THE 2022 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) fixture was announced yesterday, and we took a deeper dive into each team’s fixture, and the good, and bad aspects of the 14-round draw.

>> 2022 SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL: TEAM-BY-TEAM FIXTURES

Adelaide Thunderbirds

THE GOOD:

The Thunderbirds start the season at home with four consecutive matches on their home court. They take on the Magpies, GIANTS, Lightning and Swifts in a mixed bag, stretching from March 27 through until April 13.

THE BAD:

After that home stint it means seven of the last 10 games are on the road, with consecutive road trips on three occasions and no back-to-back home matches. The road trips also do not feature same-state teams so they travel up and down the eastern seaboard, and then finish against the Fever in the final round.

Collingwood Magpies

THE GOOD:

The run home without a doubt. The Magpies only travel interstate twice in the last eight games, with a trip west to the Fever in Round 8, before remarkably having five of the last six games on their home courts. Aside from a Round 13 trip to Queensland to face the Lightning, the Magpies can get comfortable in the backend of the season.

THE BAD:

Whilst the run home might be cruisy, it means their start to the season is rough. They hit the road in six of the first nine games, with the most interesting turnaround to be between Rounds 3-5. They start against the Swifts in NSW, before duck home for the mid-week clash with the Lightning, before heading back to NSW to take on the GIANTS.

GIANTS Netball

THE GOOD:

The GIANTS have a fairly well-balanced schedule, but perhaps their fans might look to the Round 2-Round 5 four-game stint. Whilst teams no doubt fluctuate from season to season, the GIANTS play the Thunderbirds and Vixens away, before hosting the Firebirds and Magpies. They are the four sides that missed finals last year, and if the GIANTS can knock off their state-based rivals NSW Swifts in the first round, they could be setting the benchmark early.

THE BAD:

Between Rounds 9-11 the GIANTS travel across three states in eight days. They start against the Vixens at home on May 14, before ducking down to Victoria for a Wednesday night clash against the Magpies. From there, it’s a four-day gap until a road trip against the Fever in Perth, which makes for a busy week for the players.

Melbourne Vixens

THE GOOD:

From Round 3 until Round 8, the Vixens only make one road trip – to Queensland to face the Lightning in Round 5. Though they start the season on the road for the first two rounds, they take on the GIANTS, Fever, Thunderbirds, Magpies and Firebirds all at home in that time.

THE BAD:

Once the Vixens hit Round 9 – and only their second road trip since the opening fortnight – they travel interstate three times in the last six rounds, but play the top four teams from last year consecutive. First up is a back-to-back road trip to play the GIANTS and Fever, before heading home to play the Swifts and Lightning. That month will give the Vixens a good indication of where they are at.

NSW Swifts

THE GOOD:

The last month of the season is fairly promising for the Swifts, who take on three of the bottom four sides in that time. Though they play the Victorian sides back-to-back on the road in Rounds 11 and 12, they avoid heading to Perth late in he season, hosting the Fever on June 5, before clashing with the Firebirds in the final round. The first three games at home is also pretty neat.

THE BAD:

Like the GIANTS, the Swifts play in three states across eight days from Rounds 3-5. They take on the Magpies in the last of three home games to open the season, before heading to Adelaide to take on the Thunderbirds mid-week. from there, they set their sights on Perth where they clash with the Fever on April 17 in what will test them.

Queensland Firebirds

THE GOOD:

Only one interstate road trip in the first seven rounds is a dream. When that trip is to the closest state as well (New South Wales to play the GIANTS), then it is the perfect start to the year. The Birdies should be comfortable in their start to the year, taking on the Lightning in Round 2 in an away match, but aside from the GIANTS, play every other side at home in those first seven rounds.

THE BAD:

The run home is brutal, but it had to be. The Firebirds play just two games in Queensland from Round 8 onwards – again against the Lightning and GIANTS – with a back-to-back trip to Victoria, a trip west and to South Australia as well, so the Firebirds will be getting the Frequent Flyer miles up late in the season.

Sunshine Coast Lightning

THE GOOD:

Five consecutive games in Queensland from Rounds 7-11 could really set the Lightning up for Finals. Though the overall fixture is fairly balanced, the Lightning take on the GIANTS, Thunderbirds, Fever and Swifts all at home back-to-back, and then face the Firebirds just up the highway. They get the worst road trip – to Perth – out of the way in the opening round too, which is always a big plus. Remarkably, from Round 4 onwards, they do not travel outside the eastern seaboard.

THE BAD:

Realistically if there was a near-ideal fixture in a competition where everyone plays everyone twice – home and away – then the Lightning’s is pretty close to that. Two road trips to the furthest two states in the opening three weeks is tough, and they also head south to Victoria in Round 4. If they are a little rusty to open the season, then a trip to Perth is not what you want, but get through the first month and it is looking good for the Lightning.

West Coast Fever

THE GOOD:

The last five rounds setting up for finals. The Fever return from a Queensland trip in Round 9 knowing they can bunker down in Western Australia. The Green Army will have some extended time with the side, as they welcome the Vixens, GIANTS, Firebirds and Thunderbirds in that last month. They travel to New South Wales to take on the Swifts, but that is the only road trip in that time.

THE BAD:

Fever fans would have cringed at the first seven rounds of the season, particularly from Round 2 onwards. After hosting the Lightning in Round 1, the Fever have to play three consecutive away games – two in Victoria, one in Queensland – and then travel interstate back-to-back in Rounds 6-7 too. Though the run home is sweet, the Fever have to get through the first half of the season first.