The top two spots (and a crucial double chance) are still very much up for grabs in the final round of the season, with four teams still in that race, and every single bonus point considered critical.
So what needs to happen for your team to lock in a finals berth? What are the Round 14 scenarios that would see each team seal its place in the postseason, or miss out entirely?
Here’s everything you need to know!
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Round 14 Competition Points
|
|---|
| |
Current Points |
8 PTS |
7 PTS |
6 PTS |
5 PTS |
4 PTS |
3 PTS |
2 PTS |
1 PTS |
0 PTS |
|---|
| Fever |
70 |
78 |
77 |
76 |
75 |
74 |
73 |
72 |
71 |
70 |
|---|
| Giants |
69 |
77 |
76 |
75 |
74 |
73 |
72 |
71 |
70 |
69 |
|---|
| Lightning |
63 |
71 |
70 |
69 |
68 |
67 |
66 |
65 |
64 |
63 |
|---|
| Firebirds |
62 |
70 |
69 |
68 |
67 |
66 |
65 |
64 |
63 |
62 |
|---|
| Vixens |
57 |
65 |
64 |
63 |
62 |
61 |
60 |
59 |
58 |
57 |
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WEST COAST FEVER (V GIANTS)
- Will be crowned minor premiers if they win.
- Could finish as high as first or as low as fourth.
- Will still finish second if they lose but secure two or three bonus points.
- If they lose but win one bonus point, the Lightning could grab their top-two spot if the Lightning win all eight points against the Vixens, as well as boost their percentage (the Fever currently hold a percentage advantage of less than 1% – equating to only a few goals).
- If the Fever lose all four quarters against the Giants, the Lightning don’t win all four quarters against the Vixens and the Firebirds win all four quarters against the Magpies, the Fever will fall out of the top two.
GIANTS NETBALL (V Fever)
- Will be crowned minor premiers if they win.
- Could finish as high as first and as low as fourth.
- Will still finish second if they lose but grab three bonus points.
- If they lose but win two bonus points, and the Sunshine Coast Lightning win all eight points against the Vixens, second place will be decided on percentage between the Giants and Lightning (Giants currently hold a 1.3% advantage over the Lightning).
- If the Giants only win one quarter against the Fever and the Firebirds win all four quarters against the Magpies, the Firebirds will overtake the Giants on percentage.
SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING (V Vixens)
- The Lightning reach finals if they win, or claim at least two bonus points.
- If they lose but win one bonus point, percentage will determine whether they take fourth spot ahead of the Vixens (Vixens are currently on 106%, while Lightning are 107%).
- In order for the Lightning to drop below the Vixens on percentage, they would need to lose by five or more goals.
- Lightning will finish second if they win and claim all eight points against the Vixens and the Giants win only one point against the Fever, or if they grab seven points against the Vixens and the Giants fail to win a point against the Fever.
QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS (V Magpies)
- A Firebirds win guarantees them a final berth.
- Firebirds could finish as high as second or as low as fifth.
- If the Firebirds win and secure all four bonus points, they move into second place if the Giants claim only one point or Fever claim no points, and Lightning don’t claim all eight points against the Vixens.
- If the Firebirds lose but secure three bonus points they’ll qualify for finals, with their position dependant on the result of the Lightning v Vixens match.
- If the Firebirds lose but secure two or one bonus points, they may/may not qualify, dependant on the result of the Lightning v Vixens match.
- For the Firebirds to be ousted on percentage, the Vixens would need to win by more than 20 goals.
MELBOURNE VIXENS (V Lightning)
- The Vixens reach finals if they beat Sunshine Coast Lightning and claim all four bonus points.
- They also reach finals if they beat Sunshine Coast Lightning and three bonus points, plus increase their percentage (Vixens are currently on 106%, while Lightning are 107%).
- To beat the Lightning on percentage, the Vixens need to win by five or more goals.
- They miss finals if they win but claim only two bonus points, unless the Firebirds win no bonus points.
IN SUMMARY
- Winner of Giants v Fever claims the minor premiership.
- Firebirds virtually assured of a finals berth, as the third-placed Lightning and fifth-placed Vixens play each other.
- If Firebirds lose but pick up two bonus points, and the Vixens win with three bonus points, the Firebirds, Vixens and Lightning all finish on 64 points. However, the Firebirds are in the box seat based on percentage.
- The Vixens need to beat the Lightning by five or more goals to move past them on percentage.
- Two bonus points is enough for the Lightning to finish higher than the Vixens.
- Percentage is likely to determine final positions.
- Fever – high as first, low as fourth.
- Giants – high as first, low as fourth.
- Lightning – high as second, low as fifth.
- Firebirds – high as second, low as fifth.
- Vixens – high as third, low as fifth.
