One of the best aspects of watching netball events or participating in a match is that there is always the potential for something new and surprising. In one case that new and surprising moment changed the sport forever.
In Round 8 of the 2012 ANZ Championship (now divided between Suncorp Super Netball and the ANZ Premiership), the Melbourne Vixens were hosting the Auckland-based Northern Mystics.
Four points down with just under 90 seconds left of the fourth quarter, Mystics defender Anna Harrison made what would become a crucial and controversial block whilst being hoisted by Jessica Moulds.
This helped to thwart the efforts of Karyn Howarth, who made two exceptional shots that were seemingly destined to score were it not for the heroic effort made amidst a chorus of boos from the Melbourne home crowd.
It quickly garnered the name Harrison Hoist although it was not the first time it had been used.
According to Netball Australia, high jumper and netball player Christine Stanton had performed a similar move in the 1970s, and Ms Harrison herself credits the previous year’s World Netball Championships match between Sri Lanka and Singapore for the innovative move.
With Singapore’s tallest defender having a 38cm height disadvantage against Goal Shooter Tharjini Sivalingam, Lin Quinyi was lifted by Premila Hirubalan to try and block the ball. Ultimately the tactic did not help Singapore win but the potential was shown in the narrower margin of defeat.
It was used again by Ms Harrison a few more times in her career, most notably at the 2012 Fast5 World Series against England, but it also ignited a debate about whether it was within the spirit of the rules.
It was deemed legal at the time and had the potential to change the game, although ultimately a rule change in 2016 banned the deflection of shots once the ball is on the downward part of its arc, making it far less effective than it was.