By Matt Fotia
Another huge round of Suncorp Super Netball beckons this weekend, as the last two premiers clash on Easter Monday, third and fourth do battle to get us started and the GIANTS look to get their season rolling with a win over the Thunderbirds.
But all eyes will be on John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon to watch feathers fly as the winless Firebirds take on a Magpies side who had their wings clipped in Perth last weekend.
Despite showing plenty of positive signs in the opening fortnight of the SSN season, the Magpies head into this weekend's fixture against an improving Queensland outfit with a weight on their shoulders.
Why?
Firstly, the Magpies are coming off their worst outing of the season, a 27-goal defeat at the hands of the West Coast Fever, where they conceded 80 goals and failed to win a single quarter against the reigning champions.
Secondly, the Firebirds produced their best performance of the season on Saturday, pushing a strong NSW Swifts side all the way, thanks to a superhuman effort from Donnell Wallam, who shot 60 (one-point) goals as she looked to will her side over the line in a high scoring affair at Ken Rosewall Arena.
And thirdly, the Firebirds won their most recent match up with the Magpies, defeating Collingwood in the last round of fixtures at this year's Suncorp Team Girls Cup.
Both sides boast strong midcourt combinations, with the Gabi Simpson versus Kelsey Browne match up a particularly intriguing one, and have in form goal shooters, with the aforementioned Wallam set to go goal-for-goal with Shimona Nelson, who has 120 goals from 121 attempts in 2023, meaning the game might rest with the form of Sophie Garbin as a point of difference for the Magpies.
Garbin, who shone for the Origin Diamonds over the summer months in a holding goal shooter role, has been impressive in the goal attack role for the Magpies thus far this season in particular from long range, ranked equal first for super shots scored this season with 16, alongside Sophie Dwyer and Sasha Glasgow.
Collingwood will be hoping she can continue her form and help pull the offensive battle in their favour, as Wallam and youngster Mia Stower continue to find their feet as a partnership at the other end of the court.
Nicole Richardson's Magpies are desperate for a win this weekend.Elsewhere this Easter
The Melbourne Vixens and Sunshine Coast Lightning open proceedings this Easter weekend, as the fourth-placed Lightning travel to John Cain Arena, looking to redeem their finals credentials off the back of a convincing loss against the Thunderbirds last time out.
The Lightning have had early season success in 2023 thanks to their star defensive duo Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Karla Pretorius. Dehaney and Pretorius lead the competition for intercepts (16 collectively) and deflections (31) and will play a big role in disarming the competition's number two offence in Mwai Kumwenda (114 goals at 90%) and Kiera Austin (58 at 77%) on Saturday night.
Kumwenda and Austin are leading the line well for the 2-1 Vixens this year.On Sunday, the GIANTS are set to tackle the in form Adelaide Thunderbirds, who will be back on their home court after a big win over the Lightning last weekend.
The GIANTS sit winless despite impressing at points in their opening three fixtures, notably pushing both of the 2022 grand finalists to the wire.
They will look to find some continuity in their defensive end, with Matilda McDonnell, Lauren Moore and April Brandley rotating fairly heavily thus far in 2023. If they can go halfway to limiting the influence of Cardwell and Dwan the GIANTS will be on their way to getting their 2023 season rolling.
The round finishes on Monday as the reigning premiers take on their next challenger in the form of the NSW Swifts.
The Swifts are yet to hit top gear, but have shown plenty of positive signs in their three opening games, and will be buoyed by the connectivity between their new look goal circle Helen Housby and Romelda Aiken-George, who are serviced by world class duo Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley.
The real question is whether Allie Smith or Maddy Turner can put the clamps on Alice Teague-Neeld, who sits second for goal assists league-wide (66) and has been a permanent fixture in the Nissan Net Points Team of the Round, and stop the supply to deadeye Jhaniele Fowler, who has missed just one of her 166 attempts this season.
