Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler ranked as the 5th best netball player in the world
Outstanding Jamaican goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler was the lone Jamaican named on a list of the top ten netballers in the world. The list was voted on by an expert panel of ten judges which was put together by The Guardian Newspaper in England.
The players were selected based on the last two years of their performances up to and including the 2011 IFNA World Netball Championship.
Fowler who plays for the Southern Steel in the ANZ Championship was ranked 5th on the list which was dominated by New Zealand and Australian players.
The 23 year old was named league MVP after a debut season in which she finished with 666 goals, breaking the record for most goals in a season. She also broke the ANZ Championship record for most goals in a game, scoring 65 goals in a game twice this year.
Her incredible form saw her making a clean sweep of the awards after being announced as the ANZ Championship’s Best New Talent as well as being selected as goal shooter on the 2013 ANZ Championship All-Star team.
It’s next to impossible to convincingly beat a team with Fowler on it. The only Jamaican player on the list, the 198cm goal shooter “dominated the 2013 ANZ Championships. Has an obvious height advantage over her opponents, but has strong hands and great elevation,” according to Selina Hornibrook.
Colyn Gordon added Fowler “put herself in the shop window with strong performances against all defensive styles. Very difficult to mark as she has a large well-built frame, can elevate with great Velcro-like hands.”
Laura Langlam of New Zealand was selected number one on the list ahead of Geva Mentor of England, Natalie Medhurst of Australia and Casey Kopua of New Zealand.
Irene van Dyke of New Zealand came in behind Fowler in sixth, with Australian Renae Hamilton and Laura Geitz 7th and 8th respectively.
Maria Tutaia of New Zealand and Natalie Von Bertouch of Australia round out the top ten.
The judges: Sue Gaudion, Netball TV commentator and former West Coast Fever coach; Marg Foster coach of Loughborough Lightning and a former Silver Fern; Ama Agbeze English national and Central Pulse defender; Colyn Gordon, English men’s netballer; Selina Hornibrook, host of SBS TV’s netball coverage and former Australian Diamond midcourter; Karen Atkinson, coach of the Hertfordshire Mavericks and current assistant coach of England; Rikki Swannell, netball TV commentator for Sky Sports NZ; Dana Johannsen netball writer for the New Zealand Herald and Harriet Millard, editor of Planet Netball; and Luke Williams for Guardian Australia and NetballScoop.com.
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