Friday 24 April 2015 15:22, UK
Manchester Thunder's Chelsea Pitman has told Sky Netball that she sees her future in the Superleague and possibly switching international eligibility to play for England.
Pitman, who joined Thunder as an import player last summer, represented Australia when they were crowned world champions in 2011 and has vast experience playing in the world’s top netball league, the ANZ Championship.
The 26-year-old from Sydney- who moved to England with boyfriend and Rugby League star Kevin Locke - has lit up this season's Superleague playing with a dynamism reflective of the style so well-known Down Under.
Her quick hands and flair have been played a huge part in Thunder's unbeaten run, but now, the coach who brought her over to our shores, Tracey Neville, has her eyes firmly set on success with England, something Pitman could do soon as well…
"I’d love to stick around,” says Pitman. “I guess Manchester Thunder will have a completely different look with who will be coaching next year. My partner is here for a few years and I definitely want to stay around.
"My Dad is an Englishman and he said, ‘do you know eligibility rules? You’re eligible to play for England next year.’ - I didn’t know that!
"At the moment I’m just taking each year as it comes but my partner loves it here and I’m really, really enjoying it. I hope to see myself in a Thunder uniform next season and hopefully the red and white."
All change
If Pitman does opt to play for England next year she would be able to continue her tutelage under Neville, who was appointed interim England coach in March ahead of this summer's World Cup.
The Wing Attack believes Neville can get the success she deserves with a strong performance in Sydney this summer with minimal changes to the squad currently ranked third in the world.
"I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes in English netball and I’ve never been coached by Anna Mayes – I’ve only had Tracey - but I do know that Trace is a great coach and she plays what’s in front of her and reads the game extremely well and makes changes towards that.
"She’s not someone who is set in her mind and I think she’ll be a great appointment there.
"She’s extremely excited about it and will be a coach that will only need to make a few changes and hopefully get the success that England deserves with the players they have at hand for this year’s World Cup."
Learning
Pitman is arguably the biggest name to arrive in the national league but the former Queensland Firebirds mid-courter told Sky Netball that playing in the UK has improved her game and helped bring back some much-needed on-court happiness.
"I’ve been loving it," says Pitman. "It’s brought a lot of joy back to my netball.
"Missing out on Commonwealth Games last year was a big disappointment for myself because I’d set that as a goal I’d always wanted to achieve.
"For me, to come over here and be in a completely new environment, a new culture and, I guess, learn a new variety of netball has brought back that joy, passion and love for it.
"I’ve added a lot more patience to my game. With the teams I played with in the ANZ Championship I had a tall timber at the end – a really tall Goal Shooter that I could just turn around and see where her space was and release that ball within the first second.
“But with Thunder we’ve got a shorter, moving shooting circle, so for me it’s having to turn around and make sure I really see the space and if it’s not on I reset and pass it around.
"Tracey is still drilling that in to me and shouts ‘just slow it down!’”
Bums on seats
Thunder have been in scintillating form this season and with a semi-final berth confirmed, the franchise have secured the Manchester Arena with its 21,000 maximum capacity as their home venue, something the Black and Yellow players are relishing.
"It’s absolutely amazing," says Pitman. "It’s so exciting, especially for the girls who haven’t played in such a big arena or in front of such a big crowds.
"In the ANZ Championship you get quite large crowds and so for the girls to experience that it’s going to be amazing and for the Netball Superleague and Manchester Thunder."
Buy tickets to Manchester Thunder's semi-final showdown at the Manchester Arena with Sky Tickets.
