Rivals eye Heat stars
Mooney among Brisbane’s players who are off-contract
Brisbane Heat management have formulated plans to stave off a poaching raid on their allconquering WBBL team and keep star player Beth Mooney in Brisbane.
The Heat face the Melbourne Renegades today at Allan Border Field, where a semi-final doubleheader will decide the make-up of tomorrow’s WBBL title decider.
Brisbane took out last summer’s tournament in emphatic fashion and are on track for back-to-back titles.
But the Heat’s success is set to result in rival clubs targeting Brisbane players when the WBBL contracting window opens after the finals.
The Heat have a host of players off-contract, including star trio Jess Jonassen, Sammy-Jo Johnson and Mooney.
Heat general manager Andrew McShea said the franchise was determined to keep its squad together.
“We saw that last year – we lost a couple of players to other clubs after last season,” he said.
“We’re hopeful we can keep this group together. They’re doing some impressive things on and off the field.
“Beth is off-contract, along with a number of players. We’ll move pretty quickly once the contract window opens up after the final.
“They’re a talented group and bat deep with plenty of bowling options.
“Hopefully we can secure the group moving forward.”
Australian representatives Mooney and Jonassen were named this week in the WBBL ‘team of the tournament’.
All-rounder Jonassen has scored 348 runs at 38.66 and taken 19 wickets in the tournament. Wicketkeeper Mooney has been in sensational form with the bat, scoring 672 runs at 74.66 in 14 matches this summer.
“Beth has been phenomenal,” McShea said.
“There’s plenty of discussions happening, and to be had. We’re very focused on keeping this group together.”
The Heat finished on top of the
WBBL ladder following a stellar back half of the tournament, which included a seven-game winning streak.
Brisbane captain Kirby Short said the Heat had to overcome different expectations this year.
“We won last year when people didn’t think we could or would – now we’re in a position where we’ve finished top of the table,” she said.
“It’s wonderful to host the finals, but T20 can misbehave on you. Once four teams get to the finals, what’s happened before doesn’t matter.”
The Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers will clash in today’s first match at AB Field, before the Heat play the Renegades for a place in the decider.