BOLSTERED by the return of Geva Mentor and Molly Jovic, Collingwood Magpies looked much more at ease against Adelaide Thunderbirds as they secured their first win of the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball season (60-56). It was an incredibly topsy-turvy encounter as neither team could settle with the lead ebbing and flowing for majority of the match as the victor was not decided until the final minute of play.

Collingwood burst out of the gates early with Shimona Nelson holding strong under the post against Jamaican counterpart Shamera Sterling. A breaking call from Maisie Nankivell on the centre pass gifted the Magpies with a chance to propel themselves into attack as the black and white opened up a handy three-goal lead. Both sides struggled to maintain possession as the ball pinballed up and down the court credit to some errant passes. But that was short lived as the Thunderbirds worked their way back into the contest as Lenize Potgieter got busy under the post. some fancy footwork from Jovic around circle edge gifted Collingwood a chance to propel forward but the Thunderbirds proved anything you can do, we can do better as they applied a wealth of pressure on Collingwood’s attack as Matilda Garrett came up with a silky intercept of her own against her former side. Thunderbirds started to really build momentum stringing together a couple of handy goals, sneaking out to a two goal lead.

Jodi-Ann Ward came to life in the dying minutes of the game, with the Jamaican international showing her aerial craft with an impressive intercept. The Magpies quick transition down court and finish allowed them to level the scores before Gabby Sinclair landed an all-important super shot to steal back the lead. The Thunderbirds however were content, to chip the ball around and play possession netball to stay within the hunt. Increased defensive pressure from the Thunderbirds forced Collingwood to play the ball around but the end result still landed in the hands of Nelson.

Despite holding momentum for majority of the term, Collingwood went into the second quarter down by a goal and worked in overdrive to make amends. But Adelaide had other plans making a few changes through the midcourt to give them that extra drive as Georgie Horjus pulled on the wing attack bib and Nankivell pushed into centre. It was a seesawing affair as the lead changed hands multiple times throughout the opening stages of the game before a held ball call gave Collingwood a chance to break with the centre pass to follow. The combination between Horjus and Potgieter was starting to come to the fore as they outfoxed both Mentor and Ward.

The battle between Kelsey Browne and Shadine van der Merwe was enthralling as neither player was willing to give an inch, almost cancelling each other out for their respective sides. With scores level the hot hand of Sinclair came to play as she sunk consecutive super shots to give Collingwood a handy three goal lead. but moments later, Horjus answered the call with a two-point shot of her own.

Adelaide immediately ate into the half-time deficit scoring two quick goals off the hand of Horjus to level the margin to 32 goals apiece. A costly turnover in Collingwood’s attack provided the T’birds with another chance to propel forward as they slotted three straight to open the term. Momentum chopped and changed throughout the contest as Collingwood once again skipped out to a goal lead despite Sterling running amuck in the defensive third with her long arms and quit footwork.

Jovic’s defensive work through the centre third was unquestionable with the Magpies midcourter upping the ante to spur her side on. Continuous skill errors kept coming back to haunt Collingwood as the Thunderbirds capitalised on the chances that came their way thanks to Gooden’s impressive accuracy from distance. Hannah Petty was not prepared to give an inch for Adelaide as she contested hard for every ball while Latanya Wilson made her way onto the court to further help spark the ladies in pink. Collingwood pushed out to a game high four goal lead before once again it was sliced down thanks to the defensive pressure of Adelaide.

With it all to play for in the final term the T’birds made a couple of changes with Elle McDonald getting the nod in wing attack as the Magpies remained unchanged. The long ranging arms of Wilson in wing defence were influential as she picked up a timely intercept. However Collingwood strung together a flurry of goals to re-establish a three goal lead. with momentum favouring the home team, coach Nicole Richardson got vocal, shouting words of encouragement from the sideline as her side closed in on their first win of the season. Garrett continued to niggle in defence providing her side with a chance to stay in touch with the Magpies as the goal for goal of play ensued once again. A sloppy final minute of play all but cost the Thunderbirds the game as a penalty was advanced against Sterling and Ash Brazill came up with a signature deflection to gift Sinclair a super shot after the siren.

Nelson proved to be a focal point for the Pies in attack finishing with 35 goals to her name at 97 per cent. Sinclair was influential notching up 12 goals and four super shots while Browne accumulated 24 goal assists. Ward was a livewire down in defence for the Pies picking up two deflections, eight gains and four intercepts while Sterling was a ball magnet for the Thunderbirds with four deflections and two intercepts to her name. Garrett plied her trade down back amassing four gains and four intercepts while Potgieter could not be contained inside the circle with 23 goals as Gooden starred thanks to her 17 goals at 68 per cent.

COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES 16 | 16 | 12 | 12 (60)
ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS 16 | 14 | 14 | 12 (56)

Collingwood:

GS: Shimona Nelson
GA: Gabby Sinclair
WA: Kelsey Browne
C: Molly Jovic
WD: Ash Brazill
GD: Jodi-Ann Ward
GK: Geva Mentor

Adelaide:

GS: Lenize Potgieter
GA: Sam Gooden
WA: Maisie Nanvikell
C: Hannah Petty
WD: Shadine van der Merwe
GD: Matilda Garrett
GK: Shamera Sterling

Picture credit: Collingwood Magpies