THE full 2020 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) fixture has been announced, with a new structure set for the biggest season yet after a disrupted 2019.

The season will commence on May 2 with the final round of the home and away season spread across three days on August 7-9. The season will consist of 14 rounds and three weeks of finals, with a newly created split round in Round 8 to enable a much-needed mid-season June bye for each team.

There are two themed rounds during the season, with Indigenous Round in Round 5 and Confident Girls Round in Round 9, while the Queens Birthday public holiday clash between Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies returns for a second year.

Round 1 sees a grand final rematch between NSW Swifts and Sunshine Coast Lightning, with the reverse fixture setting up a massive finals series with the two sides not facing each other again until the final round of the season.

With three states hosting two teams, there are a number of big clashes between rivals with Sydney derby’s in Rounds 6 and 12, while Queensland derby’s take place in Rounds 4 and 9. As for the Melbourne clashes, the rival clubs will play in Rounds 6 and 14.

In an interesting development, Melbourne Sports Centre – until now known as the State Netball Centre – will see the Magpies host the reigning premiers, Swifts in Round 2, a venue that for many is known as the Melbourne Vixens’ home court. While Queensland Firebirds’ home venue has been renamed Nissan Arena, they do not have any further changes to their typical home court.

Sydney’s Quay Centre will not see any SSN matches next season, with all Sydney matches – for both GIANTS Netball and NSW Swifts – taking place at Ken Rosewall Arena. Perth’s RAC Arena is listed on the fixture but unconfirmed at time of publish, with all West Coast Fever home games likely to play there.

Two matches will be played by clubs in their feeder states, with Collingwood Magpies hosting a match in Launceston, Tasmania in Round 4 against GIANTS Netball, while the GIANTS will then go on to host a match at AIS Arena in Canberra against Queensland Firebirds in Round 5.

With so many big matches heading up the 2020 season, we take a look at some the Super Netball teams’ individual fixtures.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds have a real mix early in the 2020 season, playing two of their first five matches at home but ultimately their strongest foes early the two Victorian teams based on their 2019 performances. Though back to back matches against last year’s premiership sides may throw a spanner in the works, they should have a relatively solid run through the middle of the season before taking on Vixens, Lightning and Swifts in three of their last five rounds.

For the Collingwood Magpies, Round 1 will set up their season with the hope they can continue their solid 2019 end of season form against the West Coast Fever. Matches against the Swifts and Lightning in Rounds 2 and 5 will challenge the Magpies, while four away matches in the final five rounds could throw a real spanner in the works.

GIANTS Netball have an interesting start to the season, with two away matches before they host their first home match of the season in Round 3. Though they ultimately play three of last season’s lower sides to open their 2020 campaign, the GIANTS only have two home matches in the first five rounds of the season and will take on NSW Swifts and Sunshine Coast Lightning in Rounds 12 and 13, making for a tough run home.

Melbourne Vixens have one of the most unpredictable fixtures, which makes sense given the side in recent years has had a mix of consistency. While the Vixens are fortunate in that they won’t face last year’s finals sides consecutively, they only have two home matches in the final five rounds making for a very interesting finish to the season, with a final round battle against the Magpies similar to the 2019 season.

For the NSW Swifts, Rounds 1 and 14 are set to be the big ones against Sunshine Coast Lightning but aside from those matches and the annual Sargeant-McKinnis Cup matches against the Melbourne Vixens in Rounds 5 and 11, the Swifts have one of the more settled fixtures next season. With a good mix of consecutive home and away matches, they should have a solid run in 2020.

Queensland Firebirds have a relatively easy fixture given they finished towards the bottom of the ladder, with matches against 2019’s higher teams predominantly throughout the middle of the season and hosting three of their last five matches. The Firebirds will likely travel the most compared to other sides, not playing back-to-back home matches until Rounds 12 and 13.

Sunshine Coast Lightning have a very interesting start to the season, traveling for a Grand Final rematch in Round 1 before going down to Melbourne to face the Vixens in Round 2 – a fellow finals side from last season. Lightning are fortunate to have two home matches in a row to finish their season, facing both NSW-based sides to finish off the season.

Similar to the Firebirds, West Coast Fever have one of the easier fixtures, playing last season’s grand finalists back to back in both their home and away fixtures, but will have a relatively easy start and end to the season. The side is at their best at home in Perth, and with some consistency and back-to-back home matches they should be able to string along some good wins while they’re at it.

For the full 2020 SSN fixture, head to the Suncorp Super Netball website.