By Stephanie Smarrelli
Things could step up a notch in round three of the Suncorp Super Netball with the current top four sides all set to face-off against each other, but it’s the preliminary final rematch that we’ve all been waiting for.
The blockbuster match between the Melbourne Vixens and GIANTS has been highly anticipated since Emily Mannix took a clutch intercept in the dying moments of last year’s preliminary final to send the Vixens to the big dance.
Coming off a narrow loss to the West Coast Fever last week the GIANTS will be determined to get their first win on the board for the season.
The Vixens on the other hand are coming into the game fresh off a one-goal victory over state rivals the Collingwood Magpies and will be looking to add another win to their tally for the season.
The GIANTS will be making the trek to Melbourne for their match against the Vixens where the home side feeds off the energy of the crowd.
This will add another complexity to the GIANTS’ quest for redemption.
The GIANTS will look to take bragging rights after losing last year's preliminary final.The two teams match up well against each other with Origin Australian Diamonds Liz Watson and Jamie-Lee Price likely to face each other in the midcourt and Jo Weston is poised to come up against Sophie Dwyer in the goal circle.
Last week both teams used their long-range shooting skills to their advantage with the GIANTS slotting a total of 15 Suncorp Super Shots throughout their match while Vixen Mwai Kumwenda stepped up to slot four in the final quarter.
On their return from injury last week Jo Harten and Maddie Hay looked like they hadn’t missed a beat. If they arrive in Melbourne and perform as well as they did last week the Vixens will have a challenge on their hands.
Hay’s precision passing resulted in 40 feeds into the goal circle last week while Harten only missed one goal attempt outside of each quarter’s power five.
Kate Eddy and Kate Moloney are likely to both be pulled into the wing defence bib for the Vixens throughout the match to shut down Hay. The job on Harten will fall to Mannix or Olivia Lewis who both aren’t afraid to come out hunting for an intercept if the opportunity presents itself.
HOW THE REST OF THE WEEKEND IS SHAPING UP
All eyes will be on Romelda Aiken-George on Saturday in the first match of the round with the Swifts’ shooter set to come up against her old side the Queensland Firebirds in a state versus state showdown and a milestone 200th national league match for the Jamaican.
Romelda Aiken-George lines up for her 200th national league match this weekend.While over on the Sunshine Coast the Lightning will play host to the Adelaide Thunderbirds with both teams starting the season strongly the match could go either way. Origin Australian Diamonds shooting duo Steph Wood and Cara Koenen will face the formidable Jamaican defence of Shamera Sterling and Latayna Wilson with Matilda Garrett also likely to play in the defensive circle and create havoc for the Lightning.
Across the country in Western Australia the West Coast Fever will go head-to-head with the Collingwood Magpies with the Magpies playing away for the first time this season. The Fever have proved why they’re the reigning premiers in the last two weeks with two narrow victories to begin the season while the Magpies will be hungry for their second win after losing to the Vixens after the buzzer last week.
