By Matt Fotia
The home straight is in sight.
With just six home and away games to go in season 2024 a number of finals hopefuls are running out of room for error.
Round 9 is shaping up as a season defining one as we edge closer to the business end. Some teams are at risk of leaving their run too late, and not notching up a win this weekend could almost end their finals race.
KING’S BIRTHDAY BASH
Monday afternoon netball arrives in season 2024 as the second placed Vixens host their new crosstown rivals at John Cain Arena in the second ever Melbourne Derby (alternate name suggestions welcomed) in an important King’s Birthday clash.
The Mavericks are coming off their first ever home win, downing the Swifts by six goals off the back of a dominant 23-12 third quarter.
The win over the Swifts makes it three wins from their last five games to put the Mavericks just outside the top four on percentage, despite suffering significant injuries across the season to key personnel.
The Mavericks defensive performance would have been the most pleasing aspect of their victory over the Swifts, as Parmenter, Jenner, Manu’a and Lewis combined for 24 deflections, 20 gains and eight intercepts.
Kim Jenner and her defensive partners were impressive against the Swifts.Midcourt dynamo Molly Jovic has also given Mavericks fans a reason to smile in 2024, proving herself to be a barometer for Tracey Neville’s side. Jovic averages 37.3 feeds, 25 assists and 118.6 Nissan Net Points across their three victories, well up on her season average.
Jovic will have her work cut out for her on Monday however as she goes head-to-head with Vixens skipper Kate Moloney.
Moloney took full advantage of Jamie-Lee Price’s absence last weekend, racking up 39 feeds, 20 assists and 102 Nissan Net Points in the Vixens convincing win over the GIANTS, combining well with the inform Sophie Garbin (51 goals, 120 Nissan Net Points).
The form of Garbin, Austin and the Vixens as a whole makes it a tall order on paper for the Mavericks to enact revenge for their round 1 defeat, but Tracey Neville’s troops have shown they’re always up for the fight in 2024.
THE REST OF ROUND 9
Round 9 starts off at Ken Rosewall Arena as two pre-season fancies come face to face in a battle for fourth spot.
The Swifts have won just one of their past five matches and are looking anything but the side that was moments away from the 2023 premiership.
They trialled a new look shooting circle in last weekend’s loss to the Mavericks, with Sophie Fawns and Grace Whyte partnering superstar Helen Housby in Sam Wallace-Joesph’s absence.
Their 58 goals was a stark improvement on the 33 they managed the week before against the Thunderbirds, but their attacking woes won’t be helped this weekend, such is the form of Lightning young gun Ashleigh Ervin.
Ervin has stood tall (literally and figuratively) in the absence of Courtney Bruce, averaging over 8 gains and 6 deflections per game across the last three rounds.
Ashleigh Ervin has been in red hot form this last month.Her extraordinary reach will come in more than handy during the Power Five as well, placing extra pressure over the Swifts long range experts in Housby and Fawns.
Elsewhere on Saturday, the reigning premiers will look to bounce back from their shock loss to the Firebirds as they take on the ladder leading West Coast Fever at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
The last three encounters between these two sides have been decided by just one goal, with the Fever coming out on top in round 6 this season.
It’s a classic battle of fire and ice.
The Fever are the competitions number one offensive unit (596 goals for), while the Thunderbirds are ranked first for goals conceded in 2024 (400 goals against).
Both sides are well entrenched within the top four, but Saturday’s battle has plenty riding on it.
A win for the Fever would see them keep a hold of top spot, whilst a Thunderbirds victory would help maintain their two-game buffer in third.
The Thunderbirds finish their season with matches against the Vixens (2nd), Swifts (5th) and Lightning (4th), so will be eager to do their work and lock in a finals place before their trick run home.
Sunday’s standalone fixture features the GIANTS hosting the Firebirds, who will be brimming with confidence after their impressive win over the Thunderbirds in round 8.
Ruby Bakewell-Doran will be one to watch for the GIANTS offensive unit, with the defender putting on a defensive masterclass last time out, with 7 deflections, 5 gains, 5 pick-ups, 2 intercepts, 2 deflections and 106 Nissan Net Points to help her side collect their second win of the year.
