Super Netball 2024: Mavericks face season-defining clash against Sunshine Coast Lightning
The Mavericks set themselves the goal of making finals in their debut Super Netball campaign and as they face a defining clash with the Lightning, they’ll do so without a midcourt star.
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Melbourne Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter remains bullish about the team’s prospects of making finals in their debut Super Netball campaign despite a midcourt ace being ruled out again for a season-defining clash against the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Star centre Molly Jovic will be sidelined for a second week with concussion for Saturday’s clash against the Lightning, who the Mavericks are fighting for a finals berth in what has been a bumpy first season for the new Melbourne franchise.
With three games remaining in the regular season, the Mavericks sit one game outside of the top four and their clash against the fourth-placed Lightning will be decisive in their finals fight.
A win in Hobart would put the Mavericks on equal points with the Lightning, while a loss would likely leave the league newcomers at the mercy of other results.
Mavericks’ inaugural captain Parmenter was confident the team could force its way into the final four.
“I think this is a really good opportunity for us,” Parmenter said.
“This game sort of determines if we are in finals or not, so I think if we win this game it would give us the confidence going into finals anyway.
“We are absolutely backing ourselves. The last time we played them was such an awesome match, I think we match-up really well against each other.
“It would be awesome (to make finals). It has been a really tough year in a number of different ways and I feel so proud of what we have been able to achieve already.
“It’s not do-or-die if we don’t make finals, but it would be bloody amazing. It would show the adversity we have been through and how hard we have worked to create this club and this group of girls has just stuck together every week and produced some really awesome netball.
“I think we are more than capable of making these finals and being competitive in it.”
The Mavericks scored a one-goal win over the Lightning in their round four clash earlier this year which gave the new Melbourne team its first victory in Super Netball.
This time, the Mavericks will be without Jovic for a second straight week after she was sidelined for last round’s heavy loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
“It is a blow (missing Jovic), but I do think we have got the likes of Tayla Fraser and Maisie Nankivell, we have got people ready to step in,” Parmenter said.
“We will really miss Molly, but I think that is what has worked for us so well this year is we have got that depth, we have got people ready to go.
“I’m confident that the girls will step up and fill that big hole that Molly has left.”
The Tracey Neville-coached Mavericks set themselves the goal of making finals ahead of their debut Super Netball campaign, but were dealt two significant injury blows before the season had even started.
The Mavs lost goal shooter Sasha Glasgow with a fractured leg in a practice match, before defender Lauren Moore then ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in the Team Girls Cup pre-season tournament.
Despite the twin injury blows, Parmenter said the team’s depth had been pivotal this season.
“Every game I feel like we are learning and growing and our combinations are getting better,” the star wing defence said.
“Obviously we are missing Molly this week, but I think we have got so much depth in our squad and that is something that has been a real benefit to us.
“Every single player on our bench has experience, brings a point of difference and is more than capable of coming on the court.
“That is something that I haven’t had a team is like that, just so much depth, so many people that can come in and step up and we have shown that in every different position this year basically because we have had so many people out.
“It’s really cool Loz and Sasha are both down in Tassie this weekend and they have come with the team, so it is really special to have them in the crowd and to be travelling with us is something they have not got to do this year, so it has made this trip really special.”
Parmenter said the Mavericks, who face the Giants and Fever in the final two rounds, were determined to bounce back from last week’s 67-41 loss to the Thunderbirds.
“It was really disappointing and not what we had been building towards,” Parmenter said.
“But throughout the season when we have big losses we have bounced back really well. That’s something that we have been doing consistently is when we lose, we come back with big wins.
“So I’m hoping that pattern follows through.”
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