ROUND 7 and 8 of the Suncorp Super Netball saw plenty of close contests showcasing just how tight the competition is in 2020 while it also highlighted an interesting trend in the way teams are now approaching the super shot and confirmed some premiership favourites.

Melbourne Vixens firm as premiership contenders
Back-to-back wins in Round 7 and 8 saw the Vixens clinch top spot on the ladder and prove why they are considered premiership favourites. It was not only the fact they won, but the way in which they did it that showcased their development, proving they know how to win ugly and ride through the ups and downs of a game. They defeated the reigning premiers, NSW Swifts in Round 8 which was a testament to their increased versatility across the court and strong connections as the likes of the Mwai Kumwenda inflicted a wealth of scoreboard pressure. Liz Watson is arguably in career best form and is a clear barometer for the side while Kate Moloney is equally as important with her gut running. Their strength also lies in defence with Kate Eddy able to swing into goal defence to give Jo Weston a chop out in wing defence.

Fever reach new heights in the goal circle
West Coast Fever came out and stunned two-time premiers Sunshine Coast Lightning in Round 8 completely and utterly blowing them out of the water by half-time. In the first two quarters alone, the Fever piled on 20 and 24 goals respectively to take their total to 44 goals compared to their opponents 25 in what was a dominant performance. Jhaniele Fowler had the ball on a string throughout the game and while she sat out most of the final quarter, her influence was undeniable posting a ridiculous 57 goals from 59 attempts at 97 per cent efficiency. Alice Teague-Neeld also came into her own with the goal attack managing 10 goals but it was her work out the front that paved the way for Fowler’s dominance under the post with 21 goal assists.

Reduced number of super shots
The novelty of the super shot seems to have worn off for many of the teams throughout the Super Netball, with the amount of players willing to back themselves from range rapidly decreasing from the start of the season. In Round 1 the eight sides put up a collective 113 super shot attempts, however in Round 8 they combined for 68 highlighting the change in tactics from many teams. The Melbourne Vixens and NSW Swifts have steered away from the two-goal shot and that was evident in their Round 8 clash as the two sides only a collective nine attempts. Despite having a plethora of long bomb shooters in Helen Housby for the Swifts and Tegan Philip and Caitlin Thwaites for the Vixens, the top two sides have opted to stick to the one-goal shot.

Goal keeper master class
Both Round 7 and 8 were dictated by the goal keepers as the likes of Geva Mentor and Shamera Sterling got busy for their respective sides. Mentor has been the mainstay for the Pies in what has been a challenging season for the black and whites. However that has not stopped the goal keeper from racking up the deflections and intercepts. Sterling continued to be a menace in the air amassing seven intercepts and 14 deflections across the two games while Queensland Firebirds keeper Tara Hinchliffe was a wall in defence and even won player of the match honours in Round 8 for her stellar performance that saw her finish with four gains, eight deflections and two rebounds. West Coast Fever goal keeper Courtney Bruce is also not to be forgotten racking up the stats in what was a couple of impressive rounds by the defenders.

Collingwood continues to languish at the bottom of the ladder
Without a host of their key players from season 2020, the Magpies have struggled in the 2020 season so far, unable to put out a consistent four quarter performance. Donning new connections across the court it is fair to say the links are missing for Collingwood able to move the ball with much conviction despite the best efforts of speedsters Madi and Kelsey Browne. The fresh faces inject plenty of energy into the side however Collingwood seem to lack that finesse across the court, often throwing away a lot of ball with a combined 49 turnovers in Round 7 and 8.  Mentor has been solid down back while Jodi-Ann Ward has had moments of magic but the attack end seems to be missing a link as Shimona Nelson and Gabby Sinclair are struggling to hit the scoreboard in a big way.