ROUND 5 of the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball season gets underway this weekend over a three-day playing period. The GIANTS still maintain their top spot position, while the Thunderbirds and Vixens are still looking to get some points on the board. We preview the entire round of action to come.

Queensland Firebirds vs. Melbourne Vixens
Saturday, May 29 @3:00pm

The Vixens are still yet to find a win the in 2021 season. With an unfolding COVID-19 crisis in Melbourne, the reigning premiers have boarded a plane for Brisbane two days earlier than expected, and will be hoping things do not escalate to put their future games in jeopardy. The Firebirds are coming off an unexpected loss against the Magpies in Tasmania last round, dropping them into the bottom half of the ladder. Each team really needs this win, and will be fighting hard to get it.

The Vixen’s shooting trio of Mwai Kumwenda, Kaylia Stanton and Ruby Barkmeyer have struggled to find their rhythm over the last few rounds, and will but put to the test by the Firebirds defensive trio in Kim Jenner, Tara Hinchliffe and Rudi Ellis. While Jenner and Hinchliffe have proven they are a well-oiled machine, Ellis came on last week against the Magpies and proved she was in the running too, with two intercepts and two gains in her 14 minutes on the court. This versatility to be able to change things up when needed is a great asset to the Firebirds side.

Returning to SSN this year after giving birth, Kim Ravaillion has been putting out solid performances consistently so far in 2021, but will come up against Vixen’s co-captain Kate Moloney in Round 5. Both are incredibly fit and have the endurance to see out a full 60 minutes of the game at full pace in the centre bib, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. Looking at the Firebirds attacking unit and it is fair to say they are a triple threat with Gretel Bueta, Romelda Aiken and Tippah Dwan all highly potent goalers but will need to be on their a-game against the likes of Jo Weston, Emily Mannix and Kadie-Ann Dehaney. 

Adelaide Thunderbirds vs. Sunshine Coast Lightning
Sunday, May 30 @12:30pm

Knocking the Swifts down to third place on the ladder, Lightning are in good form after their close win last week. Despite having a strong start against Fever last week, the Thunderbirds are still trying to get a win on the board. Going up against the second placed team in Lightning might be an uphill battle for them in Round 5.

Thunderbirds midcourter Maisie Nankivell put out a stellar performance in Round 4 against Fever, leading the stats for the most amount of feeds and goal assists, and was able to demonstrate her adaptability to be able to switch from defence to attack. She will go head to head with Lightning’s Laura Scherian, who is known for her quick drives and amazing ability to end up with the ball despite often being one of the shortest in the contests.

Despite having a slower start to the season than usual, Lightning’s defensive duo in Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni were on fire last week, racking up a total of eight intercepts and 13 gains between them. The pair will be looking to keep up their good momentum this round, matching up with Georgie Horjus and Lenize Potgieter. Young gun Horjus is known for her long shots, and is not afraid to shoot for the two pointers if needed, whereas Potgieter is more inclined to hang back in the ring and let the ball come to her. They will need to work hard to keep on top of Maweni and Pretorius.

NSW Swifts vs. Collingwood Magpies
Sunday, May 30 @3:00pm

The Magpies are currently on a roll that they will want to keep on, with two wins in a row after coming out on top against the Firebirds in Tasmania last round. The Swifts, however, will be eager to redeem themselves after going down to the Lightning and losing their second place ladder spot, with captain Maddy Proud having to sit the game out with an injury.

The Pies attacking mid court in Ash Brazill and Kelsey Browne were on fire last week, and will go head to head with Paige Hadley and Lauren Moore in Round 5. Both Hadley and Brazill are known for their endurance and quick spurts of energy, while Browne’s ability to find the edge of the circle is something Moore will have to work hard at to divert.

Having a few years experience of playing together now, Swifts shooters Helen Housby and Sam Wallace are a solid unit, knowing each other’s game very well in order to perfectly place passes to each other. As one of the most accurate shooters so far this season, Wallace is strong under the post, but also flaunts her long-range skills from time to time. However, coming up against Jodi-Ann Ward and Geva Mentor might be a bit of a challenge for the pair. Despite being at opposite ends of their careers, both Mentor and Ward have a high netball IQ, able to read they play to get those tricky intercepts. Their height in the ring also makes them a bit of a threat.

West Coast Fever vs. GIANTS
Monday, May 31 @6:00pm

It will be a battle of the undefeated teams in this match with both the GIANTS and Fever looking to keep their winning streaks alive. While they are both on the same amount of wins, the GIANTS are sitting comfortably at the top of the ladder, while Fever are still in the bottom four after starting the season on negative 12 points due to historical salary cap breaches. So in some ways, it is more important for Fever to come out on top in their quest to make finals this season.

The GIANTS new shooting combo of Jo Harten and Sophie Dwyer seems to be working for them, with the pair both having an incredible eye to be able to shoot from anywhere is the ring, and the versatility to change their positions if something is not working. They will be going head to head with Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang, who have also been performing well together. Bruce likes to play close to the circle, often blocking the drive in from the shooters, while Harten and Dwyer’s versatility means they both are not afraid to come out and create space, which could come back to bite them.

Down the opposite end of the court, Fever’s Jhaniele Fowler continues to be a powerhouse under the ring, consistently putting up big numbers each week and failing to let her opponents get on top of her. Moving to Fever from the Thunderbirds this year, goal attack Sasha Glasgow has appeared to have meshed with the team really well, in particular with Fowler, to create a dominant attack for the side. They will be faced with GIANTS defenders Sam Poolman and April Brandley, who have an ever moving style of play to keep the shooters on their toes.

Photo credit: West Coast Fever