Thunderbirds push for glory

[Dogwatcher]

Last shot at Commonwealth Bank Trophy glory for Medibank Adelaide Thunderbirds


One goal has eluded the Medibank Adelaide Thunderbirds for longer than they care to think about – winning that elusive third Commonwealth Bank Trophy crown.

Which is what new coach Tania Obst has been planning since she took over the reins of the team at the end of last season.

The Medibank Adelaide Thunderbirds have played in every finals series in the past 10 years so the talent – and the opportunities – is there but there seems to be just one piece always missing from the jigsaw.

Obst says the team has showed good progress during the pre-season and the sense of commitment is “incredibly strong”.

She says the opening game in Sydney against league powerhouse and long-time nemesis the Sydney TAB Swifts is a tough gig to get the season underway.

“But it will also be a good guide for the coaching staff and the players about how far we have come and how far we might have to go to get the job done this year,” Obst says.

“Sydney is the benchmark so we might as well find out now just where they are as well,” she says.

“With the Commonwealth Bank Trophy ending after this season and being replaced by the new Tasman Trophy, which is a very exciting future for the game, this really is our last shot at getting the trophy back in our cabinet.

“The girls who have been to the grand finals and missed out, and Peta Scholz, who played in both championship teams, all want to get there so badly.

“For the younger players it is what their netball is all about, why they have worked so hard to get to the elite level.”

Obst admits she will also need to get a few games under her belt to get a firsthand feel for how her team will shake out, how the pieces will come together and how she will respond to the step up from her State League coaching career.

She has introduced her own style to a side that has only ever played under one coach, taking the best of what she thought was there and adding her personal touch.

The pre-season emphasis was very serious and very focused, with a lot of hard work on strength and developing on-court speed.

“There are still some changes to come,” Obst says.

“Peta Scholz is on the comeback after the birth of her second child and although she is an amazing athlete she has not been able to do anywhere near as much work in the off season as the rest of the girls,” she says.

“She will be an essential part of the season but we are prepared to nurse her along a bit until she gets some good hard work under her belt.

“There have also been lots of things happening off court for us – Peta’s baby and Kristen Heinrich (now Hughes) getting married, so it has been busy whichever way you look at it.

"But we follow up our Sydney road trip with two home games so that will help us get settled, having the home court advantage, our own fans and our own beds - it all makes a difference.