ANZ Championship season preview by Warren Partland Irene van Dyk of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic. Picture: Liam Driver Source: News Limited CAN the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic end the premier's curse? The Magic created history last season as the first New Zealand team to claim the title. They were also the first franchise to lift the trophy from the first semi-final and the first team to win the premiership decider on the road, having conquered the Vixens in Melbourne. It was an incredible performance considering the Hamilton mob lost its first four games. Among the big questions on the Australian side of the Tasman is what impact will champion goaler Sharelle McMahon have on the Vixens? After missing most of the 2011 season with an Achilles injury and no action last year with her pregnancy, McMahon moved well in the pre-season trials and will be crucial to the Victorian outfit's chances. A record 127 players have signed with the 10 teams and there has been an unprecedented 49 changes to team lists, including the 10 additional contracts on offer by Kiwi franchises following the introduction of a new collective bargaining agreement. The first four ANZ Championships NSW Swifts, Melbourne Vixens, Adelaide Thunderbirds and Queensland Firebirds all stumbled the year after tasting grand final glory and failed to qualify for the finals. The Southern Steel has had a massive overhaul with eight changes, including the signing of gun Jamaican goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler. The season opens this weekend with three games on Sunday and two on Saturday. Each season there is talk of the games being more intense, more competitive. And this season promises to be another beauty. Netball to be shown live on Foxtel, SBS Squad: Jess Bourke, Julie Corletto, Kayla Cullen, Cathrine Latu, Bailey Mes, Jess Moulds, Malia Paseka, Erikana Pedersen, Grace Rasmussen, Elisapeta Toeava, Maria Tutaia, Lavinia Vaitohi, Hayley Saunders. Gains: Bourke, Corletto (Vixens), Paseka, Pedersen, Toeava, Vaitohi, Saunders (Steel). Losses: Jade Clarke (Tactix), Temepara George (retired), Rachel Rasmussen (Steel), Portia Woodman, Anna Harrison (pregnant), Charlotte Kight (injury). Last year: 3rd Prediction: 8 Starting seven: GS - Latu. GA - Tutaia. WA - Rasmussan. C - Cullen. WD - Saunders. GD - Corletto. GK - Moulds. Thoughts: Temepara George was an inspirational player for many years and her retirement leaves a massive hole in the Mystics midcourt. Her absence could impact on Cath Latu as the pair have had many seasons together. Losing Kight and Harrison in the pre-season is also damaging and could expose the defence. The Mystics were woeful at the Melbourne pre-season tournament although there was no Maria Tutaia, who opted for a French holiday instead of crossing the Tasman. Coach: Ruth Aiken - "The pre-season for the LG Mystics has seen its fair share of disruptions through injury and pregnancy, but this has provided the opportunity for some great young talent from the Auckland region to experience netball at the next level. The team unit has now settled into life without Scarlett and Charlotte" and we are all looking forward to the first game so we can see how far we have progressed." Temepara George has retired. Picture: Brownbill Andrew Source: News Limited Squad: Amorette Wild, April Letton, Ashlee Weir, Carla Dziwoki, Kimberlee Green, Melissa Tallent, Mo'onia Gerrard, Paige Hadley, Samantha May, Sonia Mkoloma, Susan Pratley, Vanessa Ware. Gains: Hadley, Tallent, Weir. Losses: Kimberly Borger, Kristy Guthrie, Joanne Sutton. Last year: 5 Prediction: 7 Starting seven: GS - Pratley. GA - Wild. WA - Ware. C - Green. GD - Gerrard. GK - Mkoloma. Thoughts: The Swifts have retained the bulk of last year's squad which did well to just miss the finals. Lisa Beehag is in her second season as coach and will have learnt much from 2012. Netball NSW pulled off a huge coup in recruiting former NZ high performance manager Tracy Fear in a similar role in Sydney, adding significant off-court knowledge. The Swifts must again rely on a small shooting circle with Susan Pratley as the spearhead. Coach: Lisa Beehag: "I'm really excited the ANZ Championship is finally here. The NSW Swifts have enjoyed a good pre-season there is a real positive and competitive vibe within the team and now we are looking to put that into action on court. You could ask any of the ANZ Championship coaches the same question and they'll all say `we want to be in that final top four', but I believe that goal is very realistic for the NSW Swifts. I think we will be one of the contenders come the finals series. In saying that, I think that 2013 will be as close as what the competition was last year, so teams can't afford to drop games. If NSW Swifts can do the little things well, and we build on what we achieved last season, then we will put ourselves in a really great position this year. NSW Swifts co-captain Kim Green (L) with teammate Vanessa Ware. Squad: Amber Bellringer, Katrina Grant, Paula Griffen, Joline Henry, Claire Kersten, Camilla Lees, Liana Leota, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Victoria Smith, Caitlin Thwaites, Daya Wiffen, Donna Wilkins. Gains: Kersten, Leota, Wilkins. Losses: Katarina Cooper, Jamilah Gupwell, Ngarama Milner-Olsen. Last year: 7 Prediction: 4 Starting seven: GS - Thwaites. GA - Wilkins. WA - Leota. C - Lees. WD - Henry. GD - Selby-Rickit. GK - Grant. Thoughts: The Pulse made inroads last season under the guidance of wily coach Roby Broughton and they will threaten for the top Kiwi ranking. Caitlin Thwaites and Donna Wilkins will form a powerful goal circle combination and Joline Henry returns after having a baby. A huge inclusion is feisty Liana Leota, back in NZ after a year in England. Coach: Robyn Broughton - "To be honest, cancelling the Tauranga tournament was crucial. Unfortunately we could not financially support going to the Melbourne tournament. We did get a game against the Magic and last weekend played the Tactix. We played well against the Tactix and have done a lot of hard training as well as used the men for practise games. Things have been good and we are starting to look like a team there are some new faces. Central Pulse's Camilla Lees on the attack. Squad: Jade Clarke, Sophia Fenwick, Keshia Grant, Jo Harten, Elizabeth Hayman, Kirsten Hurley, Bessie Manu, Julianna Naoupu, Louise Thayer, Anna Thompson, Jo Trip, Zoe Walker, Jane Watson. Gains: Clarke (Mystics), Hayman, Hurley, Naoupu (Magic), Thayer (Steel), Walker, Watson. Losses: Maree Bowden, Stacey Francis, Anna Galvan, Ellen Halpenny (Magic), Kiley Hikawai, Finau Pulu. Last year: 10 Prediction: 10 Starting seven: GS - Harten. GA - Naoupu. WA - Grant. C - Clarke. WD - Manu. GD - Trip. GK - Thayer. Thoughts: The Christchurch team finished bottom last year and it appears another testing season looms. Former captain Maree Bowden called it quits after last season and she has been replaced by England international Jade Clarke, who has switched from the Mystics. An important signing is goal attack Julianna Naopu, the competition's best young player last year when a crucial cog in the Magic line-up. She will team with Jo Harten, the England shooter who is growing in stature in the game, in the goal circle. Coach: Leigh Gibbs - "The Tactix coaching staff have welcomed the number of pre-season games against seven ANZC teams we have had leading into our first round this weekend. The games have provided an opportunity to test combinations, our preparation and expose our first year ANZC players to the intensity and toughness of the competition. The squad has also been working hard on its strength and conditioning and building a strong team unit. With two home games being hosted for the first time in the northern end of our newly formed Netball Mainland Zone in the city of Nelson, we are looking forward to providing a new set of netball fans with entertaining and skilful netball. Canterbury's Anna Thompson. Squad: Emily Beaton, Erin Bell, Carla Borrego, Natalie von Bertouch, Rebecca Bulley, Sharni Layton, Kate Shimmin, Renae Hallinan, Laura Packard, Samantha Poolman, Stephanie Puopolo, Leigh Waddington. Gains: Packard, Poolman, Puopolo, Waddington. Losses: Cody Lange (AIS), Madeline Proud (AIS), Melissa Rowland, Amehlia Schmidt Last year: 4 Prediction: 1 Starting seven: GS - Borrego. GA - Bell. WA - Beaton. C - von Bertouch. WD - Hallinan. GD - Bulley. GK - Layton. Thoughts: Got within a goal of the Magic in the first semi-final in Hamilton last year and the Thunderbirds have used the pain of that loss as motivation. The bulk of the squad remains intact with the losses being youngsters to the Canberra-based AIS. Hallinan and Bulley are entrenched in the system after a year in Adelaide while goal shooter Carla Borrego has had a full pre-season with the side. Von Bertouch had more surgery in the summer but the captain is crucial to the team's title hopes. Coach: Jane Woodlands-Thompson: "Our pre-season has been physically and mentally taxing and we will need to taper well this week to hit game one with maximum impact. The team has been honest with itself about our gaps and what held us back from progressing deeper into the final series last year. Our pre-season activities have been carefully designed to challenge us and provide a platform to grow and take our performance to the next level. Adelaide Thunderbird Sharni Layton. Squad: Abbey McCulloch, Ameliaranne Wells, Chelsea Pitman, Demelza McCloud, Gabrielle Simpson, Jacinta Messer, Kimberley Ravaillion, Laura Clemesha, Laura Geitz, Natalie Medhurst, Nicola Gray, Romelda Aiken. Gains: Clemesha, Gray, McCloud (Steel), McCulloch, Ravaillion, Simpson. Losses: Candice Adams, Shannon Eagland (Vixens), Keirra Trompf, Elissa Macleod (Vixens), Lauren Nourse (retirement), Amy Steel (Vixens). Last year: 6 Prediction: 6 Starting seven: GS - Aiken. GA - Medhurst. WA - Pittman. C - Ravaillion. WD - Messer. GD - McCloud. GK - Geitz. Thoughts: There has been plenty off-season movement in Brisbane with a swag of players leaving the club. Among the signings is Kim Ravaillion, who has yet to make her ANZ debut despite playing for the Diamonds in England in January. The vibes out of Brisbane have been positive with the Firebirds having a heavy focus on strength and conditioning. Much will depend on how the youngsters stand up in the heat of weekly battles. Coach: Roselee Jencke: "I am satisfied where we are at. The improvement we have been able to perform in conditioning and strength as well as other improvements across the board have been terrific. Firebirds player Kim Ravaillion. Picture: Wallis Peter Source: The Courier-Mail Squad: Jodi Brown, Gina Crampton, Phillipa Finch, Jhaniele Fowler, Shannon Francois, Wendy Frew, Phoenix Karaka, Stacey Peeters, Storm Purvis, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Kate Shearer, Courtney Tairi, Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, Rachel Rasmussen. Gains: Crampton, Finch, Fowler (Jamaica), Karaka, Peeters, (Magic), Rachael Rasmussen (Mystics), Shearer, Tone-Fitzpatrick (Magic). Losses: Demelza McCloud (Firebirds), Hayley Saunders, Sheryl Scanlan, Ashleigh Smith, Louise Thayer (Tactix), Donna Wilkins (Pulse). Last year: 9 Prediction: 5 Starting seven: GS - Fowler. GA - Brown. WA - Tairi. C - Frew. WD - Finch. GD - Rasmussen. GK - Tone-Fitzpatrick. Thoughts: It is amazing how one player can change so many attitudes. There were concerns for the Steel but the signing of Fowler is significant. Slightly taller than Romelda Aiken, she has more strength and will be an imposing figure in the goal circle alongside Jodi Brown. Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick has moved from the Magic and she strengthen the defence, along with Rachael Rasmussen. Courtney Tairi returns from knee surgery and Wendy Frew is back after having a baby. Last year the club tried two head coaches but this season it is Janine Southby in charge. Looms as a dangerous side, especially at home in the deep south of NZ. Coach: Janine Southby ``I believe we have come a long way from our first training in all areas, on court understandings, conditioning and self belief. Some very beneficial pre-season games - particularly in Australia - have given us the chance to assess where we are at and the work ons. We do have some young and green players. However, the senior players are stepping up and leading by example. I'm excited by our attacking end and if they connect they will be lethal for us. While defensively we are untested, the players have been working hard on some key areas and I feel they have come a long way. The players are excited but naturally a bit nervous about the start of the season looming very close now. The Southern Steel will be looking for a big season. Squad: Andrea Gilmore, Ashleigh Brazill, Caitlin Bassett, Catherine Cox, Chanel Gomes, Courtney Bruce, Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Josie Janz, Kate Beveridge, Lisa Millman, Shae Bolton, Verity Simmons. Gains: Beveridge (Vixens), Millman, Bruce. Losses: Susanne Fuhrmann (retired), Sarah East (injury) Nikala Smith. Last year: 8 Prediction: 9 Starting seven: GS - Bassett. WA - Bolton. C - Brazill. WD - Gilmore. GD - Gomes. GK - Beckford-Chambers. Thoughts: There is no shortage of tall timber in the Fever goal circle. Kate Beveridge has returned to Perth after stints in Adelaide and Melbourne and she joins Caitlin Bassett and Cath Cox as the tall targets in attack. Coach Norma Plummer has already shown she is not afraid to bench her big names if they are not performing. The retirement of Fuhrmann means Chanel Gomes and Eboni Beckford-Chambers will be the backbone of the defensive end. As always, the lengthy travelling will be an issue but it should also mean a significant home court advantage, especially against the Kiwi outfits. Coach: Norma Plummer unavailable. West Coast's team for this season with head coach Norma Plummer Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow Squad: Leana de Bruin, Kendra Falefitu, Ellen Halpenny, Laura Langman, Nadia Loveday, Erena Mikaere, Jaime Lee Price, Jodi Tod, Elias Shadrock, Jess Tuki, Irene van Dyk, Jess Waitapu, Khao Watts, Casey Kopua nee-Williams. Gains: Halpenny, Tod, Falefitu, Loveday, Price. Losses: Julianna Naoupu (Tactix), Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick (Steel), Arahl Wall. Last year: 1 Prediction: 2 Starting seven: GS - van Dyk. GA - Halpenny. WA - Watts. C - Langman. WD - Shadrock. GD - Kopua nee-Williams. GK - de Bruin. Thoughts: With so much talent, it was only a matter of time before the Magic finally broke through. Laura Langman proved herself the world's premier midcourter last year and she was the chief reason for the rise to premiership glory. de Bruin, Langman, van Dyk and Kopua, best knows as Williams, are still there. But gone is Julianna Naoupu, outstanding alongside van Dyk last year but now with the Tactix. Halpenny and Waitapu are the likely options at goal attack. Coach: Noelene Taurua ``Our pre-season has been fantastic. We have acknowledged the things that worked well in 2012 and have carried those aspects in 2013. However, more excitedly we are constantly challenging ourselves at trainings in order to produce something different out on court. Netballer Irene Van Dyk will return again this season. Squad: Tegan Caldwell, Bianca Chatfield, Geva Mentor, Madison Browne, Karyn Howarth, Elissa Macleod, Kate Moloney, Johannah Curran, Amy Steel, Shannon Eagland, Sharelle McMahon, Erin Hoare. Gains: McMahon, Curran, Eagland, Hoare, Macleod, Moloney, Steel. Losses: Kate Beveridge (Fever), Julie Corletto (Mystics), Ashlee Howard, Kara Richards, Chelsey Tregear (retired), Sarah Wall, Micaela Wilson. Last year: 2 Prediction: 3 Starting seven: GS - McMahon. GA - Caldwell. WA - Browne. C - Macleod. WD - Curran. GD - Chatfield. GK - Mentor. Thoughts: The Vixens surprised last year when they hosted the grand final. A key component of the side, Julie Corletto, is missing after moving to Auckland but the heartbeat of the team, Sharelle McMahon, is back after almost two years out of action. The outfit has altered significantly but the attitude and class has not, as evident by impressive pre-season performances. Coach Simone McKinnis gets her chance to put her stamp on the competition after taking over from long-serving Julie Hoornweg. Coach: Simone McKinnis ``Solid, intensive, fun with a unity of purpose. Melbourne Vixens player Tegan Caldwell.