Thursday Takes: Round 7

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. 

FEVER 

A win, is a win, is a win. 

The Fever did what they needed to do on Saturday against a plucky GIANTS outfit, withstanding the GIANTS best to record a fifth straight win. 

It wasn’t their best performance, but they continue to put the building blocks in place, getting crucial minutes into the legs of Jordan Cransberg (35 minutes), Fran Williams (34), Olivia Wilkinson (31), and Zoe Cransberg (26). 

Four points in the bank and onto the next. 

FIREBIRDS 
Was that their worst performance of the year? 

Yes, the Firebirds were without two of their bigger names on Sunday, with Tippah Dwan (knee) and Imogen Allison (concussion) sitting out their fixture with the Vixens, but Kiri Wills would not be happy with what her side produced. 

The Firebirds managed just nine goals in the last quarter on route to their second lowest score of the campaign (52). Even more damningly they managed just 68 feeds for the match. 

Sunday wasn’t just about the low score. The Firebirds recorded their second worst centre pass to goal rate (61.4%) and their worst goals from gain rate (41.7%) for the year. 

GIANTS 

Slow start, but something to smile about. 

All the GIANTS key personnel pointed out the obvious, both during and after Saturday’s loss to the Fever. Their woeful start cost them dearly. 

The GIANTS trailed, 0-4, 1-7 and 6-14 at different times during the first quarter, before clicking into gear and taking it up to the girls from Perth, levelling the scores midway through the third quarter. 

Ebbs and flows are just part of being a very young and inexperienced side.  

However, there is plenty to look forward to with youngsters like Erin O’Brien (four gains, two intercepts), Matisse Letherbarrow (52 points, eight super shots) and Hope White who managed 23 feeds and 17 assists from just 37 minutes of netball. 

When it all comes together, it’s going to be good. 

LIGHTNING 

Need to learn how to take a big scalp. 

The Lightning show plenty of promise every week.  

At their best, they have all the tools to contend for the premiership in 2025. A versatile shooting circle, a world class defence end and a Liz Watson led midcourt to boot, they are ready to make an assault on the flag. 

But they won’t be a real threat until they learn how to take on the big sides. 

Since the beginning of 2024, the Lightning have won just one game against a fellow top four side. 

Last season, they played seven games against the Vixens, Fever and Thunderbirds, winning their round six game against the Vixens and losing the other six. 

So far this season, they are 0-3 against the Thunderbirds, Fever and Swifts. 

Their overall record against top four teams since 2024?  

One win, nine losses and a goal difference of –64. 

MAVERICKS 
Stay out of play, and you can say goodbye to finals netball. 

Tracey Neville didn’t mince her words on Sunday. When chatting to the commentary team during Sunday’s loss to the Thunderbirds, she lamented her side’s ever-growing number of penalties. 

“They might as well be standing in the stands,” she said. 

“You’ve got to be in the contest to put pressure on.” 

Neville was right of course – and she hadn’t even mentioned her sides’ inability to maintain possession. 

The Mavericks finished the game with 69 penalties and 24 general play turnovers, slumping to their fifth loss of the season. 

It’s a trend for the Mavericks, who have conceded the third most penalties this year (410), had the third most general play turnovers (139) and have recorded the most ‘bad hands’ with 28. 

If they don’t tidy this up soon, it’ll be goodnight for season 2025. 

SWIFTS 

Sharni Lambden is the signing of the season. 

We all knew Lambden was good enough for the SSN, but did we really think she would be putting out performances like this week in, week out? 

To highlight her consistency, Lambden has recorded an intercept in five of her seven appearances this season and has collected at least one deflection per game in 2025. 

Add onto that the key role she plays in helping transition the Swifts up the court from defence into attack and you could argue she’s the team of the year wing defence. 

She was at it again on the weekend, grabbing two intercepts in the first quarter and harassing Liz Watson to the point she had three turnovers and moved into centre for the second quarter. 

All this from a player who was close to packing in her netballing dreams midway through last year. 

THUNDERBIRDS 
Sophie Casey is making the most of it. 

The real beneficiary of the Thunderbirds 2025 list build has been Sophie Casey. 

Tania Obst has admitted that the Thunderbirds went front heavy with their contracted ten this season, which has meant young goaler Lucy Austin has seen barely any court time in 2025, despite being a member of the Thunderbirds ten. 

Casey, the 11th player, on the other hand has begun to see more court time as the Thunderbirds find their best mix without Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, and she is growing with every minute she spends on court. 

Casey played 18 minutes against the Firebirds in Round 5 and 20 minutes against the Fever in Round 6 before getting the nod to start against the Mavericks, in wing defence. 

She more than stepped up to the occasion, finishing with two pick-ups and an intercept to her name, and helped blanket the Mavericks midcourt alongside teammates Hannah Petty and Tayla Williams. 

VIXENS 

Kate Eddy is easily the most underrated player in the competition. 

It’s about time Kate Eddy gets her flowers. 

The ever-reliable defender has been a key part of the Vixens consistency across the last half a decade, able to play all three of the defensive positions at the elite level, regularly taking down some of the biggest and best names in the competition. 

Her consistently brilliant performances are part of the reason Sharni Lambden had to wait so long to burst on the scene.  

She has hit double figures for second phase receives (35), centre pass receives (31), deflections (17) and gains (16) in 2025 and was at her brilliant best on Sunday, keeping Macy Gardner to just 11 feeds for the match in partnership with Kate Moloney. 

Under the radar no more.