Magpies Still In Optimistic Spirit, Despite Slow Start

When: Saturday 30 June, 7pm (AEST)
Where: Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
Broadcast: Telstra TV, Netball Live app

The Magpies are still managing to cling on to the teams above them though, primarily due to their 18 bonus points, which is the third best in the competition. The Melbourne-based club sit ten points outside of a finals position and the way this season has gone – that can be flipped around quickly.

Energetic Magpies midcourter, Kim Ravaillion, still believes the team have what it takes to go all the way, they just need to tighten a few screws and learn how to be ruthless when out in front.

She said, “We don’t have a long way to go. I feel like it is in our own control, it is within our own power.

“We have the ability to control every game we play – just something’s been missing that we haven’t been able to put our finger on. And it is not by a massive margin, it is literally the littlest thing. If we can nail that then we can nail most things.”

“Win a couple of games and we could potentially win this whole thing, but we have got to do that ourselves.”

The Magpies performance last time out against the Melbourne Vixens was a prime example of how they struggle to close out a game. Having led at half-time by five goals and dominating the ball across the court, the Magpies had their hard work undone very early in the second half.

They ended up losing the game by seven goals, but still managed to take home two bonus points from the fixture.

Ravaillion continued, “You can get a lead, but it’s having the ability to hold on to the lead and put your foot on the pedal to take the game.

“We need to find that within our group, it’s building, and our training session have been very intense. We’ve been having hard conversations and giving really good feedback to each other, we just need to put that four-quarter effort together.

“The bonus points are working in our favour at the moment. If we get a couple of wins under our belt then we are in good hands, so I think it just having the belief.”

To see whether the Magpies can find that inner strength and pull off a shock win against the ladder leading West Coast Fever in Melbourne on Saturday, tune into Telstra TV and the Netball Live app at 7PM (AEST) to catch the game live.

Here’s how the game shaped up the last time the two met in round two, with Fever taking the game 68-57 due to considerably stronger shooting accuracy.

For details on how to buy tickets, check out our fixture page.