By Stephanie Smarrelli
With the opening two rounds of netball done and dusted, the ladder has started taking shape and clear patterns have formed. As we head into Round 3, the top two teams will look to pull away from the pack, but the match you can't miss will be between the teams sitting third and fifth on the ladder.
With one win apiece, the team that triumphs this weekend will make a major stride in their campaign.
And it just so happens, they're cross-border rivals.
Two other teams are also still searching for their first win. Another loss at this point in the season and they could quickly fall behind the eight ball.
ARE THE FIREBIRDS CONTENDERS?
A new chapter of the longstanding NSW Swifts and Queensland Firebirds rivalry will be written this weekend.
The two sides got their seasons going by banking wins in Round 2 and will be looking to cement their place among the league’s top teams this week.
The Swifts will aim to build momentum this week.In Round 2, the Firebirds ignited early against the GIANTS with a 21-goal first quarter setting the tone.
While in Sydney the Swifts were on fire early, slotting 20 goals in their opening term against the Mavericks. The Mavs won the second half of the game, but the Swifts’ early scoreboard pressure kept them ahead.
Heading into this weekend, the Firebirds, who have finished in the bottom half of the ladder every year except for one since the league’s inception, have nothing to lose.
Their squad is less experienced as a unit compared to the Swifts but that won’t phase them.
Firebird Hulita Veve was instrumental last weekend, shutting down experienced campaigner Chelsea Pitman and forcing GIANTS goal attack Sophie Dwyer to do all the work outside of the circle. If she can repeat this against the Swifts and nullify veterans Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley to force Helen Housby to work harder, then the Firebirds will have a good shot at turning over the ball.
Veve’s teammates Remi Kamo and Ruby Bakewell-Doran will need to do everything they can to keep Housby outside of the Suncorp Super Shot zone having scored seven in Round 2 but will need to be just as careful of Swifts goal shooter Samantha Wallace-Joseph who quietly went about her business shooting 38 goals at 100 per cent accuracy against the Mavericks.
Housby will be key to the Swifts attack this weekend. Last week, the Firebirds’ defensive trio combined for 10 gains against the GIANTS, while the Swifts dominated the Mavericks.
When the sides last met on the SSN court in 2023 Sarah Klau put on a show with eight gains, three intercepts and 10 deflections.
Midcourter Allie Smith will have a big role to play this weekend for the Swifts tasked with halting Lara Dunkley who was instrumental last week with 43 feeds into the circle and 25 goal assists.
The Swifts are yet to win in enemy territory this season but heading to Queensland they’ll have a chance to redeem themselves.
But energised by their home crowd and with growing confidence the Firebirds won’t back down from the challenge.
A Firebirds win will send a message to the rest of the competition that they’re serious contenders in 2024 while a loss will leave them with more work to do.
The Firebirds will be energised heading into Round 3 following their win against the GIANTS.HOW THE REST OF THE ROUND IS SHAPING UP
While the battle between the Firebirds and Swifts will have a strong impact on the ladder so will the clash between the Sunshine Coast Lightning and Adelaide Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds fell just short against the Vixens in Round 2 while the Lightning struggled against the Fever in Perth.
Round 3 presents an opportunity for both teams to hit the refresh button and get their seasons back on track. The Lightning will have the support of their home crowd behind them and feel confident they can get the win against the reigning premiers. The Thunderbirds will need to make the most of their opportunities if they want to defeat the Lightning and continue to strive for back-to-back premierships after converting only 67 per cent of their 21 gains last week.
The Melbourne Mavericks will host the West Coast Fever for the first time on Saturday night. The winless Mavs will need to defy the odds if they’re any chance of toppling the current ladder-leaders who looked unstoppable in Round 2.
While the winless GIANTS will go head-to-head with the Melbourne Vixens in Sydney. The GIANTS and Vixens rivalry continues to grow each time the two sides play and despite struggling so far in season 2024, they’ll have the belief that they can defeat the Vixens having done so at the end of the 2023 season.
