NSW Swifts will play host to Queensland Firebirds on Saturday when the two sides kick off proceedings for Suncorp Super Netball Round 8. The midcourt battle will once again be centre stage with a couple of Diamonds representative –  both former and present – going head-to-head, featuring Maddy Proud and Kim Ravaillion.

NSW Swifts vs. Queensland Firebirds
Maddy Proud (C) vs. Kim Ravaillion (C)

It is going to be a cracking battle in the midcourt with two hard noses in Ravaillion and Proud lining up against one-another. The two centres have completely different playing styles but one thing they share is their high level of endurance and two-way running capacity.

Looking at Ravaillion and it is hard to believe that she is returning after giving birth to her daughter early last year. Since re-joining the Firebirds she has been a pillar of consistency with her connection between Romelda Aiken and Gretel Bueta unstoppable. Ravaillion oozes nothing but confidence and class delivering pinpoint precision passes into the circle time and time again. she is a smooth mover that reads the play exceptionally well and while she is not the fastest player out on court does use her bursts of speed to break away from the play and go screaming down the court. More of a defensive-minded centre, Ravaillion is renowned for her ability to build pressure and grind down her opponent by clogging up the space. She plays a real dogged style of defence covering her opponent’s every move and combining nicely with Firebirds captain Gabi Simspon to rotate the strike around circle edge. She is never out of the contest using her three-foot marking to create tips and deflections while her fancy footwork and leap also enable her to win ball back for Queensland.

Proud is a lynchpin in attack for the Swifts with her drive to the top of the circle critical. She is a real energiser bunny, able to spark the Swifts frontend with her 1-2 play around circle edge and vision into the shooters. Her connection with Sam Wallace is unstoppable when on song, happy to release the ball from distance while her partnership with Helen Housby is also exciting to watch as the two are able to utilise their speed to carve up the attacking third. Proud is often the main ball carrier for the Swifts receiving every second pass to weave her magic down the court and use her timing to open up space. She is a much more attacking-minded centre, however can get down to business in defence with her closing speed and hunger to win ball back for her side, wiling to hit the floor to get the ball. Her transitional play is another key cog in her game play able to bring the ball down the court in a heartbeat. Proud will need a wealth of support from her fellow midcourters in Paige Hadley and Nat Haythornthwaite for her to have a real impact and balance the circle with her triangle play.

If Ravaillion is able to take away Proud’s space nice and early it will force the Swifts midcourter to throw the ball around and put her under pressure. She can occasionally be known for her fast-paced nature which leads to her throwing away ball and with Ravaillion riding her every step of the way, the Firebirds could get the upper hand. They will be matched for endurance and strength meaning it will come down to which player is able to think their way through the constant niggle and pressure for their respective side, with Proud’s willingness to contest sure to give her the upper hand.

Photo credit: SSN