probably wouldn’t have taken a risk on contracting CBass with her injury but I understand that would be frustrating for her because clubs have done that for others (like Hinchliffe). And, to her point, she has limited avenues now to prove herself fit.

I am excited for EUB!! That is a really fun signing and she will bring so much experience to a young defensive end at Firebirds!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by K2.

[K2]

in reply to: 2022 SSN rumoured signings/speculation #1333914

My take on this: they are both a bit right, and both a bit wrong

CBass has not acknowledged her ongoing injury, which would have contributed to the decision to not sign her. She also played in a comp without a super point last year and from all reports did not perform particularly well – some clubs may have looked at that as her chance to prove herself and were not impressed with what they saw. The “good enough’ to be in the Australian’ Squad come across a touch entitled, although I know what she means and understand why she is hurting. However, she is absolutely right that the concentration of international or non-Diamonds eligible players in GS is a big problem that should be fixed by some form of restriction.

Liz – I agree with her point that there should be a better ANL league under SSN, but disagree that there should be no form of restrictions on SSN internationals (I am more in favour of restrictions by playing area). Ultimately, I think she could have taken the high ground here and not responded to CBass or just called her to discuss given CBass is clearly coming from a place of hurt with this one. I think a lot of what Liz said is correct but it maybe did not need to be said to Caitlin in a public forum, when Caitlin’s points are so clearly loaded with her own hurt.

Ultimately, I still think Giants and JFitz have a large responsibility for this mess lol.

[K2]

in reply to: 2022 SSN rumoured signings/speculation #1333898

My jaw DROPPED at Liz’s reply to CBass. “I can only surmise by the fact you do not have a contract that they deemed you not good enough”. Not saying Liz is wrong but she didn’t hold her punches. Oof!!

[K2]

in reply to: 2022 SSN rumoured signings/speculation #1333594

Reading between the lines – while not confirmed it looks like Romelda only signed on for a one year contract from the language of the press release. I think your 15th season is a nice round number to sign off on. I would not be surprised if she stepped away at the end of the season and called it a day. Probably Wallam’s best chance of a starting GS spot would be with Firebirds within the next two years, unless there are injuries.

Side note… I think we need a new term for international players who relocate to Australia permanently and consider it home. “Imports” doesn’t sit right with me. Romelda came from Jamaica to Australia to play 15 years ago when she was 19. She is an Australian citizen. She is married to an Australian. She speaks with a very strong Australian accent. Yes she doesn’t play for the Diamonds but it is not like Firebirds are “importing” her each year. Just food for thought!

[K2]

in reply to: 2022 SSN rumoured signings/speculation #1333504

Does anyone else feel like Firebirds may have come off second best in their plans for this signing period and are now scrambling? Why let go of Rudi Ellis, who has performed well and is a true GK, if you do not have a big name coming in? Why would Hinchliffe leave to a defence and GK-heavy line up at Lightning when she would be a sure thing to come back on court at Firebirds post-injury?

I think they tried and failed to secure Dehaney and/or Moore, and now we don’t really have anyone…does Queensland have a promising GK coming through the ranks who can be promoted?

[K2]

in reply to: 2021 CONSTELLATION CUP – NZ v AUST (March) #1320534

I don’t think the fade is because of rolling subs – most of the Diamonds starting line up were playing the full sixty minutes during SSN even with the rolling subs rule. NZ won by using the time out rule to roll out subs, who had fresh legs and a specific goal on court. If anything, being used to rolling subs in SSN might help Australia to beat NZ in international games in the next few years because I doubt Dame Noeline will change her shake up tactics anytime soon.

[K2]

in reply to: 2021 CONSTELLATION CUP – NZ v AUST (March) #1320431

The attack change in the circle should have happened at half time, before the Austin exhaustion spiral. We needed Weston or Jenner in GD at the final quarter.

We have our starting 7 but that doesn’t matter if we lose the second half. Stacey needs to be braver with the bench.

[K2]

in reply to: 2021 CONSTELLATION CUP – NZ v AUST (March) #1320428

The GS/Ga swap looks great but it isn’t going to matter if we can’t win ball in defence. What do we have to lose? Put Jenner on and see what happens!!

[K2]

in reply to: 2021 CONSTELLATION CUP – NZ v AUST (March) #1320417

Finally the GS/GA swap!!

[K2]

in reply to: 2021 CONSTELLATION CUP – NZ v AUST (March) #1320409

This is crazy. Austin and Koenen in a spiral, Eke and Wilson running wild. And the WD changes???

[K2]

in reply to: 2021 CONSTELLATION CUP – NZ v AUST (March) #1320401

That was the wrong change.

[K2]

in reply to: 2021 CONSTELLATION CUP – NZ v AUST (March) #1320393

No changes???

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