COLLINGWOOD Magpies have snuck their way back into the top four this week after a 13 goal win over the suffering Queensland Firebirds. Despite a second quarter bonus point and fight in the second half, the Firebirds could not compete with the Magpies who were on a mission after a disastrous effort in Round 8. The Firebirds felt a spark of hope with Romelda Aiken returning to the side for the first time since Round 4, but sat her on the bench for majority of the match to manage her workload ahead of the Netball World Cup.

It was a defensive start from both sides, generating some good pressure over the ball and cutting off movement in attack. However it was the Magpies who took the first bonus point, dominating most of the quarter credit to the timing and footwork of Geva Mentor on the last line of defence. The Firebirds may have come out hard and fast, but the side were not making the most of turnovers and were crowding around the ball all but causing a six goal run for the Magpies to take the lead. Kimiora Poi got the start for the Magpies over Kim Ravaillion, showcasing her ability to find the circle edge and working well with Kelsey Browne who despite the pressure from Gabi Simpson managed to find some good space through the centre passage of the court. The battle between Browne and Simpson was an intriguing one, with both players putting on a strong performance to all but cancel the other out. While Simpson finished with three intercepts and zero turnovers, Browne ran out the game with 18 goal assists from 29 feeds and three pickups.

Collingwood’s Nat Medhurst proved she was going to have a big one from the get-go, slotting her first from a distance with Firebirds defenders, Kim Jenner and Tara Hinchliffe focusing a lot of their efforts on Medhurst’s counterpart in Shimona Nelson. Nelson and Medhurst put up one of their best combined efforts for the season, with Medhurst finishing with 18 goals at 100 per cent to be named player of the match, profiting well off the messiness and penalties of Jenner and Hinchliffe. Medhurst did a wealth of work out the front with 31 assists, not only putting shots up but also using her silky ball movement to feed Nelson who had a field day at the post with 45 goals from 50 attempts. Jenner and Hinchliffe put in a solid effort to cause issues in the circle, but were unable to stop Medhurst who was on a roll, finishing with a combined seven gains and two intercepts.

The second quarter saw the Firebirds come out on top, bringing on Aiken as an impact player in at goal keeper for the final minutes of the quarter to win their only bonus point of the match. Erin Burger replaced Jemma Mi Mi in centre and was quick to make an impact, showcasing her connection with fellow South African, Lenize Potgieter in goal shooter. Burger was solid against Poi, putting in the hard yards over every ball and taking over the brunt of the feeding with speedy wing attack, Caitlyn Nevins well and truly shut down by Ash Brazill. Burger’s 21 assists from 35 feeds made her the dominant feeder while Nevins generated only eight goal assists from her 19 feeds. Brazill finished with two gains and a goal assist in a quiet day at the office, proving she can be the smothering wing defence required when lacking her usual flair.

The third quarter saw both sides wrestle for dominance as the Firebirds came to within a goal, before the Magpies pulled out all the stops to ensure they got the win. While the Magpies were risky with their feeds, often forcing it in and causing turnovers, the Firebirds were almost too patient and unwilling to let the ball go, causing issues across the board and unable to treasure the ball to get it back. While Mentor worked overtime defensively for the Magpies, her fellow circle defender in April Brandley seemed to be missing in action against her Australian Diamonds teammate, Gretel Tippett. Mentor’s hands over pressure put Potgieter off her game, shooting well below her usual accuracy at 80 per cent while Tippett seemed to resort to her old ways, unwilling to post shots with 19 goals from 22 attempts, well below her regular volume.

The final quarter saw the Magpies steal the final bonus point and well and truly buckle down for a solid win before the break. Ravaillion took the court with 10 minutes left in the game along with Aiken, who slotted back into goal shooter and opened up Tippett to her regular confidence and flair around the circle. However it was too little too late, with the Firebirds well and truly beat.

STARTING LINE-UP:

Collingwood Magpies:

GS | Shimona Nelson
GA | Nat Medhurst
WA | Kelsey Browne
C | Kimiora Poi
WD | Ash Brazill
GD | April Brandley
GK | Geva Mentor

Queensland Firebirds:

GS | Lenize Potgieter
GA | Gretel Tippett
WA | Caitlyn Nevins
C | Jemma Mi Mi
WD | Gabi Simpson
GD | Kim Jenner
GK | Tara Hinchliffe