ONE of the stars of Newbridge's drought-breaking LVFNL A-grade netball premiership, Fiona Themann has signed a two-year deal to play in the National Netball League.
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Themann will line-up for a new look Adelaide Thunderbirds in the first year of the new national league.
The 26-year-old juggled commitments this season with the Maroons and Victorian Netball League championship division premiers Melbourne University Lightning.
She spent the 2015 season with BFNL grad finalists Strathfieldsaye.
Themann this year captained Netball Victoria's high-performance team, the Victorian Fury, who were premiers in the Australian Netball League.
She will be joined at the Thunderbirds by her Fury teammate Jane Cook.
Themann said she was looking forward to taking her netball to the next level.
“It’s been a little bit surreal. Now that’s it’s all official it’s very exciting. I can’t wait to start," she said.
“Seeing the list of players Dan has put together for the first year of the NNL, I think it’s going to be a really exciting year."
Head coach Dan Ryan has earmarked a role in defence for Themann, alongside a pair of international team captains Ama Agbeze (England) and Malysha Kelly (Jamaica).
Ryan said the trio would form an athletic, unpredictable and dynamic combination.
“I think (Themann's) going to fit in here seamlessly," he said.
"She’s a well drilled athlete with the winners’ mindset and I love how assertive and forthright she is as a defender.
“She’s agile, aerial, hunts the ball well and definitely knows how to get in the heads of the shooters."
Ryan said Themann was "long overdue" for a crack at the national level.
“Fi has dominated the ANL for a number of years now and has been a major influence in the Victorian Fury’s success," he said.
“She’s actually a pretty seasoned campaigner and I’m sure she would have had a few ANZ Championship seasons under her belt already if she wasn’t classed as an import.”
Her Thunderbirds signing is the latest thrill in a star-studded netball career for the Shepparton-born Themann.
She represented Scotland at the 2015 Netball World Cup and 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The Thunderbirds have finalised their squad, which includes Chelsea Locke and Karyn Bailey, who were part of the Melbourne Vixens' 2014 championship win, and dual World Cup gold medallist Erin Bell.
