2024 NS Super Netball MVP & Team of the Year

Cover image by Mia Mammoliti

It’s time to reveal Netball Scoop’s MVP and Team of the Year for Suncorp Super Netball in 2024. This is based on performances during the 14 home and away rounds. The following people gave their opinions.

Georgia DoyleIan HarkinMichael HutchinsonAndrew KennedyElly McNerneyKatrina NissenJenny Sinclair

Most positions in our Team of the Year were quite clear cut, with the greatest conjecture being over the goal defence position. We’ve finally settled on a team of 12, with five players on the bench. The strength of the team can be seen by the calibre of players who got mentions but unfortunately missed out… Steph Fretwell, Cara Koenen, Tayla Williams, Alice Teague-Neeld, Paige Hadley, Jo Weston, and Sunday Aryang. Here is our Team of the Year for 2024…

NETBALL SCOOP TEAM OF THE YEAR

GOAL SHOOTER

JHANIELE FOWLER-NEMBHARD (FEVER)

Once again, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard dominated the Fever goal circle in 2024. She is clearly the leading shooter in the competition, scoring with 813 of 846 attempts at 96%, which is 257 goals ahead of the next shooter on the list. Of these, she’s landed 20 super shots from 39 attempts. It must be the ultimate demoralisation for defenders, to see someone who’s so very strong under the post, but still able to score two-pointers when required at just above 50% accuracy. But her strength is still as a holding shooter, and there’s simply no one better. In round 10, she beat her own scoring record, ending with 75/76 against the Swifts including one super shot, so 76 points in all. In 2024 so far, she has missed only 14 one-point attempts. That is just one a week!

Total goals: 813/846 (96.1%)Regular goals: 793/807 (98.3%)Super shots: 20/39 (51.3%)Rebounds: 42

GOAL ATTACK

KIERA AUSTIN (VIXENS)

Kiera Austin cuts into the shooting circle. Image Aliesha Vicars

For Kiera Austin, teaming up with her partner in crime Sophie Garbin from the World Cup Final has been both good for her, and for the Vixens. She has shone in the goal attack role this season. One of her notable performances came in round two against Thunderbirds, when after not having a great first three quarters, she lifted and totally dominated the last quarter to get Vixens over the line. This has been a theme of the year. Whenever Austin plays well, Vixens play well. If she’s not setting up Garbin, she’s scoring crucial goals herself, including super shots. She is fourth on the list for two-pointers so far this year. Another factor in Austin’s play is her defensive capability which is very high for a goal attack. She has had 18 possession gains so far this season.

Total goals: 293/372 (78.8%)Regular goals: 238/276 (86.2%)Super shots: 55/96 (57.3%)Goal Assists: 192Centre-pass receives: 273

WING ATTACK

LIZ WATSON (LIGHTNING)

Liz Watson is all focus. Image Marcela Massey

Moving to a new team certainly hasn’t slowed Liz Watson down or lessened her impact. Quite the opposite. The Australian captain has been a total ball magnet for Sunshine Coast Lightning in season 2024, dominating the attacking categories. She has finished the regular season with the most centre-pass receives, the most circle feeds, the most feeds with an attempt, and the most goal assists in the league. After playing for so long with Kate Moloney, naturally, it has taken time to adjust to another centre in Leesa Mi Mi, but that combination is coming along well. Of the four teams in the finals, there’s no doubt Lightning are the underdogs, but any team with Liz Watson in it, has to be given a chance.

Circle Feeds: 642Feeds with an attempt: 428Goal Assists: 365Centre-pass receives: 371Pickups: 24

CENTRE

KATE MOLONEY (VIXENS)

Kate Moloney marshalling the Vixens midcourt. Image Shaun Sharp/Sporting Moments by Shaun

Just as Liz Watson has moved on without her long time midcourt partner, so has Kate Moloney. She has had a terrific season at the Vixens. Moloney has combined with younger wing attacks in Hannah Mundy and Zara Walters, and led the way with her experience, helping Vixens to ten wins from their first eleven games. There have been a couple of stumbles since, but Vixens are still looking in good shape for finals and a lot of that is down to Kate Moloney. Her leadership of course is well known, as are all the little one percenters that she does out on court. If there’s a loose ball, there’s every chance that Moloney will be the first one there. Once again this year, she is currently sitting top of the league in pickups.

Circle Feeds: 431Feeds with an attempt: 263Goal Assists: 200Second-phase receives: 120Pickups: 31

WING DEFENCE

LATANYA WILSON (THUNDERBIRDS)

Latanya Wilson once again showcasing her skills in wing defence. Image – Hannah Howard/On the Ball

There is something that sets Latanya Wilson apart from other wing defences. That is her ability to shut down opponents relentlessly, but also win ball (and lots of it) for her team. She has had the better of many top wing attacks in the competition in recent times, neutralising their effectiveness. But then at the same time, she will pop up out of nowhere to take a spectacular intercept or a match winning deflection. It’s extraordinary to see someone with the stats that she has, with most of them coming while playing wing defence. And wing defence is where she is in our team, but in reality, she has shown this year that she can play any of the back three defensive positions brilliantly. As she did in round 11 against Mavericks, when she played wing defence, goal defence and goal keeper well, all in the one game.

Possession Gains: 73Intercepts: 42Deflections: 82Pickups: 22

GOAL DEFENCE

EMILY MANNIX (VIXENS)

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