Melbourne Vixens ruin Giants star Kim Green’s milestone match
Former Australian midcourter Kim Green played her 200th elite netball game on Sunday but there was little reason for celebration as the Giants suffered their biggest ever defeat to the Melbourne Vixens.
Women's sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women's sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Super Netball guide: teams, fixture, history
- Heartbreak behind this netball masterclass
- Maria Folau tipped to fly high in Super Netball
Former Australian midcourter Kim Green played her 200th elite netball game on Sunday but there was little reason for celebration as the Giants suffered their biggest ever defeat to the Melbourne Vixens.
The Giants, a team that has never previously finished outside the top three in Super Netball, are now winless after two games of the 2019 season following the 61-45 loss.
SWIFTS SOAR: Folau hit court, Swifts hit new heights
BENCHIE’S DREAM: Sophie’s goal to make the cut
The Giants only previous loss to the Vixens before Sunday’s game in Melbourne was a 59-51 defeat back in 2017.
Green said she expected the Giants, who lost three senior
players in the off-season, to take time to adjust but was still unhappy with the game and the result.
MILESTONE: Kim Green’s extraordinary career
GIANT LOSS: Vixens spoil legend’s party
“It’s not worrying big picture,” she said.
“But we are really disappointed in the way we played.
“But there is a long way to go in this season. I know these girls individually, I know them as a team and we will bounce back.”
The best news for the Giants out of the game was the return to form of new recruit and Diamonds captain Cailtin Bassett.
Bassett nailed 35 from her 39 attempts at 90 per cent.
Bassett is coming back after 10 weeks out of the game after fracturing her forearm playing for Australia in January.
Bassett’s Giants teammate, England shooter Jo Harten, scored 10 from 11.
AUSSIE SKIPPER: Armed and dangerous for Super Netball
FEAR FACTOR: Swifts early season goal
Vixen and fellow Diamond Caitlin Thwaites scored 30 from 35 and her circle partner Tegan Philip 31 from 38.
The Giants were on the backfoot from the start of the game and trailed 20-31 at halftime.
The Sydney side lost every quarter of the game, outplayed 16-10, 14-11, 15-10 and 16-14.
This followed on from the Giants winning just one period in their seven goal loss to the Swifts a week ago.
“We just made silly errors. Out attacking area still doesn’t have the discipline to do what it has to do,” Green said.
“We are still working on combinations.”