Veterans to hang up their bibs
THE Queensland Firebirds are set to announce the retirements of championshipwinning duo Caitlyn Nevins and Laura Clemesha as the team starts rejuvenating its roster for next year’s Super Netball season.
Clemesha and Geelongborn Nevins were part of the Firebirds sides that won the thrilling 2015 and 2016 championship grand finals.
They will play their final home game in front of the purple army when Queensland hosts Adelaide at the State Netball Centre on Sunday.
Neither will get a fairytale farewell as the winless Firebirds are languishing at the bottom of the ladder after an injury-ravaged year.
But the horror 2019 campaign does not diminish their invaluable contributions to the Firebirds, on and off the court.
Nevins still has family ties in Geelong and her Newtownbased ‘Nan’, Audrey Morrow, lives across the street from the mother of Vixens coach Simone McKinnis.
The 32-year-old arrived at the Firebirds before the 2015 season after being part of the Melbourne Vixens squad that defeated Queensland in the 2014 grand final.
She was the starting wing attack in the 2015 decider for the Firebirds, forming part of Queensland’s dynamic midcourt engine room with centre Kim Ravaillion and wing defence Gabi Simpson.
Her slick passing game and quality feeds into the shooting duo of Romelda Aiken and Gretel Tippett grabbed the attention of national selectors and Nevins, who has played 76 career national league games, would go on to earn five Test caps with the Diamonds.
Nevins has also served as Firebirds vice-captain behind Simpson for the past three seasons.