ROUND 3 of the Suncorp Super Netball 2021 season gets underway this week. The Vixens, Magpies and Thunderbirds are the only teams heading into this round that have yet to win a game. We preview the entire round of action to come.

Collingwood Magpies vs. Adelaide Thunderbirds
Saturday, May 15 @3:00pm

Both the Magpies and the Thunderbirds are yet to have a win this season, meaning both will be wanting to change that this week. The Magpies have struggled to gain momentum so far this season, and were further disadvantaged last week with Geva Mentor and Molly Jovic sidelined with injury. Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds are building, but their slow starts are not helping them.

While the Magpies’ Ash Brazill appeared to struggle in the centre against the GIANTS last round, giving away a few easy turnovers, she looked a lot more comfortable and relaxed back in wing defence. Hopefully back in the wing this week, she will be up against Maisie Nankivell. Both have incredible endurance to run out a full game, as well as offensive and defensive skills to get the ball down the court to their respective ends. Nankivell is also working well with Thunderbirds captain Hannah Petty, so they could be a real headache for the Magpies.

Another matchup to watch out for will be between Magpies defender Jacqui Newton and Thunderbirds shooter Lenize Potgieter. Newton was a standout for the Magpies last round, topping the teams Nissan Net Point chart with 89 points. Coming in for Mentor who was out with injury, Fiona Themann was a solid contributor down back using her defensive nous to full effect and if selected again this round will be hoping to up the ante even more so. Meanwhile, Potgieter is the reliable go to for the Thunderbirds, maintaining her high shooting accuracy while remaining calm and collected in the ring. But the Thunderbirds do have options as Sam Gooden and Georgie Horjus are capable of stepping up to the plate inside the circle. 

Sunshine Coast Lightning vs. West Coast Fever
Saturday, May 15 @7:00pm

Lightning and Fever are both undefeated so far in 2021, so both teams will be wanting to keep their winning streaks alive. Having relatively unchanged lineups from the 2020 season, both of them have an advantage in the sense that they have good player awareness that teams can only get from playing together for a while, and it shows on the court.

Sunday Aryang and Courtney Bruce have been impressive so far this season for Fever, and will be putting up a challenge this week against Cara Koenen and Steph Wood. While Wood is known for her ability to set up play out the front of the ring and shoot from anywhere, young gun Aryang has a lot of stamina and speed, meaning she is able to follow her opponent around the court and quickly back into the ring.

Lightning wing defence Maddy McAuliffe has also been a standout player in the past few rounds, and will be looking to put out a similar performance this week. However, she goes up against Emma Cosh, who managed 23 goal assists from 34 feeds against the Swifts last week. This will be an interesting match up to keep an eye on for sure. There is no denying that the Lightning defensive unit in both Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni will have their work cut out for them when it comes to quelling the influence of Jamaican shooting machine, Jhaniele Fowler as the defenders will look to double-team her in the circle and attack the ball carrier. 

NSW Swifts vs. Melbourne Vixens
Sunday, May 16 @1:00pm

The Vixens may have a tough time against the Swifts this week, who are coming off a loss against Fever and will be keen to make up for it. However, the Vixens only lost to Lightning by four goals last round after being down by more than 13 goals in the third quarter. The Vixens are slowly gaining some momentum with their new lineup, but the Swifts have proven they are a strong, solid side to go up against.

The Vixens’ defensive duo of Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Jo Weston have proven to be a well oiled machine over the past few weeks, getting three intercepts and seven gains between them last round while the influence of Emily Mannix is undeniable.  However, they will be taking on Sam Wallace and Helen Housby. Wallace is a rock under the ring, and is able to shoot from anywhere, while Housby is solid out the front, setting up the play and keeping her opponents on their toes.

Swifts goal keeper Sarah Klau has appeared to be a little off her game lately, and was not as dominate as her usual self last week. This week she will go head to head with Vixens premiership winning shooter Mwai Kumwenda, who will likely give her a run for her money. While she certainly looks more comfortable under the post, Kumwenda demonstrated her long-range capabilities last round with two Super Shots, and is starting to combine well with newbie Ruby Barkemeyer.

GIANTS Netball vs. Queensland Firebirds
Sunday, May 16 @5:00pm

While the GIANTS are currently sitting comfortably on the top of the ladder, the Firebirds have really found their groove, and could give the GIANTS a run for their money this week. Both sides are highly physical and not willing to give an inch making for an intense battle as they look to claim the early ascendancy.

Sophie Dwyer proved she is up to the task of stepping into Kiera Austin’s shoes. Working in the ring with captain Jo Harten, Dwyer demonstrated her excellent vision into the ring, as well as her long-range shooting skills, putting up two Super Shots against the Magpies last week. However, both Harten and Dwyer will be put to the test in Round 3, going up against the Firebird’s solid defensive duo in Tara Hinchliffe and Kim Jenner. Hinchliffe was a particular standout for the Firebirds last week, with five intercepts and six gains while Rudi Ellis is another possibility able to come on and dominate.

Down the opposite end of the court, the versatility of the Firebirds shooting circle could be a real problem for GIANTS defenders Sam Poolman and April Brandley to overcome. While Poolman was on fire against the Magpies last week, managing eight gains and four intercepts, the changing combination of Gretel Bueta, Romelda Aiken and Tippah Dwan will put her to the test. The Firebirds have the Super Shot nailed, with Dwan sinking five from five last round in her 20 minutes on the court. Any combination of these three shooters can be on the court and the team can be confident in their abilities.