She’s stuck behind two of the best in the business, but young shooter Matisse Letherbarrow is determined to make this Super Netball season her best in the orange dress.
With internationals Jo Harten and Sophie Dwyer ahead of her in the pecking order, the 22-year-old just put in one hell of a pre-season as she looks to earn more game time for the Giants this year.
Speaking with the Weekender, Letherbarrow said she couldn’t wait to get back on the court and show the world that she is ready.
“In the attacking end of the shooting circle, I’m playing against the likes of Jo Harten and Sophie Dwyer and they are both incredible athletes,” she said.
“For me this year, I’m feeling confident and really good. I’ve been happy with the pre-season games that I’ve played, and I just want to keep building on that.
“I’ve been around the Giants for a couple of years now and I’ve been able to see first-hand some amazing players and being in this environment I do feel ready for this year and hopefully it is my time.”
Helping Letherbarrow every step of the way is the former English Rose, who’s been nothing but a mentor to her ever since she arrived at the club from the Baulkham Hills Netball.
“Me and Soph (Dwyer) were youngins at the time and she really took us both under her wing,” Letherbarrow said.
“For me, not only has Jo been vital for me on the court with being able to pick her brain about things, but off the court she makes you a better human and it’s been good getting to know her and being able to learn under someone of her repertoire – I feel very lucky.
“I’m constantly looking at her and the way she plays to improve my game and she’s been really great for me.”
After missing the finals last season, the Giants have left no stone unturned in making sure that doesn’t happen again.
With the legendary Julie Fitzgerald back as coach as well as a host of new and returning faces, the Giants are preparing for their biggest year yet.
“I feel like we didn’t finish where we wanted to finish last year and there’s definitely been a big shift within the group this year about the way we are going about everything,” Letherbarrow said.
“I feel like with the injection of new faces in Chelsea Pitman, Sam Winders and Jodi-Ann Ward and having lots of pre-season games has been vital in getting combinations going and we’re really building on that.
“We, as a collective, have felt really happy with what we’ve put out at times over the pre-season, and it’s made us ready for the year ahead.”
Giving the 2024 Super Netball season a unique twist is the introduction of new franchise the Melbourne Mavericks, who have replaced the now defunct Collingwood Magpies.
“This 100 per cent makes things more interesting,” Letherbarrow admitted.
“This season, I feel every team is quite new because there’s been so much movement. No team is the same. We got to play the Mavericks in the pre-season, and it was exciting to play them for the first time.”
The Giants lost their opening game of the season last weekend and are set to play the Firebirds on Saturday.
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender’s Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.
