ROUND 4 of the Suncorp Super Netball 2021 season gets underway this weekend. The GIANTS are sitting comfortably at the top of the ladder without a loss, while the Thunderbirds and the Vixens are yet to have a win. We preview the entire round of action to come.

Collingwood Magpies vs. Queensland Firebirds
Saturday, May 22 @3:00pm

The Magpies and Firebirds are currently sitting next to each other on the ladder, both with one win and two losses this season so far. However, despite their win last week, the Magpies played a sloppy game and are struggling to find their groove, while the Firebirds are looking solid, and will likely make the Pies really work for a win.

Kelsey Browne was a key player in the Magpies win over the Thunderbirds last week, demonstrating her dynamic footwork and strong leads to the ball. She will likely take on Firebirds captain Gabi Simpson, who dominates in the Firebirds defensive line with impressive aerial leaps and fancy footwork. Simpson is joined down the defence end by Kim Jenner and Tara Hinchliffe, the defensive duo who have been working really well together as of late, and will surely make it hard for Shimona Nelson and Gabby Sinclair, who have struggled to find consistency in the first few rounds. Whilst Sinclair is not afraid to take the two-point shots, her accuracy can waiver at times.

Down the opposite end of the court, Firebird’s shooters Romelda Aiken and Gretel Bueta will be going up against Magpies captain Geva Mentor and Jodi-Ann Ward. Mentor seems a little off the boil so far in season 2021, taking a while to build into the game but is still a commanding presence for the Pies. It will be a tough time for her against Aiken, who has an impressive aerial jump, and already stands taller than Mentor. Aiken and Bueta have meshed well together this season, and while Ward certainly puts in the effort, it may be hard for her to overcome their dynamics in the ring.

Adelaide Thunderbirds vs. West Coast Fever
Saturday, May 22 @6:30pm

Despite both sitting in the bottom four, the West Coast Fever have been dominating this season and remain undefeated, while the Thunderbirds are still waiting on a win. The Fever will be looking for their first official points on the ladder this season and have shown that they are a well-oiled machine in comparison to Adelaide who are a bit hap-hazard. 

Jhaniele Fowler has been unstoppable in the ring for Fever, consistently scoring the most goals each round across all of the SSN. This week she will come up against international defender Shamera Sterling. It has been a slow start to the season for Sterling, as we have yet to see many of those incredible intercepts that she is so well known for. Still forging new connections with Matilda Garrett and Latanya Wilson down back Sterling will need a wealth of support from the pair against Fowler if they are any chance of slowing the Fever attack.  If Sterling can keep her eye on the prize, she will be a real nuisance for Fowler.

The two young guns in Georgie Horjus and Sunday Aryang will go head to head this weekend. Horjus has been demonstrating her ability to find the space in the past few games, also showing off her long-range shooting capabilities with a couple of Super Shots. It will be tough going for her against Aryang however, who has played a major role in Fever’s defence this season. While Horjus is quick and likes to be on the move, Aryang is a body-on-body player, and with her long physique is not afraid to go out and hunt for the intercept. With Aryang learning from the best, in captain Courtney Bruce, Fever’s defensive duo will likely be a headache for the Thunderbirds shooting circle.

Sunshine Coast Lightning vs. NSW Swifts
Sunday, May 23 @1:00pm

Only percentage separates the Lightning and the Swifts, with two wins and one loss a piece. Lightning are coming off a loss to Fever, and will be fighting hard to not let it happen again this week, while the Swifts had a reasonably easy win over the Vixens in Round 2 but cannot afford to become complacent.

It will be a battle of the Maddys’ in the centre court this week, with Swifts captain Maddy Proud going head to head with Lightning’s Maddy McAuliffe. Learning from the best in Laura Langman, McAuliffe is ever reliable for her team, consistently putting out top performances each week in wing defence. However, Proud has really good vision into the circle, and a great connection with Helen Housby and Sam Wallace that will be hard for McAuliffe to break.

Despite an uneventful start to the season, Swifts defenders Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner had an outstanding performance last round, but will be put to the test this week against Cara Koenen and Steph Wood. Turner will have to on the look out for Wood’s clever passages of play, particularly in her goal assist into Koenen, and ability to drive hard and fast for the ball. While Koenen did not have an outstanding performance last round, she will be looking to redeem herself against the Swifts, and show the crowd her usual shooting capabilities. This could be anyone’s game, with both sides boasting some good players and recent good stats.

Melbourne Vixens vs. GIANTS
Sunday, May 23 @3:00pm

The Melbourne Vixens are having a bit of difficulty finding the best combinations that work on the court this season with their relatively new line-up yet to gel. Meanwhile, the GIANTS are on top of their game, still maintaining their top ladder position.

A match-up to watch out for during this game will be between Diamonds teammates Jamie-Lee Price and Kate Moloney. Both are extremely competitive and extremely fit, with amazing stamina to out out everything for the entire 60 minutes. Last week saw the Vixens try some new placements, moving Moloney out of centre to wing attack and bringing Allie Smith into the centre. If we see Simone McKinnis try this out again, it could mean that Smith will be taking on Price. While Smith has a lot of go about her, Price is far more experienced, and it will likely be hard for Smith to keep up with her.

Given their line-up from last year is mostly unchanged, the GIANTS have a great understanding of each other on the court, such as the obvious connection between Price and Jo Harten. Even young gun Sophie Dwyer has proved that she combines well with Harten in the ring. Both Harten and Dwyer are versatile in that they can play either shooter or attack, meaning if its not working they can swap around and keep the defenders on their toes. In saying that, the Vixens have a pretty strong defensive trio in Jo Weston, Emily Mannix and Kadie-Ann Dehaney, who are also able to mix it up if needed to try and work out the best way to overcome their opponents. But the Vixens attacking line is not meeting expectations, and it will be hard for them to get on top of the GIANTS this weekend.

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