2021 SSN fixture confirmed with blockbuster Round 1 set
THE 2021 Suncorp Super Netball fixture has dropped, with the new season beginning on May 1, including 14 rounds and three weeks of finals commencing on August 14. The 2021 grand final will play out on August 29, with the fixture flexible and subject to change pending COVID-19 border restrictions. Unlike last season, there will no longer be multiple matches played per week, allowing better recovery time for athletes with weekly fixtures returning.
Whilst last season saw the entire fixture – bar a few matches here and there – played out in Queensland, fans will be happy to see a full return to Australia-wide matches, with a huge Melbourne double-header opening the season and a grand final rematch between the Melbourne Vixens and West Coast Fever setting off the day with a bang.
The first round includes plenty of huge matchups, with the 2020 cellar dwellers Collingwood hosting Sunshine Coast Lightning in the second Saturday match, whilst Sunday’s roster includes a Queensland Firebirds versus NSW Swifts matchup with both sides raring to go following competitive seasons last year, before Round 1 is complete with a massive encounter between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and GIANTS which could realistically go either way.
In an interesting fixture quirk, two matches play on a Monday, with a Fever-GIANTS matchup on the evening of Monday, May 31, whilst the ongoing Queens Birthday match between Collingwood Magpies and Melbourne Vixens is the other Monday outing on June 14, with the public holiday matchup played at 12pm to close Round 7.
The split Round 8 sees the beginning of reverse matchups, as the second encounters with sides are complete in the same order as the first rounds. Other notable rounds include the Sydney and Queensland derbies on June 6, with the second dual-Sydney battle on July 25, and the second Queensland battle on July 31.
Round 1
Saturday, May 1
3:00pm Melbourne Vixens v. West Coast Fever
7:00pm Collingwood Magpies v. Sunshine Coast Lightning
Sunday, May 2
1:00pm Queensland Firebirds v. NSW Swifts
2:30pm Adelaide Thunderbirds v. GIANTS Netball
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