March 22, 2013, 10:30 p.m.
NEWCASTLE netballer Samantha Poolman is yet to make her debut for the Adelaide Thunderbirds, but she is already getting recognised on the streets of the South Australian capital.
It is clear the 22-year-old is about to take a major step up when she debuts in the trans-Tasman netball league this season.
Poolman signed a rookie contract with Adelaide in November and will become the first Novocastrian to play in the top flight since former Hunter Jaegers player Lara Welham retired from the NSW Swifts in 2010.
The Thunderbirds' season starts tomorrow against New Zealand's Central Pulse at Netball SA Stadium in front of a likely sea of pink.
"When I came down here at the end of last year I was kind of overwhelmed by the people who knew who you are," Poolman said.
"The media is really behind you here. There's something in the paper every second day and on the news.
"Just in general people often say, 'Hey, you play for the Thunderbirds', and will actually know who you are and ask how you're going.
"I'm really excited about next Sunday because everyone keeps telling me how great it is and how everyone is behind us, so I don't think I really know what I'm in for."
The Australian under-21 representative is unsure if coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson will play her in the opening round.
There is a wealth of competition in the squad in Poolman's positions of goal keeper and goal defence in Australian Diamonds Sharni Layton and Rebecca Bulley.
After the Thunderbirds reached the semi-finals last year, before losing to eventual champions Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, Layton and Bulley are expected to have the inside running.
"Anything that comes my way I will obviously be prepared and ready for, but we just need to do what we can as a team," she said.
The Thunderbirds played Southern Steel, the Swifts, Melbourne Vixens, Canterbury Tactix and Queensland Firebirds in a pre-season tournament in Melbourne last month.
What the 189-centimetre Poolman learnt instantly was the challenge of defending against the giant shooters in the top flight.
"Most teams have a tall shooter," she said. "So going into Melbourne, that changes your game plan going from speedy circle attackers to a really tall timber, who is taller than you and has arms longer than you.
"I found that very challenging in Melbourne, but also very exciting and loved the challenge of facing people who are taller than me and international players."
Off the court the former Elermore Vale girl is settling into the Adelaide lifestyle.
She lives one street from the beach in the popular suburb of Glenelg with fellow rookie Stephanie Puopolo, who is a friend from her junior representative days.
The pair also work together at Netball SA as community coaches, visiting schools and junior clubs.
"The community here is completely different to any other state," she said.
"They're really behind their team. For Steph and I it's a great opportunity for us to give back to them."
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