MLeague 2019 – Premier Men’s Season Preview
With MLeague starting tonight, we spoke to a number of players/coaches associated with our Premier Men’s division to give you a preview of what to expect this year.
Christina Puopolo – Head Coach Victoria
Current Open Men’s Coach for Victoria and Australia
Who do you think is the team to beat and why?
I can’t predict this one, but I guess that Geelong Cougars, with no changes and many talented players in their lineup, will be hard to beat.
Who do you think is the team to watch and why?
Watch out though for Pasifika Sharks who have a massive target in Junior Levi and will be hard to stop.
Pick for player to watch in the competition?
Jayden Cowling (Seahawks) will be the player to look out for. He is a talented player and a super star of the future.
Pick for Season MVP?
I think Brodie Roberts (Sirens) will be in there for a chance, he is a flashy player who always stands out.
What are you most excited about with this competition?
What excites me the most is that MLeague offers an elite competition which will be fiercely contested. MLeague will be one of Victoria’s most exciting netball competitions.
Your pick for top 4 in any order?
Geelong
Pasifika
Sirens
St Therese
Daniel Cooke – Melbourne City Blackhawks, Captain
Former Open Men’s Captain and Australian Sonix player
Who do you think is the team to beat and why?
You can’t go past last season’s winners Geelong Cougars, with no changes and multiple current and past Open Men’s players, they will be hard to beat all over the court.
Who do you think is the team to watch and why?
DDNA. They were close to picking up some big upsets last season and I would think an extra year in VMMNA programs and new juniors will help boost their performance.
Pick for player to watch from your team?
Joel Gosbell had an outstanding 2018/19 season in Under 20’s and will push into senior levels over the coming year.
Pick for player to watch in the competition?
Junior Levi (Pasifika) – welcome to Victoria and Vic MLeague! But I’m also very interested in Tristan Comans (St Therese) and what he can do in his first season in the Premier division.
Pick for Season MVP?
Brodie Roberts (Sirens). Umpires love him and he gets the votes. His shot is also coming really good and will control the Sirens front end.
What are you most excited about with your team?
The team is full of returners to the competition. After being hit hard with injuries over the past 2 years, we get 3 players back from long term injuries including myself, Lachlan Deane and Simon Cartwright. Add the addition of former Open Men’s players in James Matthews and Tim Marshall and we just have a super exciting bunch of players.
I can’t forget our junior talent either, they are all super exciting individuals with very different roles to play in our team and the future of Victoria. Watch out for Joel and Anthony Maniapoto through the midcourt and Lucas Farrimond’s combination with myself in the circle is really exciting. Definite talent and players of the future!
Your pick for top 4 in any order?
Geelong
Sirens
Pasifika
Blackhawks
Junior Levi – Pasifika Sharks
Former Australian Sonix captain/player turned NZ Men’s Representative
Who do you think is the team to beat and why?
The Sirens boast starting Victorian state men’s players at both ends (Brodie Roberts and Will Jamison) and have a strong midcourt, they’ve got the foundation to go all the way or be consistent enough to make finals and build solid combinations before then.
Who do you think is the team to watch and why?
Last year’s winners are always a known threat (Geelong), having won and retained the spine of their team, they’ll be a shoo in for a spot in finals at the very least.
Pick for player to watch from your team?
Jake Schuster. Still fairly new to the game and a few years in, he has massive, raw potential and he is super fit and very physical. I’m keen to see what he can do in a new city/state and league as he is always getting better with court time and learning to read the game.
Pick for player to watch in the competition?
Christian White (DDNA). I’ve seen Christian at his best back in QLD and when he’s on he doesn’t miss from anywhere in the circle. He also understands space and how to set up play, so if his team utilise him effectively at GS they’ll have a formidable weapon.
Pick for Season MVP?
So early to call but Jayden Cowling (Seahawks) is always a sure contender for MVP. He’s a classy solid player who doesn’t make a fuss of play and umpires love that. He can also swing in the middle and open up the attack end where required.
What are you most excited about with your team?
Full on island flavour and life and showing off our club values of Culture, Inclusion and Growth. We have a range of ages, skill levels and boast some of the best talent from across the Tasman who call Melbourne home. Our primary aim is to develop and bring through the young and up and coming utilising the experience and talent we have. Players like Manawa Aranui, Patrick Sialatu and Zac Tuhi Nathan are just waiting to blossom and we as seniors are here to show them the way. We play with our heart on our sleeves and our last names on our backs and you’ll hear us from anywhere when we’re on court. I’m just really excited to bring some life and excitement and overall flair to Vic MLeague.
Your pick for top 4 in any order?
Geelong
Sirens
Blackhawks
Pasifika
Will Jamison – Sirens Netball
Current Open Men’s Captain and Former Australian Sonix Captain
Who do you think is the team to beat and why?
Pacifika Sharks. They are a new team so very unknown but they have some really strong interstate players along with experienced/mature state players. Can’t see any chinks in their armour. If they can get their combinations ticking early in the season they’ll be hard to stop.
Who do you think is the team to watch and why?
St Therese. Again a new team and a great combination of young, fresh talent and more experiences heads returning after a couple of years off.
Pick for player to watch from your team?
Kyele Heagney. He has played some great netball in the underage divisions, and is ready for the step up into the Premier Men’s division. He’ll hold his own against some more experienced players. Looking forward to seeing his connection with Open Men’s goal attack Brodie Roberts
Pick for player to watch in the competition?
Guy Keane (St Therese). He hasn’t been at MLeague or in the state program for a couple of years, but hasn’t missed a beat. He is a proven game changer.
Pick for Season MVP?
Junior Levi (Pasifika). He will be hard to stop at either end.
What are you most excited about with your team?
We’ve got some talented younger players combined with some older players across the Opens Men’s, Mixed and U23s. It is always exciting to identify fresh combinations and game plans, and develop the younger players as the season unfolds… and we’ve got the best uniforms!
Your pick for top 4 in any order?
Pasifika
St Therese
Sirens
Geelong
Tim Malmo – Southern Seahawks
Current Open Men’s and Australia Sonix player
Who do you think is the team to beat and why?
Pasifika Sharks. I think they have the experience to punish teams but also a very deep line up that can throw a lot of different things at the opposition.
Who do you think is the team to watch and why?
Sirens. They will be absolutely clinical in their approach and each game they play should be highlighted with a lot of beautiful passages of play.
Pick for player to watch from your team?
Hadley Dixon is definitely one to keep an eye on. He’s just been announced as Captain of the 20&Under Australian side and he should be very in form for MLeague.
Pick for player to watch in the competition?
Jayden Cowling (Seahawks). He had a phenomenal year last year and he will lead a little bit more in attack this year.
Pick for Season MVP?
Alistair Punshon (Geelong). His athletic ability and reading of play draws the eye and he will poll well as always.
What are you most excited about with your team?
Cementing the connections we had last year to hopefully go deep into finals.
Your pick for top 4 in any order?
Seahawks
Pasifika
Geelong
Sirens
Alexia McConnell – DDNA (Coach)
Current Victorian Mens Reserve 1 coach and Junior MLeague Championship coach for the Under 17’s
Who do you think is the team to beat and why?
Definitely last year’s premiers Geelong. They have lots of experience and strength in all areas of the court and they will want to stay there for sure.
Who do you think is the team to watch and why?
Team to watch is definitely our friends from the Pacific with Pasifika Sharks. Their flair will be a new flavour for us, the ball speed and then the ball going into the goal shooting circle is going to be something entertaining.
Pick for player to watch from your team?
Taylor Ford. He’s new, exciting, unorthodox, a great reader of the play and a true ball getter. I can’t wait to see what he can bring to the court as he’s also coming off an outstanding Nationals campaign where he picked up the Grand Final MVP.
Pick for player to watch in the competition?
Well you can’t go past Junior Levi (Pasifika). Just his shear stature and presence is going to be something all teams are going to have to think about and how they are going to combat that.
Pick for Season MVP?
Matt Blomeley (Geelong). He will want to make sure he is leading by example as he is the newly elected President for VMMNA, setting the standard and being a role model for young and old will be very important for him.
What are you most excited about with your team?
I’m excited about bringing players together and just playing some fantastic netball, establishing new friendships and having fun along the way. I am looking forward to mentoring the young ones coming through and seeing how they develop for their state campaign.
Your pick for top 4 in any order?
Pasifika
Geelong
Blackhawks
Sirens
Guy Keane – St Therese
Former Open Men’s Captain and Australian Sonix Captain
Who do you think is the team to beat and why?
Geelong Cougars look like a settled line up, having retained the player list from their championship winning side in 2018. With an exciting group of experienced former/current Open Men’s players and some up and coming talent from the Junior MLeague program, this team has the potential to combine well early which will be very important.
Who do you think is the team to watch and why?
There has been plenty of talk (mostly from themselves 😉) about Pasifika Sharks. Boasting plenty of talent and ‘X Factors’ in each third, there will be lots of moments of flair and spectator netball.
Pick for player to watch from your team?
It’s exciting to watch and play alongside the future of Victorian Men’s netball in Tristan Comans and Connor Lily. Two very different players: Tristan, with his natural and raw ability reads the ball extremely well and has the physical strength to step into Premier Men’s division and impact the competition from Round 1. While Connor is more ‘trained’ having been exposed to the sport through the Maribyrnong College Netball Program and having a daily training environment. This has led to him having excellent basic skills and court craft, and with some experienced players to support him in the attack end, it will see him gain valuable experience during the season.
Pick for player to watch in the competition?
All the interstate players that have called Melbourne their home since last year! Welcome to Vic and we’re excited to play against you all in the 2019 season. Is Victorian MLeague the new Suncorp Super Netball??
Pick for Season MVP?
Will Jamison (Sirens). He can shut down any goaler he matches up on and will win plenty of ball for his team. He will also be looking for redemption for last year’s Grand Final loss with former team Bayside Bobcats.
What are you most excited about with your team?
I’m excited to be included in the inaugural season with a club that has a vision on supporting and encouraging Men’s and Mixed netball. St Therese’s Netball Club have teams in each division with plans for developing and supporting players from Junior MLeague, progressing through the pathway into MLeague. The future is bright!.
Your pick for top 4 in any order?
St. Therese
Geelong
Pasifika
Sirens
The 2019 MLeague season begins tonight, Wednesday August 28, with games from 7pm. Full fixture can be found here.
If you’d like to see some of the best Men’s and Mixed netballers in the country, get down to the State Netball & Hockey Centre each Wednesday night from now until December!
