The key takeaways from Round 14

The final round of the regular season delivered plenty of action. 

One team bode an emotional goodbye to the competition forever, and the finals pecking order has now been locked in. 

The Adelaide Thunderbirds will be the only side to head into finals off the back of a win as they ended the Swifts’ winning streak. While the West Coast Fever and Melbourne Vixens both suffered losses to bottom four sides.  

Here are the key talking points from Round 14. 

MAGPIES’ EMOTIONAL FINISH 

It was an emotional send off for the Collingwood Magpies in front of a sell-out crowd in Tasmania. 

The Pies came out firing and some of the squad played their best netball determined to bow out of the Suncorp Super Netball league with a win. 

The Fever gave their all against the Magpies with a spot in the top two on the line but they were unable to contain the emotionally charged Collingwood outfit. 

Retiring athlete Ash Brazill had a fairytale ending against her old side and was a standout for Collingwood in centre. 

While teammate Sophie Garbin’s confidence on court showed, finishing the match on 113 Nissan Net Points, earning herself match MVP. 

Jodi-Ann Ward and Geva Mentor’s partnership in defence shone with the duo slowing the speed of the Fever attack and forcing them to think through their feeds an extra second. 

Kelsey Browne and Maddie Hinchliffe were strong in the midcourt, keeping the Magpies flowing from end to end while Shimona Nelson proved solid in the goal circle. 

The tears flowed after the match and although it may not be good old Collingwood forever the Magpies will be forever etched in the history of Suncorp Super Netball. 

THUNDERBIRDS EARN DOUBLE CHANCE 

The Thunderbirds have won their way into the major semi final after they ended the NSW Swifts’ winning run. 

The Thunderbirds’ win on Saturday sets them up for another clash with the Swifts in Sydney. And with direct entry into the grand final on the line, it is set to be a big one. 

Saturday’s Round 14 encounter ebbed and flowed as momentum flipped between the two teams throughout the match. 

NSW Swifts' defender Sarah Klau gave her side every opportunity to convert throughout the match while down the other side of the court Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson were standouts for the Thunderbirds. 

The match came down to the Power Five with scores level heading into the period. Eleanor Cardwell proved once again she can perform under pressure but it was Sterling who stole the match-winning ball. 

Both teams will review the match closely heading into the major semi final this weekend with the Swifts wanting to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.  

While the Thunderbirds will look for their own areas of improvement knowing the Swifts have the ability to bounce back strongly and will be energised again by a home crowd. 

The Thunderbirds win means they’ll now have a second chance come finals. Win, and they’re straight to the grand final. Lose and they’ll need to beat the winner of the minor semi between the West Coast Fever and Melbourne Vixens. 

 
VIXENS AND FEVER WITH WORK TO DO 

Sitting third and fourth on the ladder the Vixens and Fever will meet in this weekend’s do-or-die minor semi final. 

Neither of last year’s grand finalists will go into the match in form following losses this weekend. 

The Melbourne Vixens lost the second half of their clash against the GIANTS and were held to only seven goals in the final quarter. 

While the Fever won the final quarter of their match against the Magpies, they were forced to play catch up with their third quarter failing to meet the intensity of last-placed Collingwood.  

Both teams will be on notice this week, knowing they will need to come out of the halftime break firing if they want to stay in the race for the premiership.