Big four to go head-to-head

The fixture gods have treated us kindly this weekend with the current top four all facing off to set up a super round of Suncorp Super Netball just a month out from finals.

Here's what you need to know ahead of a blockbuster weekend of netball.

THE BIG BATTLE

The party will get started when the number one defensive side in the competition take on the number one attacking outfit this Saturday Night as the ladder leading Adelaide Thunderbirds host a red-hot West Coast Fever at Netball SA Stadium.

The Fever are fresh off a record-breaking win over the Queensland Firebirds, where the reigning premiers racked up with 97 goals to kill off a two-game losing streak, whilst the Thunderbirds will be keen to bounce back after they were soundly beaten by an in-form Melbourne Vixens outfit at John Cain Arena. Though they were without skipper Hannah Petty and energetic goal attack Tippah Dwan.

The last time these two teams met they played out an instant classic, with English import Eleanor Cardwell nailing a clutch Suncorp Super Shot to hand the Thunderbirds a one goal victory on the Fever’s home court, completing an epic comeback from Tania Obst’s side, who trailed by five at the final change and won just one quarter for the entire match.

Wing defence Latayna Wilson was a key part of the Thunderbirds win in the west, with the Jamaican starlet putting Fever wing attack Alice Teague-Neeld off her game, with Teague-Neeld recording an uncharacteristically low Nissan Net Points total (25.5) and causing eight turnovers.

Wilson herself recorded six gain and five intercepts and wing attack Georgie Horjus also played a key role in the big win.

The Thunderbirds will be looking for Wilson and her fellow midcourters to throw a cat amongst the pigeons again this weekend. The Fever made very little rotations during their big win over the Firebirds on the weekend and seem reluctant to change their mix in the middle.

If the Thunderbirds can get on top in this area of the game early, they’ll be a thorn in Fever coach Dan Ryan’s side.

The Fever come into this game with a 2-3 record against the other three sides in the top four, with all bar one (their round four win over the Swifts) of those encounters decided by one goal and will be eager to get a statement victory over a fellow finals bound side, while the Thunderbirds could all but lock in a top two spot with a victory in front of their home crowd.

SWIFTS ENTER VIXENS FORTESS

Roll on into Sunday and there is another classic brewing between the two form sides of the competition, the Melbourne Vixens and NSW Swifts.

The Vixens are coming off four straight wins and are yet to lose at home this season, while the Swifts haven’t lost since their defeat to the Fever in round four.

Both teams are coming off comfortable 20 goal plus victories and after their round six match up was decided by just one goal all signs point to another thrilling encounter at John Cain Arena this Sunday.

Given the form of Helen Housby and Kiera Austin, Sunday’s fixture looms as the battle of the goal attacks.

Both players have had an incredible month of form, with English international Housby staking her claim to be the most in form player in the world ahead of the Netball World Cup in South Africa later this year, coming off four back-to-back games where she’s finished with 100 or more Nissan Net Points.

Her Vixens counterpart’s playing style doesn’t see her hit the same Nissan Net Points heights week in, week out, but Austin has still been playing a massive role in the Vixens perfect month, sinking after the siren Suncorp Super Shots in consecutive weeks to give the Vixens crucial victories over the West Coast Fever and Sunshine Coast Lightning in rounds eight and nine.

That being said Austin has nailed just 24 this season, while Housby has made the super shot her own in 2023, leading the competition with 56 successful attempts.

Housby has been getting involved around the circle’s edge more than Austin this season ranked 14th for feeds in the competition with 214, 69 more than Austin who has 135, but interestingly Housby (129) has just 29 more assists than Austin (100).

Austin is also more eager to get involved with the centre pass, ranked third in the competition for centre pass receives with 213, 36 more than Housby (177).

Should Housby and Swifts hand the Vixens their first loss at John Cain Arena for 2023 they’ll add more weight to their ever-growing premiership credentials, but if Austin leads the Vixens to yet another home win, the 2020 premiers will be short-priced favourites to claim another minor premiership thanks to their relatively easy final three fixtures.

One thing is for sure though.

Sunday will be epic.

THE REST OF THE ROUND

Elsewhere this round the Sunshine Coast Lightning host the Collingwood Magpies to get us kick started, with the Lightning looking to get back on the winners list after a lean trot in recent weeks.

While the GIANTS will be looking to grab their fifth win of the season against a Firebirds side who conceded almost 100 goals last time out.

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