COLLINGWOOD coach Rob Wright says he is delighted with the response his Suncorp Super Netball side received during its visit to Bendigo last month and is hoping for more of the same again this weekend. The Magpies will join Melbourne Vixens, Queensland Firebirds and West Coast Fever at Bendigo Stadium on Saturday and Sunday for a blockbuster pre-season tournament. It will be the third of three visits this season for the Magpies, who will play a regular season game against the Fever in Bendigo on May 25. Wright, who has taken over the reins as head-coach this season from Kristy Keppich-Birrell, said he was looking forward to going head-to-head against a 'full-strength' Vixens and Fever ahead of a season that shapes as the most even in years. "Not to try and downplay us, but this is the first time in years I feel like you don't know who is going to finish first and you don't know who is going to finish last," he said. "Every team in this competition now can win it .... and I have never said that before. It just shows how strong and how far this competition has come. "It's clearly the best in the world and every game is tough. If you don't bring your best game in any week, you are going to lose." The Magpies will have to contend with star Fever shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, who was absent when the two sides met in an earlier pre-season tournament in Brisbane. "Clearly she is a powerhouse - she scored 55 goals on average a game last year, so it will be great to test ourselves out and see where we are at," Wright said. "They are the reigning grand finalists, who are strong all over the court - it's a great challenge. "It's the same with the Vixens; such a quality side loaded with Diamonds. It will be great taking them on in a 60-minute game. "They have clearly had the wood on us the last two years - I don't think we've actually beaten them." The two-day tournament also offers a chance for the Magpies to tinker with their own structures and combinations, after an off-season highlighted by the recruitment of English-born defender Geva Mentor and midcourter Kelsey Browne., who have been named joint captain and vice-captain. Wright said he had been 'massively enthused' with how his side had come together. "Obviously we have some superstar names in Mentor and Browne and Medhurst, but when you look at the inclusion of Gabby (Sinclair), who has come from the clouds really and just continued to impress big-time, we are thrilled with how that is tracking along," he said. "And Shim (Shimona Nelson), our new goal shooter, we always knew she was a long-term project, but she s getting better and better each training session. "She is going to be exciting. Her rate of improvement has been unbelievable - and that's after she came a long way last year." Wright, who oversaw training sessions for Kangaroo Flat and Elmore last season when he was an assistant coach for the Magpies, counts himself as a strong advocate of top-level netball being played in regional areas. He is also a fan of this weekend's venue. "I wish everyone could have that facility - (it's) just super impressive," Wright said. "It's a great court to play on. These regional areas are just so welcoming and I feel the people really get behind the netty. "They did when we were here last time and I wouldn't be surprised to see bigger numbers this time." READ MORE: Magpies coach Rob Wright takes charge of Elmore for a night Kangaroo Flat netballers get the Wright advice Match schedule Saturday: Magpies v Fever (3pm); Vixens v Firebirds (5pm). Sunday: Fever v Firebirds (11am); Vixens v Magpies (1pm).
COLLINGWOOD coach Rob Wright says he is delighted with the response his Suncorp Super Netball side received during its visit to Bendigo last month and is hoping for more of the same again this weekend.
The Magpies will join Melbourne Vixens, Queensland Firebirds and West Coast Fever at Bendigo Stadium on Saturday and Sunday for a blockbuster pre-season tournament.
It will be the third of three visits this season for the Magpies, who will play a regular season game against the Fever in Bendigo on May 25.
Collingwood Magpies v Queensland Firebirds pre-season game in Bendigo - February 23
Wright, who has taken over the reins as head-coach this season from Kristy Keppich-Birrell, said he was looking forward to going head-to-head against a 'full-strength' Vixens and Fever ahead of a season that shapes as the most even in years.
"Not to try and downplay us, but this is the first time in years I feel like you don't know who is going to finish first and you don't know who is going to finish last," he said.
"Every team in this competition now can win it .... and I have never said that before. It just shows how strong and how far this competition has come.
"It's clearly the best in the world and every game is tough. If you don't bring your best game in any week, you are going to lose."
The Magpies will have to contend with star Fever shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, who was absent when the two sides met in an earlier pre-season tournament in Brisbane.
"Clearly she is a powerhouse - she scored 55 goals on average a game last year, so it will be great to test ourselves out and see where we are at," Wright said.
"They are the reigning grand finalists, who are strong all over the court - it's a great challenge.
"It's the same with the Vixens; such a quality side loaded with Diamonds. It will be great taking them on in a 60-minute game.
"They have clearly had the wood on us the last two years - I don't think we've actually beaten them."
The two-day tournament also offers a chance for the Magpies to tinker with their own structures and combinations, after an off-season highlighted by the recruitment of English-born defender Geva Mentor and midcourter Kelsey Browne., who have been named joint captain and vice-captain.
Wright said he had been 'massively enthused' with how his side had come together.
"Obviously we have some superstar names in Mentor and Browne and Medhurst, but when you look at the inclusion of Gabby (Sinclair), who has come from the clouds really and just continued to impress big-time, we are thrilled with how that is tracking along," he said.
"And Shim (Shimona Nelson), our new goal shooter, we always knew she was a long-term project, but she s getting better and better each training session.
"She is going to be exciting. Her rate of improvement has been unbelievable - and that's after she came a long way last year."
Wright, who oversaw training sessions for Kangaroo Flat and Elmore last season when he was an assistant coach for the Magpies, counts himself as a strong advocate of top-level netball being played in regional areas.
Rob Wright during last season's training session with HDNA club Elmore.
He is also a fan of this weekend's venue.
"I wish everyone could have that facility - (it's) just super impressive," Wright said.
"It's a great court to play on. These regional areas are just so welcoming and I feel the people really get behind the netty.
"They did when we were here last time and I wouldn't be surprised to see bigger numbers this time."
