With just two rounds remaining, every game and every moment can have an impact on the outcome of the season.
With the top four coming down to the wire, winning has never been more important. So what better time to stand up and will your team to victory than now?
There four players did exactly that this week and have claimed the Game Changer accolades for Round 12.
Collingwood Magpies v NSW Swifts
Shimona Nelson
There was a moment where I almost considered picking Sophie Garbin for the Game Changer here, after her massive 39-minutes kept this one from being even uglier than it could have been.
But when a player goes head-to-head with one of the best players in the world and comes away with a crucial win in arguably the best performance of her young career, you can’t go past that.
Of course I’m talking about Shimona Nelson, who shot 69 of 71 against one of the best defensive setups in the competition. That 69 point total was one more than the entire Swifts team could manage for the game and was a personal best for the Jamaican star, smashing her previous best of 55.
Nelson was unstoppable from the opening whistle, getting up and snatching the ball out of the air whenever it came near her, something she has been criticised for at times this season.
Maybe the most impressive part of her game was that she did what she did against Sarah Klau, who had a whale of a game herself for the Swifts. It takes a lot of confidence to go toe-to-toe with your direct opponent when they are going off, and Nelson did not back down, giving her feeders a solid option to go to and rewarding them for their service with 97% shooting.
Shimona Nelson has shown flashes that she is the next big shooting superstar, and Tuesday night’s performance was almost certainly her best to date.
By Paddy Regester
West Coast Fever v Queensland Firebirds
Jhaniele Fowler
You'll struggle to find a performance as dominant as what Jhaniele Fowler produced in her team’s important Tuesday night win. The Firebirds were hot on the heels of the Fever in current ladder standings, making this a must win game for a Fever side desperate to cement the most unlikely of spots in the 2021 finals series.
Fowler has been the linchpin of this dynamic Fever outfit all season, so a strong showing was essential to help her team to victory. And you can’t ask for much stronger than 64 goals on 66 attempts with a shooting accuracy of 97%.
Heading into this round, the Fever superstar led the competition in Nissan Net Points, total Goals Scored and had the highest Shooting Accuracy. Those records are certainly not in any danger of being snatched away from Fowler after she registered incredible numbers against the Firebirds.
Fowler had a game high 140.5 Nissan Net Points, 40 more than the next best in Gretel Bueta. 140.5 is the highest total NNP recorded by an individual this season, showcasing just how spectacular this performance was. Fowler has now recorded over 100 NNP for the fifth time this season, the only player in the competition to have more than three games over 100.
It’s not just Fowler’s ability to score and to score accurately that has made her one of the best players of 2021, it’s also her presence inside the goal circle. Fowler gives her teammates confidence in moving the ball into their attacking third and consistently provides a target, even when a possession looks broken.
Fowler’s ability to produce her best performance in their biggest game of the season to date, is why I have named her the Game Changer here.
By Philip Jurkovsky
GIANTS Netball v Melbourne Vixens
Amy Parmenter
Despite the current ladder positions, this was a danger game for the GIANTS who needed to win to reclaim top spot on the ladder. A team with nothing to lose is always a tricky matchup, so the GIANTS had to be at their absolute best to ensure a win.
It was a scrappy opening quarter and the Vixens were hanging on to the GIANTS. That was until Amy Parmenter injected herself into this game and provided her team with a much needed boost of energy. Parmenter was everywhere in defence and her vibrancy and effort was beginning to rub off on her teammates. After a slow start to the game, the GIANTS then went on a tear to close out the first half, thanks to the efforts of Parmenter.
You know it’s your day when the ball just finds its way to you no matter the circumstances. Parmenter lost her footing during a Vixens’ forward attack and found herself on the floor. For most players, hitting the court would have ruled them out of that play, but not Amy. The WD sprung to her feet and flew across the court to intercept the pass. When you’re on, you’re on.
Parmenter was also crucial in stopping any runs the Vixens went on. Mwai Kumwenda put through a Super Shot and was on the verge of scoring another straight after, but Parmenter was having none of that. Kumwenda led up to the ball and was about to take possession inside the Super Shot zone. Parmenter read the play perfectly and cut in front to take back possession. The Vixens could have reduced the margin to single digits before the final break, but Parmenter forced the turnover which ultimately led to a GIANTS score.
It was Parmenter’s intensity and effort that helped kick her team into motion and ultimately lead to an important victory for the GIANTS.
By Philip Jurkovsky
Sunshine Coast Lightning v Adelaide Thunderbirds
Hannah Petty
Thunderbirds head coach Tanya Obst is not afraid to lean into the substitutions, and some would argue that is her biggest knock.
But her player movement decisions during her side’s thrilling one-point win over the Lightning was spot on. The best of those moves came after an opening quarter where the wasteful Thunderbirds had six general play turnovers; sitting Hannah Petty on the bench in the second quarter.
Petty seemed to be off the pace of the game early, committing four general play turnovers in the opening 20 minutes of the match. So Obst dragged her and, when she looked her way again after the halftime break, she put her captain back in at wing defence instead of centre.
From then on, Petty’s physicality and hard work changed the game.
She confused the space in front of the Lightning's shooting circle beautifully, stalling countless Sunshine Coast attacking thrusts. And, most importantly, she helped nullify the impact Laura Scherian had on the game in the second half.
Scherian went off in the opening half, leading all players in Nissan Net Points (50.5) and her own team with 19 feeds, 12 assists and 11 centre pass receives. Once Petty moved to WD, she struggled to have the same impact on the game, adding just 23.5 Nissan Net Points, 13 feeds and eight assists. Shez still had a great game, but she was on track to for a mammoth performance before Petty jumped on her.
To cap it all off, Petty picked off a Mahalia Cassidy cross-court pass with just under three minutes remaining, prompting a three-goal run for the Thunderbirds which almost iced the game.
By Paddy Regester
