After finishing outside the top four last year, the pain of not playing finals netball was tough to endure for captain Gabi Simpson.
“Having to sit there and watch the Sunshine Coast Lightning win the grand final on our home ground is not something we like to do, so we’ve used that hurt to drive us in the off-season, Simpson said.
“We were playing netball out of the fear of losing and it wasn’t until the last three games that we really hit our straps when we were out of finals.
“So this year we really want to implement fearless netball.”
There’s something else driving Gabi this weekend.
After losing to England in the gold medal match of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast a fortnight ago, Simpson is out for revenge.
“With that hurt I’ve lined up a few of the English players that are in the teams to come, starting with Helen Housby (Swifts Goal Attack) this weekend. I think it adds that extra fire in the belly.”
Adding to the Firebirds firepower this year will be the inclusion of Laura Geitz and Mahalia Cassidy.
After tearing the ACL in her knee during pre-season last year, Cassidy is back fitter and stronger ready to light up the crowd at centre, while Geitz will pull on the purple dress again after sitting out the 2017 season to become a mum.
“It’s brilliant to have Geitzy back, Simpson said.
She brings so much experience to the end and that in turns gives that knowledge of netball to our younger goal defenders who are coming through.
Geitzy knows about winning. She knows what it takes to win, she also knows so much about the Firebirds culture and as a team what we need to do to get ourselves back into finals.”
The Firebirds take on the Swifts at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Sunday afternoon. Watch live on Sunday 29 April at 3.00pm AEST on Telstra TV or the Netball Live App. Secure your seat.
Original story via Firebirds.net.au
