The key takeaways from Round 13

If you were looking for action, the weekend of netball certainly delivered. 

The NSW Swifts were crowned the minor premiers of the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season after a win over the Queensland Firebirds in a state verse state showdown. 

The Swifts finished top of the table after an epic second half of the season. They haven’t dropped a game since Round 5 and are one game clear of the rest of the pack. 

There are concerns in the Adelaide Thunderbirds camp after they slid to third on the ladder after another upset, this time at the hands of the Sunshine Coast Lightning. 

The West Coast Fever narrowly hold on at home and progress to second on the ladder.

And it was a final hurrah at John Cain Arena when arch rivals the Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies went head to head for the final time. 

These are all the key takeaways from Round 13. 

MINOR PREMIERS 

They have been the team to beat all season, but now we have proof on paper that they’re a force to be reckoned with. 

The Swifts have left the rest of the competition behind, edging out to be six points clear of the Fever and Thunderbirds, and solidifying their place at the top of the ladder with one round to go. 

No matter the results next week, they have sealed the minor premiership. 

They have been impressive all season and have not been beaten since Round 5. But their wins haven’t been easy. They have the worst percentage of the top 4 but have somehow always found a way to win - something that they will take into the finals series. 

English Rose Helen Housby has been in career best form and that was no different this game. Shooting at 81% overall, her form was impeccable in the short range, nailing 17 from 18.

She also had eight super shots to her name, showing she was not afraid to shoot them, putting up 15 for the game. All season her team has been able to rely on her, despite her shooting partner Romelda Aiken-George being the dominant scorer for the Swifts.  

Housby is not the only member of the team who was impressive in this game. Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner were instrumental in their defensive efforts, limiting the impact of Donnell Wallam and having a decent number of intercepts and deflections between them.  

UNDERDOGS UPSETS 

The Adelaide Thunderbirds have faced their second upset in as many weeks, this time against the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

After losing to bottom of the ladder last round, it was expected that the Tbirds would come out firing and ready to avenge themselves, but the Lightning had other ideas. Winning the first three quarters of the game, they started the final term up by 12 goals off the back of some sharp shooting.

The Lightning’s defensive efforts prevented their opponents from finding their rhythm and caused the Thunderbirds to make some changes. It was the in fourth quarter, however, that the Tbirds decided to lift their game.

In a super shot frenzy, they managed knock down six back-to-back and reduced the margin to three goals. Fortunately for the Lightning, their accurate shooting persisted, and they were able to hold and upset the third placed team.  

But the loss will give the Thunderbirds something to think about heading into the final round of the season. There is nothing more concerning entering the finals series in poor form.

LAST HURRAH 

It wasn’t the fairytale finish that the Collingwood Magpies would have hoped for, as they fell to the Melbourne Vixens in the final quarter after leading the entire game.

Although the Magpies have another game before the end of their tenure, this was the last time they would be playing at John Cain Arena in front of their fans.

It was also the final derby between the Vixens and the Magpies, and despite opposing positions on the ladder, due to the nature of their rivalry it was always going to be a big game.

The Magpies have nothing to lose, and this certainly translated into their game. They absolutely took it to their crosstown rivals, looking in control for much of the game until the seasoned Vixens team kicked into gear and stole back the win.  

FEVER SNEAK INTO TOP TWO 

The West Coast Fever’s record-breaking regular home season crowd of 11,0013 certainly helped get them over the line in their game against the GIANTS.

Jhaniele Fowler was put to the test in this game, with GIANTS defender Lauren Moore doing her best to frustrate the powerhouse. But it was not enough, yet again, thanks to some precision passes from her team, she proved too strong.

Down the other end, it was the Courtney Bruce who disrupted the flow of the GIANTS offence. Despite it being a close contest throughout, the Fever were able to pull away and earn themselves a spot in the top two.