We also said goodbye to a legend on her home court in Sharni Layton, although we might see her around sooner than expected.
The top two to fight out, with huge benefits on the line
West Coast Fever and GIANTS Netball secured a finals berth with their two wins on the weekend, but both sides can’t take it easy in their game against each other in the final round on Saturday in Sydney.
Firstly, the reward for winning will be the the minor premiership and secondly, the right to host the major semi-final.
To add to the drama, the Queensland Firebirds and Sunshine Coast Lightning could still pip the losing team of the Fever and GIANTS game to a second-place finish – securing them a major semi-final spot instead.
In an ideal Fever and Giants fairy-tale world, both teams could hold back a little on the weekend and not show their cards before they, more than likely, play each other in the finals series.
But with so much to lose if things pan out wrong, both teams will have absolutely no choice but to play their strongest game this weekend when the two go head-to-head in what could be the first of three matches that they play against each other in August.
The finals equation for the rest
The Queensland Firebirds only need to win against Magpies Netball to seal their place in the finals and have an outside chance of finishing in the top two.
To achieve that, the Firebirds would need to secure the win and all four bonus points and, hope that whoever wins out of the Fever v Giants game – wins every quarter too.
But even that might not be enough if Lightning secure a clean sweep of points over the Melbourne Vixens.
Should the Firebirds win, that will mean that the Sunshine Coast Lightning and Melbourne Vixens will play off for the last spot in the top four.
If the Firebirds lose to the Magpies, there is a chance both the Lightning and Vixens can both sneak in – all depending on the critical bonus points on offer.
Mannix return a boost for Vixens’ finals hopes
The Melbourne Vixens largely kept her on ice in Perth, but fans will be breathing a sigh of relief to see Emily Mannix back on the court.
The defender has been absent since Round 8 when she suffered an ugly dislocation of her little finger, which required surgery.
Mannix was picked in the first Samsung Australian Diamonds squad regardless and it has been hoped she will play a significant role in the finals – if the Vixens can make it.
Mannix only played the third quarter against the Fever but should play a larger role in their do-or-die clash against the Lightning this weekend.
Could Layton swap netball for AFL?
Could retiring netball legend Sharni Layton be set for a code switch?
The Magpie Netball defender will play her last competitive game of netball this week in the final round of the Suncorp Super Netball season, but her sporting career may be set to extend into AFL.
Sports commentator Kelli Underwood said on ABC’s ‘The Offsiders’ that clubs would be lining up to sign her because of her athleticism and history in the sport.
“My prediction is that we will see her running around on a footy field sooner rather than later.
“She played school football growing up in Melbourne, played a season in the ruck for her school team and absolutely loved it.
“If you’re an AFLW team out there and you have not called Sharni Layton’s manager, there’s something wrong with you,” Underwood said.
Layton herself hasn’t ruled the possibility out and could even remain in Collingwood colours next year – this time for their footy side.
