By Matt Fotia
The SSN season is a marathon, not a sprint.
And deep down all fans will tell themselves not to overreact to one win, one loss, one quarter or even one moment.
Basically, don’t ride the rollercoaster.
Thursday Takes flies in the face of that logic.
Each week you’ll find our raw, unfiltered views on your club and what the weekend’s performance means for them going forward.
Check it out below.
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS
After years of relying on too few, the Firebirds are now playing total netball.
They have multiple options in all positions and are putting their well-documented pre-season focus on physicality and work rate to good use to produce well rounded performances.
Four players had more than 10 feeds on Saturday, while just three players didn’t register a deflection and only two players couldn’t find a pickup in their impressive win against the Fever.
WEST COAST FEVER
There isn’t much to write home about for the Fever currently, but the performances of Olivia Wilkinson is something to smile about.
The young goaler spent most of her debut season rotating through the goal attack position with Shanice Beckford but has shown in the opening two rounds of the season there is life after Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard.
Her battle with Isabelle Shearer was exciting for all Australian netball fans, as she provided the Fever with a consistent outlet in attack, finishing with 38 goals and four rebounds, in an otherwise disappointing outing for the girls in green.
Olivia Wilkinson was a shining light for the Fever.NSW SWIFTS
The Swifts were nowhere near their best, and that is scary enough in itself.
Two bookended bursts of brilliance from the 2023 Grand Finalists was enough to see off a spirited Mavericks outfit to score their second win of the year.
The Swifts did what good teams do, absorbing all the Mavericks had to throw at them in the second and third quarters and allowing the cream to rise to the top in the final stages of their six-goal win.
MELBOURNE MAVERICKS
The Mavericks should have won that game and have their lack of super shot prowess to blame.
When the final whistle blew, the stats sheet showed the Mavericks had more time in possession, a better goal from gain rate and a better one-point shooting percentage (they missed just one), yet still they left Ken Rosewall Arena without a win.
Why?
Helen Housby shot five super shots.
The Mavericks shot one.
The Swifts won by six.
You do the maths.
The Mavericks shot just one super shot during Saturday's game against the Swifts.SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING
The biggest conundrum facing Belinda Reynolds right now is how to get her defensive balance right.
Bruce, Ervin, and Hinchliffe all deserve to be on court more than they deserve to be off court, but unless one of them rolls into wing defence, there will be an unlucky defender sitting courtside.
It wasn’t the reason the Lightning lost on Sunday, but it is going to be something to watch as the season progresses.
ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS
Was that second half one of the most complete performances ever?
Up by just two goals at halftime, the premiers put together a netballing masterclass in the second half, winning it 31-18 to finish 15 goal winners.
They had 13 deflections, nine gains, eight pickups and four intercepts in the last two quarters, to go with 54 percent possession and total net point dominance, edging that stat 275 to 121 after half time.
MELBOURNE VIXENS
The move of Jo Weston into goalkeeper makes a lot of sense.
It allows Kate Eddy to roll back into goal defence and in turn means Simone McKinnis can get Zara Walters on court and give the Vixens midcourt a bit more pace in the wings.
It also means Rudi Ellis can go back to that impact role she starred in last season, and it gives Weston, the Vixens most experienced defender, the chance to play the role of ‘the general,’ communicating with her teammates up the court to ensure their defensive set up is on point.
Jo Weston's move to goalkeeper actually makes sense.GIANTS
With a bit more composure, the GIANTS would’ve run out winners on Sunday.
There was plenty to like about the GIANTS performance at John Cain Arena, but their inability to stop, or slow the Vixens momentum in the second quarter cost them the points.
It’s not unexpected though. They’re a young team who are progressing bit – by – bit, and Sunday was a step in the right direction.
