ROUND 6 of the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season gets underway this weekend, with the GIANTS still looking comfortable with their top spot position. The Adelaide Thunderbirds are now the only team yet to find a win, while Fever are creeping higher and higher up the ladder despite their negative point start. We preview the entire round of action to come.

Collingwood Magpies vs. West Coast Fever
Saturday, June 5 @3:00pm

Fever remain undefeated after getting over the top of the GIANTS in the dying seconds of last round’s game. Unfortunately the Magpies could not keep their winning streak alive against the Swifts, so will be looking to get back into that winning pattern this week, but it will be a hard fought battle.

Jhaniele Fowler continues to dominate in the ring for Fever, again putting up the most shots of the round last week. She will go head to head with seasoned defender Geva Mentor, who will fight hard to get on top of her. The internationally renowned pair are a similar height, with only a couple of centimetres difference between them, which may be an advantage for Mentor in trying to block the lob pass over the head of the defenders – a pass which Verity Charles is very skilled at executing. Taking on Charles will be Ash Brazill, who also had an extraordinary game last week with her athleticism and hunt for the ball shining through.

Fever’s defensive duo in Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang have also been on top of their game, and they will certainly put pressure on Shimona Nelson and Gabby Sinclair. While Sinclair is not afraid to take a risk and put up the two pointers if needed, her accuracy has not been all that high, and often struggles for the rebound given her height. Conversely, Nelson prefers to shoot from closer to the ring and will have to be on her a-game for the Pies. Bruce and Aryang will be looking to keep the shooters as far from the post as possible to try and force errors, while Nelson and Sinclair will be looking for the sneaky drives and clever passes delivered from Brazil and Kelsey Browne.

Melbourne Vixens vs. Adelaide Thunderbirds
Saturday, June 5 @7:00pm

With a win finally under their belts, the Vixens will be looking to keep the momentum up this week against the Thunderbirds. The Adelaide team are looking in good shape now as well despite not having a win, going down to Lighting in Round 5 by just one goal. The game was originally set to be played at John Caine Arena in Melbourne, but with the COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions extending into next week the game has been moved to USC on the Sunshine Coast, where the teams were based in the hub in 2020.

In one of the best debut’s SSN has ever seen, Vixen’s training partner Rahni Samason took the game by storm last round. Being brought in as a replacement player for Emily Mannix who is out with a knuckle injury, the 23-year-old shooter put up eight super shots, one of those after the buzzer to win the game for the Vixens. With Mannix still out this week, Samason will remain on the team list, going up in Round 6 against renowned Thunderbirds defender, Shamera Sterling. Sterling put out an outstanding performance against the Lightning last week, racking up seven gains, four intercepts and a massive 11 deflections. Sterling will have to be on her game and not drop her head against Samason, who proved last week she is a versatile, agile player, and has the ability to shoot from anywhere in the ring.

Both Maisie Nankivell and Hannah Petty have been consistent figures in the attack end for the Thunderbirds, doing their best to get the ball down the court and into the shooters. They will go up against Kate Eddy and Kate Moloney in centre and wing defence. While Eddy is a bit of a quiet achiever, Moloney is everywhere on the court, and her versatility to switch from attacking to defensive mode is a real asset. Either way, it will be a really battle to see unfold on the court.

GIANTS vs. NSW Swifts
Sunday, June 6 @1:00pm

In the NSW derby, the GIANTS will be out for vengeance after going down to Fever by one goal last round, while the Swifts got the confidence booster they needed, defeating the Magpies. The GIANTS have also been in the spotlight this week after captain Jo Harten shared some abusive messages she received after their loss to Fever, reminding everyone that at the end of the day, athletes are just normal human beings.

It will be interesting to see the two Australian Diamonds midcourters in Jamie-Lee Price and Paige Hadley go head to head in the centre this round. Both are incredibly fit and fast players, with neither afraid to get physical. Hadley has a really good connection with Sam Wallace and Helen Housby in the ring, able to thread the needle time and time again. Wallace and Housby will have to get around the defence of Sam Poolman and Kristiana Manu’a, who have a solid relationship in the circle while April Brandley will be set to return the court after missing last week’s clash.

Swifts defenders Maddy Turner and Sarah Klau have also found their groove after a somewhat slow start to the season. Klau in particular put out a stellar performance last week, racking up nine gains, six intercepts and seven deflections. However, Sophie Dwyer and Harten have shown their amazing understanding on the court, and are happy to change up their positions to keep their defenders on their toes. With only one spot seriating the two teams on the SSN ladder, it will certainly be an interesting game to watch unfold.

Sunshine Coast Lightning vs. Queensland Firebirds
Sunday, June 6 @3:00pm

With two somewhat unexpected losses in a row, the Firebirds will be anxious to get the win this week against the Lightning who have been in good knick so far. It will be be an uphill challenge, with Lightning on the top of their game sitting in second position on the ladder currently and the Firebirds unable to find that level of consistency for a full four quarters. 

The Firebirds shooting circle of Romelda Aiken, Gretel Bueta and Tippah Dwan is a strong unit, with all three of them able to shoot from anywhere in the ring, and have the versatility to change up their positions if needed. They will be coming up against the defensive duo of Phumza Maweni and Karla Pretorius. Between them, they are very clever players, and work together like a well oiled machine in the ring to keep the shooters at bay and win back their fair share of ball to reduce the impact of the shooters.

Down the opposite end of the court, Firebirds defenders Tara Hinchliffe and Kim Jenner have also been putting out good performances, but will have to be really on top of their game this round to overcome the smarts of Steph Wood and Cara Koenen. Despite often being one of the shortest in the ring, Wood’s crafty passes and clever placement makes up for what she lacks in height, and she combines beautifully with Koenan. The pair are also able to change it up between goal shooter and goal attack, another thing to keep the defenders guessing. Lightning also have Peace Proscovia on the bench ready to come on at any time, which just adds to their string attacking line.

Photo credit: GIANTS Netball