Netball: The Aussie benchmark rises again

Sharelle McMahon, of the Vixens, celebrates her team's success in last year's final. Photo / Getty Images

After becoming the second team to claim the transtasman title last year, the Melbourne Vixens are determined to ensure the trophy remains in their cabinet for some time yet.

The Vixens set the benchmark for 2009, without a doubt the outstanding team in the series. Now, they are setting the bar even higher for 2010.

Vixens midcourter Renae Hallinan, who was one of the stand-outs for the Melbourne side last year leading to her selection in the Australian test line-up, said her side have set down new goals and expectations for the season ahead as they chase back-to-back titles.

"If you have a good year, with the next year comes expectation. But that's our motivation as well, we don't want to rest on the year we had last year, we want 2010 to be bigger and better," she said. "Obviously winning the premiership last year does make us the hunted ones that next year and teams come out to beat you and sort of see you as the benchmark as well I guess.

"We want to take ourselves to bigger and better places."

While the Vixens have pretty much stuck with the winning formula from their 2009 ANZ Championship and made only minimal changes to side, their rivals have bolstered their squads.

Last year's beaten finalists, the Adelaide Thunderbirds, wheel out a new import in the form of 1.93m Jamaican shooter Carla Borrego, while the Swifts have also looked off shore to fill a gap in their defensive line, England's Sonia Mkoloma expected to make a huge difference to the Sydney team's fortunes after they finished ninth last season.

The Queensland Firebirds have also made a couple of handy acquisitions - in particular Australian shooter Natalie Medhurst, who will form a powerful shooting combination with Jamaican star Romelda Aiken.

Hallinan admits her rivals look stronger, but said her side is not worried about what other teams do.

"There has been a lot of movement within other teams across the whole competition, but we're really excited that we've been able to keep the core group of people together and make the most of that experience we gained last year," she said. "And what's even more exciting is that our 2010 group is all Victorian, we don't have any imports."

While the Vixens have been able to hold on to all their star players getting them all ready for the startline has proved a challenge.

With Sharelle McMahon and Julie Corletto slowly making their way back from minor knee surgery, and a couple of players returning from the Diamonds tour to the UK last month with niggly injuries, Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg has faced a race against time to get her side ready for the start of the season.

"[The preseason disruption] has been a challenge shall we say. Last week was the first time we had 12 athletes out on court together at the same time and as yet we haven't had any matchplay with all of our athletes.

"So we've been juggling a few in and out, but while it's been a challenge there'll be no excuses."