CONTINUING on from the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) postseason content, Draft Central has decided to broaden the horizons for the upcoming positional analysis series taking into account players from other competitions such as the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) and ANZ Premiership. Moving into the defensive end, the next two players in focus are a pair of up and coming wing defenders in Imogen Allison and Kate Heffernan.

Imogen Allison

Boasting a similar style to the world renowned Serena Guthrie, Allison is a livewire out on court with her athleticism and defensive traits. She is a clear ball winner thanks to her ability to read the play and slot into the gaps to pick off passes. Allison uses her speed and impressive change of direction to dart around the court and be a real menace down back. She is a highly versatile player that is more than capable of swinging into the centre position credit to her high level of endurance and overall netball nous to pick up the attacking plays down the court. She is an influential figure through transition with her give and go and spatial awareness to open up the court rather than clog it. There is no denying that Allison is a real energiser bunny that a side can look to, to change their fortunes with a big intercept or deflection. More often than not she can sense the moment and step up to the plate to deliver for her side with her two-way running a key component in her game play. The 22-year-old is a strong force around circle edge using her nifty footwork to keep the attackers away from prime feeding positions while her ball tracking is also impressive.

Kate Heffernan

With long arms and smooth movement, Heffernan is renowned for her ability to block the vision of her opponent and cause turnovers. given her height she is deceptively quick and is light on her feet able to go toe-to-toe with her opponent and nullify their influence. Her reach enables her to create timely tips and deflections especially around circle edge to limit the amount of easy passes into the circle. Heffernan has a wealth of athletic traits and is a real workhorse plying her trade through the middle given her seamless transition into attack or skill to hone in on defence. She is no one trick pony accustomed to the centre position but doing some of her best work down in wing defence thanks to her long wingspan and dynamic movement. The 21-year-old oozes plenty of netball smarts and is quite strong not often pushed out of the contest given her frame and height. Hailing from a more attacking role in centre, Heffernan is able to let go of the ball with great confidence and precision into the goal circle and is a constant threat around circle edge with her body positioning no matter what position bib she has on.

Comparison

The duo are both starting on their netball journey with Heffernan only 21 and Allison not far ahead at 22. In saying that, both midcourters have proven that they have the calibre, demeanour and overall skillset to be key cogs for their respective nations. Still developing that next level of intensity and extra bow to their string the versatile midcourters have a bright future ahead of them given their ability to read the play and fulfill their duties to a high standard. Allison has been a consistent figure for Team Bath over the past couple of seasons and has only improved with her cleanliness and footwork taking a step up while 2021 will be Heffernan’s third year at the elite level in the ANZ Premiership.

Both are tall midcourters with Heffernan standing at 181cm and Allison at 180cm showcasing just how damaging they can be in that wing defence position with the extra height over some of the more nimble or shorter attackers. Their height is a key benefit for the way in which the two play given their tendencies to search for intercepts or swat away passes.

Allison is more of a one-on-one style defender, looking to body up on her opponent and niggle away at them with her physicality. On the other hand, Heffernan boasts that New Zealand flavour of defence able to sit off in the space and enforce a strong zone defence to come out flying for an intercept. Although boasting different styles their execution is similar with the two not afraid to go out hunting for a cross-court ball or an intercept showcasing their commitment to the cause.

A dual athlete, Heffernan has extremely strong hands and is not often outmuscled at the contest given her cricketing background. She is clean below the knees able to chase down the loose ball and uses her quick footwork to dart around the court or go back with the flight of a high loopy pass. Allison is a more dogged style of defender that looks at running her opponent into the ground and then go out searching for an intercept opportunity utilising her speed off the mark and agility.

Throughout their respective seasons Heffernan managed 36 deflections, 18 intercepts and 13 pickups while also registering 21 feeds showcasing her attacking attributes. Although Allison’s season was cut short due to the cancellation of the VNSL she still amassed five intercepts and three deflections across her three outings.