IN Kim Green’s 200th game the GIANTS came out with a real fire in the belly opening a two goal lead early in the first term but they were quickly overran by the Melbourne Vixens who proved to be too strong. The Vixens put out a dominant performance with slick ball movement down the court, immense defensive pressure and accuracy under the post.

Caitlin Bassett had a hot first few minutes finding space easily in the circle and showed why she was recruited to the GIANTS with her ability to position under the post and hold space. The GIANTS applied some strong pressure in the opening term with Tegan Philip scoring the first goal of the game after Caitlin Thwaites had a shaky start. The intensity was up for both sides with hands over pressure forcing two consecutive holding the ball calls in the opening term with both star wing attacks Kim Green and Liz Watson feeling the pressure with ball in hand, unable to dish the ball off in time. Jamie-Lee Price was solid in the opening term, sticking to Watson and picking up a clever intercept in the first quarter credit to her good footwork to get around her opponent cleanly.

The second quarter saw bodies flying everywhere with veteran Green hitting the deck after a nasty collision while moments later Kristiana Manu’a took a screaming intercept but was taken out by Philip in the contest. The physicality was up and passion was flying high with both sides contesting hard to win the ball and settle first. The loss of Green in attack saw youngster Keira Austin brought on and while she worked hard across the court she was unable to impact the contest to her full potential. Goal attack, Jo Harten proved accuracy was no issue shooting four from four but her volume seemed to be a main concern, with Jo Weston and Emily Mannix confusing the space and blocking her entry into goal. Though Harten did not hit the scoreboard heavily her defensive pressure was immense using her three feet marking to cause a held ball in the second quarter and picked up four deflections by half time. Philip had an impressive quarter, leading exceptionally well and using the back space to lose her opponent and nail goal after goal.

The Vixens kick started the third with the centre pass and it was all downhill from there for the GIANTS who were unable to maintain the Vixens given their brute strength around the contest, speed and clever game play. Mannix proved to be a force to be reckoned with in defence winning a heap of the ball and doing it cleanly. She kept Bassett well held applying good body pressure and contesting for the high ball. But the GIANTS did not give in with Manu’a coming through for a big intercept and providing a spark for her side but it was all going the Vixens way. After a heavy hit in the second term, Green made her way back onto the court in centre replacing Amy Parmenter who struggled against Kate Moloney turning the ball over and unable to find space at times. Bodies continued to fly with Green going down once again, with Thwaites and Watson all joining her on the floor at different stages. In the dying seconds of the quarter Manu’a picked off another stellar intercept going at full speed and getting cleanly around her player but the Vixens chipped it around and nudged their lead out to a whopping 14 goals going into three-quarter time. Sam Poolman kept Thwaites well held for the quarter nullifying her influence at the post only nailing seven goals and working well in tandem with Manu’a.

The fourth quarter brought around some changes for the GIANTS in the defence end with Matilda McDonnell moved into goal defence pushing Manu’a back into keeper. The GIANTS started hot with Harten taking an impressive intercept off the Vixens centre pass and getting more involved in the game putting up more shots. But Watson stepped it up a gear winning a ball off their turnover with a clever tip that turned into a goal credit to her attacking play. McDonnell made her presence felt on the court picking up a clever deflection reading the flight of the ball well and tapping it to her teammates advantage. Vixens keeper, Kadie-Ann Dehaney made her way onto the court midway through the fourth and was straight into the action using her athleticism to get to the high balls and get a tip on it. Thwaites played with more freedom in the final term, while Moloney found space and used her quick hands to deliver the ball into the circle. Bassett was out worked by Dehaney and sent eruptions throughout the stadium when she turned to the umpire in the last minutes of the quarter asking for an obstruction call only for it to result in a holding the ball call. That ultimately summed up their performance with the Vixens running out 16 goal victors (61-45) and sitting undefeated at the top of the ladder.

STARTING LINE-UPS:

Melbourne Vixens

GS |Caitlin Thwaites
GA |Tegan Philip
WA |Liz Watson
C |Kate Moloney
WD |Renae Ingles
GD |Jo Weston
GK |Emily Mannix

GIANTS Netball:

GS |Caitlin Bassett
GA |Jo Harten
WA |Kim Green
C |Amy Parmenter
WD |Jamie-Lee Price
GD |Kristiana Manu’a
GK |Sam Poolman