VNL grand final: Casey Adamson discusses life as Collingwood training partner and Boroondara-Falcons decider

A product of the Netball Victoria talent pathway, former junior contemporary of Sophie Garbin, Amy Parmenter, Hannah Petty and others and a decade-long state league fixture about to contest her first championship-grade grand final for Boroondara Express, the Collingwood training partner had spent two years as Brazill’s understudy at wing defence.

Adamson had played half of her debut game, at late notice in 2022 against Diamonds captain Liz Watson when Brazill was among a group sidelined with Covid-19, as the Magpies squeezed into the top four by the tiniest margin in a dramatic final round.

She then managed just over five minutes of her second match, almost a year later, in Adelaide against the Thunderbirds.

The 25-year-old had dared to believe she had shown enough while part of the Magpies’ program, having added versatility across the centre and wing attack positions, as well as a manager to try to get a deal done, so as not to ever look back and wonder “what if?’’.

Then, in May, it was revealed that not only was Brazill departing the game, but so, sensationally, was Collingwood, leaving the balance of its extended squad homeless and needing to start over.

Which was not the plan for 2024 that Adamson had in mind.

“Yeah. I know!’’ the former Pie told CODE Sports on the eve of the Victorian Netball League decider against the powerful City West Falcons.

“I thought I’d set myself up really well and I was in a good position to potentially get a contract, especially with everybody out of contract this year, but unfortunately it didn’t work out that way.

“So it’s all a bit up in the air at the moment. We’re just waiting to see what’s gonna happen.’’

There will be a final week-long opportunity to wear the black-and-white stripes, as part of the Pies’ reserves team that will compete at the second annual Australian Netball Championship in Brisbane from August 27, even as Adamson speaks for many when insisting ANC is not the answer to the growing gap between Super Netball and the respective state leagues.

A more substantial and better-scheduled underpinning competition is badly needed. Which she has personally told Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan, without getting the desired response.

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The NA boss heard Adamson’s strong thoughts on the subject during a visit to the Magpies’ pre-season training late in 2022.

Few disagree that the Australian Netball League that failed to survive the financial fallout from the pandemic was a superior format: weekly competition over several months that helped to develop emerging talent, both young and slightly more mature.

Costlier, too, of course, which killed it in the end, but ANL was also played concurrently with SSN, rather than – as was the case last year with the quasi-replacement ANC – after the big league’s recruiting window had closed.

“I know that (frustration) has been voiced by coaches as well; if they had seen ANC, potentially their list may have looked different,’’ Adamson says of the timing that is her major gripe. “So it was like what is the point of ANC and I asked Kelly Ryan and she didn’t really have an answer for me.’’

What concerns Adamson, and not just due to self-interest, is that the focus on youth since the 21/U nationals were also discontinued has starved players in the 23-30 age bracket of the chance to push their SSN claims.

And, considering her own passage through every Victorian junior team from the 12/U onwards, and Australian talent squads the whole way, Adamson cites various factors in why that has not quite translated to a senior deal — including a 2018 ankle reconstruction and then the ANL’s Covid pause, and her original status as a specialist WD.

“There’s 80 positions across the whole league and probably 15 of them are internationals, so for any person around Australia that’s come through the grassroots to try and get a contract is really difficult,’’ she says, adding: “It’s all about opportunities and sometimes being in the right place at the right time.

“And I haven’t been there.’’

In recent years Adamson has been playing more often at centre, where she will line up on Wednesday night against fellow Magpies’ training partner Montana Holmes, while Super Netball’s pre-season Team Girls Cup provided a chance at wing attack in place of the injured Kelsey Browne.

The ANC will be Collingwood netball’s final fling; its last commitment before contracts expire in September. Thus, the young squad coached by former Pies’ assistant Kate Upton will be farewell custodians of the soon-to-be-mothballed dress that Adamson will keep as a souvenir to show her kids one day.

“Yeah, it’s a bit weird!’’ she says. “There’s a lot of girls in our team that probably haven’t had experience at that level at all, so it’s great for them to get that exposure. We’re just grateful that we’re still able to go to ANC and to be exposed to that environment and showcase our talent.’’

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The reality of being a Super Netball training partner is that you’re reliant on a contracted player’s injury or illness for a call-up. Adamson felt prepared for her first, in the starting seven filling in for Brazill, and feels even more ready now.

“I think a lot of people probably thought I had the potential to be there, and I think in the last two years I’ve started to believe that myself, and … I’ve probably proven that I can play at that level,’’ she says.

Having come through the state pathway with fellow Pies Molly Jovic and Jacqui Newton, a year ahead of Vic-raised Thunderbird Tilly Garrett, Adamson was thrilled to see Garbin, a former WA junior standout, excel at the Netball World Cup.

“Sophie’s copped a lot of criticism in the media and from the fans about her form, but I think she really showed everybody what she’s made of. As an under-ager playing against her, she was just so dominant, so it’s good to see her back (doing what) she’s really good at.’’

Brazill, grateful for what was a double-gold international ending, was not so much a mentor as an example at Collingwood HQ. “I think Braz goes about it in her own way. I think it was just awesome to be able to see how she does her thing and see her enjoy her last couple of years of netball, really.

“For us as training partners it’s about taking as much advice and learning from all of the athletes, really, and, in my position, particularly Braz.’’

Adamson, meanwhile, is preparing to lead former stragglers Boroondara against the favoured Falcons, for whom she played in a division one flag before moving clubs.

She is also working full-time as an orthotist, and playing in the Goulburn Valley footy-netball league for reigning premier Seymour on weekends – while still hoping for that elusive Super Netball contract with the help of the versatility that comes from covering all three midcourt positions.

Determined, still, to persist.

“I’ve been around for a while so it would be great to get to that next level, so I just do my thing for the team,’’ Adamson says of the close core group at Boroondara under coach and former Vixen Kath Knott.

“I don’t know. It is really hard to continue to stay positive, but you expect nothing, and if something happens it’s a dream come true. We’ll see what happens.’’