Gretel Tippett reaches into the toolbox and pulls out possible spanner in the works

“KEEP adding tools to your toolbox’’.

That is mantra of Firebirds star Gretel Tippett who looms as a potential matchwinner for Queensland in today’s Suncorp Super Netball elimination final against Sunshine Coast at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

The super athletic goal attack is more of a revolutionary talent than a tradesman-like performer on the netball court having made the switch from basketball in 2012 after playing in the WNBL and representing Australia at junior levels.

But the 25-year-old approaches her netball as a craft that is honed each year.

After being fast-tracked and signed as replacement player with the Firebirds in 2013, Tippett spent the 2014 season with the NSW Swifts before returning home.

In just her second full season of top-level netball, she hit the winning shot for the Firebirds in the dying seconds of the 2015 decider and was part of the Queensland outfit that claimed the 2016 title.

Along the way she debuted for Australia and has 16 Test caps for the Diamonds, a tally that is sure to grow after a host of recent retirements from the national squad.

Much like the team itself, 2017 was a tough campaign for Tippett as the Firebirds missed the finals after their championship-winning roster was shaken up.

But a longer than normal pre-season and a desire to lift her game to a new level has elevated Tippett’s output in 2018.

She is so much more than the player who was once famous for doing basketball-style lay-ups to score.

In 14 games in 2017 she hit 208 goals at a success rate of 76 per cent.

In 14 games in 2018, she has hit 283 goals at 90 per cent.

In 2017, she had 243 centre pass receives. In 2018, she has notched up 304.

In 2017, she had 353 feeds. In 2018, 421.

Throw in 238 goal assists in 2018 and the 192cm-tall Tippett is no longer the subservient sidekick to prolific goalshooter Romelda Aiken.

She is fast becoming the face of the Firebirds with young girls picking Tippett as their favourite player as much for the high-octane, high-flying heroics on court as for her likeness to the “Frozen” character Elsa.

“I never ever feel truly comfortable out there. You are always on edge and I still get super nervous before games. The more games I play it doesn’t really change,’’ Tippett said.

“I’ve still learned to play more freely. We had a long pre-season together as a team, we formed our connections a lot better and it’s been a lot of fun this year, I’ve really enjoyed it.

“Last year we were adapting to losing three players from our starting seven. You don’t realise how much you lean on them. As a team we are playing a lot more freely, not being scared.’’

She credits the superstar bookends of Aiken and Laura Geitz for helping her take the next step.

“Having Geitzy back brings that confidence and calmness back to the group. She inspires me because I see how hard she works to get those intercepts so we have to treasure the ball and make it count,’’ Tippett said.

“This is my fourth season playing alongside Romelda. It’s hard to remain a combination for a long time because teams start working you out and you have to keep adjusting.

“You have to keep adding tools to your toolbox. I wanted to take some of the load off her this season.

“We keep challenging each other to be better and challenge each other to try different things and add variations to our game … mix things up.

“I love playing with Romelda. We have a special connection and we vibe off each other every game.’’