ROUND 5 is set to showcase some enticing Suncorp Super Netball clashes, with one between West Coast Fever and GIANTS Netball standing out with four wins apiece. The two sides have no issue finding hands to ball and have proved high-scoring, as an exciting matchup looms between a couple of young up and coming talents in Fever’s Sunday Aryang and GIANTS’ Sophie Dwyer.

West Coast Fever vs. GIANTS Netball
Sunday Aryang (GD) vs. Sophie Dwyer (GA)

When it comes to young developing talent that has come up through the Australian pathways, there is no going past versatile and dynamic Fever defender Aryang, while GIANTS goaler Dwyer has not skipped a beat since entering the competition this season for injured goaler Kiera Austin. Both have not had any issues since stepping up to the big league, in fact starring for their respective teams at time with their composure and smarts.

Aryang set the court alight in her SSN appearances last year, and has not taken a backwards step since then with her agility, strength and ball-hunting ability on full show once more. There are little defenders who have had quite as much of an impact upon entering the competition and clearly her time as a training partner with the side last year paid off with the youngster able to develop her craft learning off the tenacious skills of Courtney Bruce and Stacey Francis. Her ability to provide not only a reliable shutdown option in defence but also have an impact in short spurts allows her to adjust to whichever role the Fever require on court, with her ball-hunting ability on full show. Boasting plenty of attacking tendencies that set her apart from a typical shutdown defender, Aryang has no issue transitioning down court and showcases her flair to continuously do so. Her read of the play is impressive for such a young talent, while her work rate takes the pressure off goal keeper Bruce to allow the Fever captain to step up to her full capacity too. Aryang’s consistent application of pressure allows players to step up around her, while her anticipation and read of the play are immense and still growing – something opposition sides should be both excited and scared about in the future. Aryang has picked up 11 deflections, five intercepts and five rebounds across her first four rounds of action, also proving clean with ball in had with zero general play turnovers to her name.

For Dwyer, it has been a different trip to the top level but she has had no issue transitioning from being a training partner last year to taking the starting goal attack position week by week this season. The young goal attack has that natural flair and ability to take the game on, while her speed and cleanliness allow her to impact whether she is on the feed or on the receiving end of the pass. The young gun is rarely overawed by the contest and takes control in her role, testing her opposition and utilising her evasiveness and excellent footwork to wreak havoc in the attack end. Looking into the goal circle, and her work ethic to effectively rotate and adjust per the positioning of her fellow attackers in international Jo Harten and wing Maddie Hay is impressive given her inexperience at the top level. Dwyer rarely skips a beat to post, unfazed by the attention she continuously receives, and does not allow missed shots – however little they are – to get in her head, instead adjusting and working her way back into the game to have a continuous impact. With a great drive and intent to both receive the ball and win it back after a turnover, Dwyer’s willingness to go, go, go sets her apart and proves she is more than capable of plying her trade at SSN level, regardless of the pathway she took to get there. Dwyer has averaged 24 goals per game this season at a 76 per cent accuracy, and has proved more than capable from range with 12 super shots to her name from her four outings, while she is also willing to back herself up with five offensive rebounds.

The two young talents should provide a massive battle, with neither willing to stand down from a contest and more than capable of testing themselves against one another. With competitive tendencies and plenty of drive to continue improving, the two shape up fairly even, making this battle crucial in the scheme of this game between two undefeated sides. Expect Aryang’s hunt to come to the fore, as she looks to apply strong hands over the ball, while Dwyer will look to work hard both inside and outside the circle to shake off Aryang’s tag and ply her trade as per usual.

Picture credit: AAP