By Paddy Regester
Playing finals and lifting that trophy on the last day of the season. It’s not quite “what it’s all about”, but it’s probably in the top five most important things for the players and coaches around the league.
With just two rounds remaining, six teams are still in with a shot to win the 2021 Grand Final; the GIANTS, Fever, Swifts, Lightning, Firebirds; and Magpies.
So, how do they put themselves in a position to do just that?
Let’s start with the two mathematically least likely teams to win it all, the Queensland Firebirds and Collingwood Magpies.
The fifth placed Firebirds and sixth placed Magpies are both sitting on 20 points, eight points behind the Fever, Swifts and Lightning.
These two just need to keep winning and, of course, whoever goes down tonight will be eliminated from the big dance once and for all.
Given they face the Vixens after tonight’s game, I like the Firebirds chances of winning out more than the Magpies, who finish the regular season against the Fever on Tuesday.
The other piece of the playoff-puzzle for these two sides is the three teams they are chasing; the second placed Fever, third placed Swifts; and the fourth placed Lightning.
When it all comes down to it, one win from any of those three teams and the Firebirds and Magpies are done.
So, who of those three are the most likely to drop their last two games of the season and keep things interesting?
The Fever would back themselves against the Magpies and will be eyeing off top spot against the GIANTS to close out the season. Crazier things have happened, but I would expect the Fever to come away with at least one win from those two. Next.
The Swifts are currently on a two-game losing streak and look a little rattled. They will go into Wednesday night’s match against the Thunderbirds as favourites but, after the Thunderbirds knocked off the Lightning on Wednesday night, they won’t be counting their chickens just yet.
The Swifts finish their regular season next Saturday against the Sunshine Coast Lightning in what could be a wild clash, because…
The Lightning are in a scary spot right now. Where the Firebirds are facing two games they should go into as favourites, the Lightning have showdowns with the top-of-the table GIANTS on Tuesday and a 2019 Grand Final rematch against the Swifts to close out the season.
Picture this… The Firebirds or Magpies take care of business in the final two rounds, pumping up their percentage along the way. The Thunderbirds upset the Swifts on Wednesday night, just as they did the last time those two met in Round 7. The GIANTS, hell-bent on winning the minor premiership, get revenge for their Round 7 loss against the Lightning on Tuesday. And we are all treated to a “win and you’re in, lose and you’re out” showdown between the Swifts and Lightning next Saturday afternoon. Oh my!
However it plays out, we’re going to be treated to a really exciting finals series, given how evenly matched these six sides are. They’ve all proven they can beat anyone on the day and they have all proven they can drop the bundle if they aren’t at the top of their game.
Let’s go!
