WITH the grand final to play for the battle between the GIANTS and West Coast Fever is set to be a nail-biter. With thrilling match-ups across the court Draft Central delves into one particular contest that could have a huge sway on how the game goes with Amy Parmenter and Verity Charles set to fight it out.

GIANTS Netball vs. West Coast Fever
Amy Parmenter (WD) vs. Verity Charles (WA)

Two players that are in sublime form are set to go head to head in the preliminary final clash between the GIANTS and Fever. Parmenter has developed her craft since breaking onto the SSN scene while Charles has looked reinvigorated resorting back to the wing attack position this season.

Parmenter has had another breakout season for the GIANTS with her ability to close down the space and attack the ball a couple of key features. She is not afraid to put her body on the line with her tenacity and vision enabling her to pull off huge intercepts. The wing defence is incredibly elusive and can pop up out of nowhere. Not only is she a commanding figure in defence but so too in transition with her ability to bring the ball down the court with great conviction. Parmenter is able to spring into action and does not need a lot of space to have an impact doing some of her best work around circle edge with her elevation and ability to cause deflections aplenty coming to the fore. Her connection with Jamie-Lee Price around circle edge and both April Brandley and Sam Poolman in the circle enables the GIANTS to build pressure and create headaches in defence credit to their three foot-marking. Parmenter does not give her opponent an inch of space, riding them every step of the way and placing them under pressure to create doubt and most importantly pounce on any loose ball that comes their way.

Charles has spent more time at home in wing attack this season and has not skipped a beat with her court craft and experience allowing her to dictate the flow in attack. She is equipped with a wealth of tricks and is not afraid to whip them out whenever she deems necessary. One thing is for sure and that is Charles does not need a lot of time nor space to deliver pinpoint accurate passes into shooting machine, Jhaniele Fowler. their connection is just about unstoppable, with Charles able to pull the trigger from both circle edge or the centre third and hit Fowler under the ring. The wing attack has shown time and time again her ability to carefully and tactfully work her way to the top of the circle and often commands the centre channel with her strength and hustle. But Charles is also just as capable from in the pocket with her vision and high looping passes weighted to perfection. Charles is a machine and often carries the load in attack with her second phase play paramount to the Fever’s success while her work with Jess Anstiss, Alice Teague-Neeld and Sasha Glasgow is also impressive as she is able to balance everything out in attack.

The battle of the big guns will come down to which player is able to play their own game and receive support from their teammates. If Charles is able to run freely and create space then it will be hard to stop the Fever from posting a dominant total. Conversely, if Parmenter is able to nullify Charles’ influence and shut down her drives and vision into the circle it will give the GIANTS the upper hand.

Photo credit: GIANTS Twitter