Queenslanders to fire up
New-look line-up hits court in Tassie
IT’S a new-look line-up on and off court, but Queensland Firebirds defender Ruby BakewellDoran is confident they can build on their focus to be more flexible and less predictable in this week’s pre-season clashes in Launceston.
After extending their partnership with Tasmania until the end of 2025 last month, Collingwood will host two Super Netball practice games against the Firebirds at the Silverdome.
Thursday night’s match will be a ticketed fixture, while Friday afternoon’s is closed to the public. After taking a few years off netball due to an ACL injury, Bakewell-Doran earned her first contract with the Firebirds last year after making her debut as a replacement player in 2021.
The 24-year-old make her Australia Diamonds debut against New Zealand in last year’s Constellation Cup, and is looking to help guide the Firebirds into finals after they missed out last year by a single goal.
Queensland has a new coach in Bec Bulley and a number of new players, including defenders Ash Unie and Remi Kamo, shooter Emily
Moore and midcourter Macy Gardner.
“Collingwood’s always a tough match-up, we’ve got a few recruits and they do as well,” Bakewell-Doran said.
“I played with Remi for three or four years (with Brisbane North Cougars) and Ash played for them after I left, so the connections are already there.”
Bakewell-Doran said Bulley had put a lot of emphasis on ensuring they are more adaptable when Plan A isn’t working. “Having a new coach and assistant coach bring a fresh outlook on what we can bring as a team,” she said. “We felt a bit stagnant in how we did things (last year). We had one way which worked well but when it got shut down, it didn’t work. It’s about being flexible, adapting in the moment and maintaining that level of unpredictability in attack.”
Thursday night’s practice game at the Silverdome gets underway at 7pm.
Collingwood players will also visit a NETFit Clinic run by Northern Tasmanian Netball Association in Launceston on Thursday before the game.