Super netball 2022: Giants season review
Giants players and fans will never forget the heartbreaking end to their 2022 season. It was cruel. But will it be a driving force for a title in 2023?
Collingwood Magpies
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An extra two seconds of game time could have landed the Giants in another grand final with Sophie Dwyer’s spectacular supershop coming seconds after the final buzzer – instead the NSW team bowed out in the preliminary final, losing to Vixens 54-55.
Giants did well to earn a spot in the final after a shaky start with just one win in the first four games.
They recovered well, winning eight of their 14 round games.
Just like they fought back from being eight goals down in the first quarter against Vixens in last weekend’s final, to being two points up by the end of the half.
The NSW team seemed to find an almost perfect balance between attacking and defending – which proved crucial when it came to winning close clashes.
Here is a breakdown of the Giants 2022 season.
THE GIANTS
Finish: 3rd
Last year: 1st
WHAT WENT RIGHT
While finishing further down the ladder than they did in 2021 the Giants only had one less win this year than they did the previous season.
Giants had a rocky start winning just one of their first four matches leaving many wondering if they had it in them to challenge for back to back premierships.
By Round 10 the Giants really found their groove, losing just one of their remaining games, until they met Vixens in the preliminary final.
They had one of the most balanced teams in terms of attacking and defending – scoring 895 goals and conceding just 886.
Giants mastery of the super shot got them out of plenty of tight fixes this season. As a team they converted 55 per cent of their super shot attempts – the best in the competition – scoring a total of 102 two-point goals.
The next best team was Lightning with 52 per cent accuracy and 85 super shots.
It was their ability to sink super shots under pressure that kept Giants in the match against Vixens at the weekend.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Consistency was the Giants biggest problem this season. They kicked off the season with a two point win over reigning premiers Swifts, who beat them in last year’s grand final – only to then lose matches to the Thunderbirds, Vixens and Firebirds.
They struggled to string consecutive wins together until Round 10. A more consistent approach could have seen them finish higher up the ladder and given them an extra chance at a spot in the finals.
STAR PLAYER
Jo Harten’s ability to keep her cool in high pressure situations helped put her team back in contention many times this season, including during the weekend’s preliminary final. Her efforts in the Super Netball landed her a spot in the English Roses team bound for the Commonwealth Games next month.
Harten netted 53 super shots this season, with a 53 per cent accuracy rate – the second highest, behind Swifts Helen Housby, in the competition. She converted 87 per cent of her other opportunities, finishing the season with 463 goals.
It is hard to overlook Jamie-Lee Price’s performance this season. The midcourter was unlucky not to be named in the 12-woman Diamonds squad, instead heading to Birmingham as a travelling reserve.
Price ranked in the top five this season for goal assists and also picked up nine intercepts and 12 deflections.
LOCKED IN
Going into the season with an unchanged squad Giants will be able to continue the 2023 season where they left off.
Matisse Letherbarrow, Amy Sligar and Lauren Moore all signed fresh contracts for a second season after joining the ranks this year.
Jo Harten, Sophie Dwyer, April Brandley, Jamie-Lee Price, Amy Parmenter, Maddie Hay and Tilly McDonell are all contracted until the end of the 2023 season.
Coach Julie Fitzgerald’s job is also presumed safe, having signed on until the end of next season.
WHAT THEY NEED FOR SUCCESS IN 2023
If the Giants can bring to the court more of what they delivered in the back half of the season there is no reason they won’t find themselves in their fifth finals campaign in seven years. After several seasons together the girls have a bond, not every Super Netball team will have next year. It could prove to be a big advantage.
The competition is getting tougher, proven by the fact Giants dropped from first to third this season with just one less win, and the NSW outfit need to find a way to bring their A-game every week. Pulling out a top performance every few weeks is unlikely to cut it in 2023.
MAGPIES HELD BACK BY TIMID SUPER-SHOOTING
After pulling off the needed two point loss to minor-premiers Vixens in the final round to secure a spot in the finals – the Magpies came undone against their bogey team the Giants.
The Magpies have beaten the Giants once in their 13 outings and they weren’t able to flip the script at the weekend.
They put up an honourable fight with just seven goals the difference between playing a preliminary final and hanging up their dresses for the season.
The Magpies had a bumpy season, spending most of it in the bottom half of the ladder, converting six games to wins.
We take a look at the Magpies 2022 season.
COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES
Finish: 4th
Last year: 6th
What went right
One of just two teams to beat the Vixens during the regular season – the Magpies deserved their spot in the top four this season.
They recorded the same number of wins, six, as they did in 2021, but with the competition as close as it was this year, it is an effort to be proud of.
The Magpies sat among the top four teams when it came to goals scored, with 880 for the season.
They matched it with every team – just two of their round game losses were by more than 10 points.
The Collingwood side had players shine in all three parts of the court – from Geva Mentor in defence, Ash Brazill and Kelsey Browne in the midcourt and Shimona Nelson under the net.
If the Magpies continue to build on this season they will be tough competition in 2023.
What went wrong
Covid-19 was not the Magpies’ friend this season with the list of players not contracting the virus shorter than those who did.
The team was forced to play without Maggie Lind, Ash Brazill, Jacqui Newton, Geva Mentor, Molly Jovic, Sophie Garbin, Gabrielle Sinclair and Jodi-Ann Ward for at least one match this season.
Coach Nicole Richardson also missed two games due to the virus.
The Magpies fear of the super shot ruled them out of a few games – unable to claw back the points needed to keep them in the game.
Star player
It has to be a tie between Shimona Nelson and Kelsey Browne. Both were able to play their respective roles consistently throughout the season. Nelson had a near-perfect shooting record netting 93 per cent of her shots. She also tied third in the league for the number of offensive rebounds and second for goal attempts. Nelson also earned a call up to the Jamaican Sunshine Girls team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Browne showed a real hunger for the ball off the centre pass, securing 312 this second, the second highest behind Gretel Bueta. She played in all 14 games, putting in 305 goal assists – the third highest in the competition. Browne just seemed to have an ability to be wherever she was needed in the midcourt this season – working well with Ash Brazill.
Playing it safe
With Geva Mentor, Ash Brazill, Kelsey Browne, Jodie-Ann Ward, Shimona Nelson, Sophie Garbin and Molly Jovic all contracted until the end of 2023 there are few spots up for grabs in the Collingwood side next year. Nyah Allen impressed when she was given the chance to fill in due to Covid-19 absences this season and will be looking for more court time in 2023.
What they need for success in 2023
Consistency. The Magpies are yet to find the formula that delivers victories week after week. They produced back to back wins only twice this season.
With the competition as close as it is they will have to find a way to string a series of wins together, to build confidence and stay in contention for the finals again next year.
It could pay for the Magpies to find a way to use the super shot – they netted one of the lowest number of two-point shots this season with 53 per cent accuracy. It is a tool, which if used correctly, could help them get a few extra wins on the board in 2023.
For example the Giants, in the semi-final clash, put away six of their nine super shot attempts compared to the Magpies converting one of their three.
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