We saw three big blowouts, including a record breaking 80-goal performance by the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Grand Final rematch.
Now it’s time to take a closer look at the Round 3 match-ups with help from the one and only Laura Geitz.
Game 1 – Adelaide Thunderbirds Vs Melbourne Vixens
Game one of the round is an incredibly intriguing match-up between the top of the ladder Vixens and the talented but inconsistent Thunderbirds.
The Vixens are arguably the form team of the league, comprehensively beating both the Firebirds and GIANTS in Round 1 and 2.
But the Thunderbirds, thanks to their new look team and more attacking play style, showed they aren’t the easy-beats from the last two seasons, despite a disappointing loss to the NSW Swifts in Round 2.
Geitz’s key match-up for this game is Jo Weston up against Maria Folau. A big part of the Vixens hot start has been their ability to congest the oppositions attacking third.
Folau will have to bring her A-game against Weston and keep the scoreboard ticking over alongside goal shooter Sasha Glasgow.
“Jo (Weston) is such a consistent player and such a grinder. She does a great job of nullifying her opponent. She’ll be up against Folau for most of the game who is probably Adelaide’s most important player. What a match-up”
Game 2 – NSW Swifts Vs West Coast Fever
The first of the Sunday games will see an unbeaten NSW Swifts up against a West Coast Fever team struggling to find it’s feet in the early stages of 2019.
The Swifts dismantled the Thunderbirds in Round 2 and will be licking their lips coming into this game, facing a Fever team who have given up a league leading 141-goals so far this season.
According to Laura, whoever wins the Helen Housby vs Stacey Francis match-up could determine which team comes out on top.
“Housby is one of the most difficult players I’ve played on. Her positioning, her clever movement, her accuracy and her ability to feed the shooter is almost the best in the league at the position.
“For the Fever to stand a chance, they need to shut Housby down. I think Stacey Francis will be up for the challenge.”
Game 3 – Sunshine Coast Lightning Vs Queensland Firebirds
The first Queensland derby of the 2019 season is shaping up to be a cracker, as the 1-and-1 Lightning host the winless Firebirds at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Sunday.
After a disappointing Round 1 loss to the Magpies, the Lightning exploded offensively in Round 2, dropping a record 80-goals against the Fever.
But they’ll go up against a fired up Firebirds team, desperate for a win after coming so close against the Magpies last Saturday, with the game ending in a draw.
It’s a classic Queensland derby key match-up as two barometers for each team go up against each other in Gretel Tippett and Karla Pretorius.
“The biggest match-up this round for me is Pretorius vs Tippett. They always have a big battle against each other. Both are in great form early and this is a match-up that normally determines the outcome of the game.”
Game 4 – GIANTS Netball Vs Collingwood Magpies
The final match of the round will be between the GIANTS and the Magpies at Quaycentre on Sunday night.
After winning the minor premiership in 2018, the GIANTS find themselves on the bottom of the ladder after two rounds and really struggling to find their groove.
After a sluggish start against the Firebirds where they trailed by eight goals at halftime, the Magpies fought back and came away with a draw in Round 2.
Jo Harten and April Brandley is Laura’s key match-up for the Round 3 closing game and should be a tough contest between two fierce competitors.
“The thing that separates Harten from a lot of other goal attacks in the league is her defensive effort. Not only can she put up those long shots but she can create turnovers through the centre.
“She’ll go up against April Brandley who is so good at nullifying the impact of her opponent. We saw that against the Firebirds, where she did a great job of frustrating Gretel and forcing some bad plays.”
