Mavericks Season Preview
If the Queensland Firebirds’ 2026 season is about evolution, the Melbourne Mavericks’ is about a full reset.
This years’ squad looks dramatically different from the one that took the court last season. Only three contracted players remain, three training partners have been elevated and four completely new faces have joined the club. On top of that, the Mavericks will be guided by a new head coach at this level in Gerard Murphy.
That’s a lot of change for a club that endured a difficult 2025 campaign, but maybe that’s exactly the point.
With fresh combinations across the court and a new voice leading the program, the Mavericks have a genuine opportunity to reshape their identity and move past last year’s disappointment.
Shooters
Shimona Nelson
Nelson has been steadily building her game season by season and is fast becoming a genuine headache for defenders. Where she once had the occasional fumble under pressure, her hands are now strong and secure, and her aerial ability remains one of her biggest weapons.
Those hops are enormous, and when she gets good ball she’s incredibly difficult to contest. Add in her accuracy on the shot (and a developing Super Shot) and there’s a sense that 2026 could be the season she really steps into a leadership role in the circle.
If the Mavericks’ new attacking combinations settle quickly, Nelson has the tools to anchor the front end.
Uneeq Palavi
If you’re looking for flair, Palavi delivers it in spades. After spending time as a training partner with both the Mavericks and the NSW Swifts, she’s finally earned a fully contracted SSN spot.
And it’s well deserved. Palavi is slick, confident and a genuine entertainer on court. She’s not shy about taking on the Super Shot and has built a reputation as one of the competition’s most exciting long-range threats.
Add in her international experience with Tonga Tala and you’ve got a player who brings both personality and scoreboard pressure. Expect her to become a fast fan favourite.
Reilley Batcheldor
Batcheldor heads south in search of opportunity after limited court time with the Sunshine Coast Lightning. Stuck behind established shooters Cara Koenen and Steph Fretwell, consistent minutes were hard to come by.
What she does possess is a beautifully smooth long shot and growing confidence in her attacking movement. With more time on court, she has the chance to really develop her game and become a key weapon in the Mavericks’ circle.
Midcourt
Amy Parmenter
The inaugural Mavericks captain returns for another season and will once again be asked to do plenty of heavy lifting. Newly married and as competitive as ever, Amy Parmenter remains the heartbeat of this side.
But the challenge this year will be slightly different. With new shooters, new defenders and new midcourt partners, Parmenter becomes the glue that must bring them together.
There is at least some familiarity alongside her. She’s already linked with Jamie-Lee Price at Diamonds level, which should help fast-track those on-court connections. Still, there’s no escaping the fact that the midcourt will carry plenty of responsibility early in the season.
Jamie-Lee Price
Arguably the biggest signing of the Mavericks’ off-season, Price arrives with a renewed energy and purpose. After a tough 2025 with the Giants, the Diamonds star will be eager to rediscover some success at the domestic level.
The move south also reunites her with her partner in Melbourne, which doesn’t hurt either.
Price brings explosive pace, fierce competitiveness and a defensive edge that can shift momentum quickly. When she’s on song, she lifts everyone around her. The Mavericks will be hoping 2026 becomes the year she unleashes.
Sacha McDonald
McDonald’s pathway to SSN has been anything but overnight. After captaining the Mavericks Reserves in 2025, she’s now earned her first full contract.
Her journey has included time in the Melbourne Vixens environment and a season abroad with London Pulse. At 26, she brings maturity, composure and valuable versatility, covering both wing attack and goal attack.
Smart with ball in hand and comfortable across multiple roles, she’ll be determined to make her SSN opportunity count.
Maddie Hay
Sometimes sport gives you a second chance when you least expect it.
After being released by the Giants, Hay suddenly found herself back in the mix when Molly Jovic announced her pregnancy ahead of the 2026 season. The Mavericks moved quickly, and Hay was handed a lifeline to rejoin her old teammate in Price in a new city.
At 30, she wasn’t quite ready for someone else to decide her netball future. Expect her to grab this opportunity with both hands.
Defenders
Kim Brown
Brown returns for 2026 after showing significant growth last season. Known for her relentless tagging style, she’s the kind of defender attackers simply don’t enjoy playing against.
More court time in 2025 allowed her confidence to grow, and this season brings a reunion with her old Queensland junior and Firebirds teammate Tara Hinchliffe. That familiarity could prove valuable as the Mavericks build their defensive combinations.
Jessie Grenvold
After impressing in her appearances last season, Grenvold has been elevated from training partner to contracted player for 2026.
She brings athleticism, a powerful leap and quick footwork, along with an ability to read the play well in front. With increased court exposure, she’s one of those players who could develop rapidly across the season.
Tara Hinchliffe
Hinchliffe also arrives from the Sunshine Coast, making the move south alongside Batcheldor. At the Lightning she was battling for minutes behind defensive powerhouses Courtney Bruce and Ashleigh Ervin.
In Melbourne, the opportunity looks very different.
Not only will she be aiming to cement a starting bib, she’s also stepping into a leadership role as the Mavericks’ newly appointed Vice Captain. Strong in the contest and smart on the court, Hinchliffe brings both presence and experience to a developing back end.
The Big Picture
For the Mavericks, 2026 feels like a rebuilding year in the truest sense.
New players, new combinations and a new head coach = fresh opportunity to shape culture and identity.
It would be easy to write them off while those connections develop. But that might be a little premature. There’s a surprising amount of experience in this squad, along with players who have spent years waiting for bigger opportunities.
Sometimes that mix creates something unpredictable.
So yes, the Mavericks will be learning on the run this season. But if their new players click quicker than expected, don’t be surprised if they cause a few headaches for the competition’s heavyweights along the way.
Melbourne Mavericks 2026
Squad:
Reilley Batcheldor
Kim Brown
Jessie Grenvold
Maddie Hay
Tara Hinchliffe (VC)
Shimona Nelson
Sacha McDonald
Uneeq Palavi
Amy Parmenter (C)
Jamie-Lee Price
Training Partners:
Teal Hocking
Charli Hoey
Charlotte Sexton
Ruby Shannon
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach - Gerard Murphy
Assistant Coach - Nicole Richardson
2025 Ladder Position:
7th
