By Damien Stannard
A shootout, two big individual milestones and more COVID-19 fallout will cast a shadow over SSN Round 3.
Burning question
What can be expected from Giants Netball’s COVID-19 trio?
The coronavirus did not just interrupt last year’s grand finalist, it tore a gaping hole right through the engine room.
Absentees Sophie Dwyer, Jamie-Lee Price and Amy Parmenter typically carry a huge load in terms of ball movement and it would not be out of order to see them contribute a combined 300 touches in a game.
Management of players returning from illness will be a challenge for all coaches this season and just how well the Giants bounce back could determine the outcome of their high calibre confrontation against the undefeated Melbourne Vixens.
As a guide, defender Lauren Moore played 40 minutes in her COVID-19 comeback against the Adelaide Thunderbirds. And that was in a severely depleted side.
If anyone knows her players’ physical limits it is veteran Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald and she would be loathe to run her prime movers into the ground this early in the season.
Dwyer will have it especially tough against one of the competition’s most ruthless defences, a pack of enforcers led by Jo Weston.
Load management questions will also be raised for Lightning captain Steph Wood’s return against the Adelaide Thunderbirds and NSW Swift Paige Hadley who has been named to return in Helen Housby’s 100th game at home against the Magpies.
“A hungry Hadley is a weapon you always want in your armoury and I think we’ll get some extra fluidity in our attack with her in,” Swifts coach Briony Akle said.
High stakes
Fancy a shootout?
With West Coast Fever’s Jhaniele Fowler averaging 61 goals and Queensland Firebird Donnell Wallam 46, the scoreboard at Nissan Arena might spontaneously combust.
Both have been dazzling targets for their respective sides and Wallam’s duel with Fever skipper Courtney Bruce will be electric.
The big change this season for the Firebirds, other than Wallam’s arrival, has been the steadiness of vice captain Lara Dunkley.
Arguably the most improved player over the opening two rounds, Dunkley sits at the elite end of the national league for goal assists (second) and feeds (second) and has coughed up only five turnovers to be one of the tidiest midcourters.
How Dunkley fares against Fever wing defence Jess Anstiss will be crucial.
Bogey game
Falling 0-3 to start the season would not be terminal for the Sunshine Coast Lightning who have not missed a finals campaign since their introduction to the league in 2017.
It would, however, leave them vulnerable and in need of stringing together a series of wins to restore confidence following a rocky start.
The Lightning’s attacking numbers are respectable. Only the West Coast Fever, the Queensland Firebirds and the Vixens have scored more goals.
Generating opportunities for Cara Koenen, Steph Wood and Reilley Batcheldor has been a major headache.
Sunshine Coast has just four intercepts and two deflections resulting in a gain from two outings.
The two-time champions have shot only eight goals from gains – the second fewest in the competition. Their opponents on Sunday the Adelaide Thunderbirds lead SSN with 26 goals from gains.
“We need to win more ball and give more opportunities to our shooters,” said Lightning wing attack Laura Scherian who will line up for her 100th national league game.
“It’s vital when you’re playing against a strong target at the other end, we just have to make it easier for our shooters.”
