Will the Magpies ever fulfil their potential? Can the Lightning fix their slow starts?
These and more are among our weekly talking points out of Round 8.
How Long Will Mannix Miss?
Emily Mannix might not get the plaudits that higher profile defenders at other clubs receive, but there’s no questioning her importance to the Melbourne Vixens. So it was a sombre sight to see Mannix with her hand bandaged and in a sling after a bad dislocation in the Vixens’ win against the Magpies.
Kadie-Ann Dehaney stepped in and filled Mannix’s shoes admirably late in the game, but with finals now just six rounds away, the Melbourne team will be sweating on the return of its star goal keeper. The Vixens are yet to put a timeline on Mannix’s return, so time will tell how much of a part she’ll play in the remainder of their season.
Plight Deepens For Collingwood
Is it game over for the Collingwood Magpies? The Melbourne derby had plenty of hype and promise at the weekend but the Magpies – despite a fast start – could not get the job done against the Vixens.
It was the fourth straight derby loss for the Magpies and has them now 10 competition points adrift of the top four. Coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell made a raft of changes once again, with Sharni Layton again starting on the bench, but this team of superstars continues to struggle to come together as a superstar team.
Lightning Close In On Top Four
The Sunshine Coast Lightning may not have won at the weekend, but the defending champions are right back in the mix of things after their incredible draw with GIANTS Netball.
It was the first draw of the season and has the Lightning nestled in fifth place on the Rebel Sport ladder – just two competition points behind the fourth-placed Vixens. Lightning coach Noeline Taurua will be asking questions again though, after the club had its second slow start in a row. Those first-quarter blues are proving costly and there’s no doubt Taurua and her staff will be working to get her charges out of the blocks quicker this weekend.
Origin Spirit Alive In Netball
Queensland may have lost the State of Origin series in Sydney last night, but there was still plenty of state pride on display at the netball in Brisbane.
The Queensland Firebirds took on the NSW Swifts on the same day as the Origin clash and a massive home crowd turned out to support them. The atmosphere was deafening as thousands of Firebirds supporters chanted “Queenslander” in the dying minutes to cheer their girls home.
Shooting Stars Round
The Fever celebrated Shooting Stars Round in their clash with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, with both sides wearing indigenous-inspired strips to honour the occasion.
Shooting Stars Round is about supporting young indigenous girls in Western Australia’s remote communities and is an initiative of Netball WA and Glass Jar Australia.
A dress blessing ceremony was held on the Friday before the game and Verity Charles and Jhaniele Fowler are also Shooting Stars ambassadors. A Shooting Stars Leadership Camp was held across six days before the match and all of the participants were invited along to watch the Fever’s big win over Adelaide.
