AFTER being touted as premiership favourites, the Collingwood Magpies were simply overran by the GIANTS who had a point to prove at home. Though it took a while for the GIANTS to kick into gear, they stood strong and applied good pressure to run away eight goal winners (58-50).

Caitlin Bassett set the tone for the GIANTS in the opening seconds of the game with a quick goal and clever play down the court. But that quickly changed with the Magpies stepping it up a level to take control of the match. They pushed out to a four goal lead midway through the first term with Nat Medhurst taking an impressive intercept on the transverse line to further spark her side. Her impressive read of the play, ability to get rid of the ball and balance to stay on side highlighted her netball smarts however she struggled in front of goal while teammate Shimona Nelson stamped her authority on the game with 11 goals at 100 per cent in the first quarter. The GIANTS continued to push hard though reducing the margin to just one goal at quarter time credit to the work of goal keeper Sam Poolman. Poolman racked up three gains and two intercepts credit to her ability to get around the body of Nelson cleanly and use her footwork to confuse the space. Her defensive partner, Kristiana Manu’a also impressed with her ability to stop Medhurst on the attack and slow her up.

The GIANTS had a real spring in their step and goaler Jo Harten was up and about. Though her connection with Bassett was still shaky, she built herself into the game increasing her shooting percentage and load with seven goals – almost half the amount she put up last match. She did not seem impressed with her work rate and accuracy to post however, she was doing a wealth of work out the front drawing goal defence April Brandley out of the circle. Brandley still made her presence felt with her tenacity and intent to impact the play with four gains and two intercepts. Jamie-Lee Price worked tirelessly to feed the ball into the circle and create space across the court racking up eight feeds and five goal assists in the second term alone. She was closely followed by Kim Ravaillion who found good space at the top of the goal circle but the defence from the GIANTS rattled the Pies attack end with Nelson only converting eight of her 11 shots. GIANTS wing defence Amy Parmenter injected herself into the game, applying strong defensive on Collingwood speedster Kelsey Browne and getting hands to ball. She picked up a clever deflection and an intercept to really nullify the influence of Browne.

The tides had well and truly turned with the GIANTS holding a three goal lead at half time and they did not look back edging ahead throughout the quarter. They collected their second bonus point winning the quarter 17 to 12 after a dominant performance under the post with Kim Green finding Harten on the lead multiple times. The connection between Green and Basset seemed off at times with the veteran unable to deliver her pin point passes into the holding shooter at times but Bassett still impressed nailing 13 goals for the quarter. Collingwood coach Rob Wright made a host of changes bringing on Melissa Bragg to replace Brandley. Bragg tried hard but gave away plenty of height in the goal circle and was unable to impact the play. While up the other end, Medhurst made her way to the bench with goaler Gabby Sinclair moving into goal attack in the final minutes of the quarter but the Magpies could just not find a way to move forward going into three quarter time down by eight.

With the game in the balance the Magpies had no answers for the GIANTS who flexed their muscles. Their disjointed attack seemed to fire this game finding better connections and space down the court. With the win under their belt the GIANTS Kiera Austin pulled on the goal attack bib in the last term. Ash Brazill had a quiet game by her lofty standards unable to impact the contest in her usual way but still found good space in attack to drive the ball down the court. Geva Mentor lifted her intensity in the final term and did what she does best attack the hands and stay in play credit to her impressive footwork. She picked up three gains and an important deflection but it was all too late for the Pies who were unable to claim the four points.

The GIANTS outclassed the Magpies and applied strong pressure to nullify the speed and precision of the Pies who seemed out of sorts both in attack and defence.

STARTING LINE-UP:

GWS GIANTS:

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

Collingwood Magpies:

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