Fallen netball giants primed for Grand Final after finding ‘missing piece of the puzzle’
It’s the pointy end of the Super Netball season and a fallen netball giant is primed to break through and end a 10-year premiership drought.
There are just three rounds left in the Super Netball season and with the top four all but locked in, attention is shifting to finals and who can take out the premiership.
In this week’s edition of Super Netball talking points, we unpack a tantalising potential grand final match-up, whether the reigning premiers’ trend is back luck or perfect finals prep, and why an “X-factor” should be picked for the World Cup.
‘Missing piece of the puzzle’ has T’Birds primed
The Adelaide Thunderbirds and the NSW Swifts are a game-and-a-half clear on top of the ladder, and with both teams playing an exciting brand of netball, former Diamond Caitlin Bassett is picking them to square off in the Grand Final
“It’s so hard to pick,” Fox Netball’s Bassett told news.com.au when asked for her premiership favourite.
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“If I look forward to the end of the season and that very last game I think Swifts vs Thunderbirds would be a really exciting match-up.
“We actually haven’t seen them play a full game against each other yet. Their teams were the ones that unfortunately had the game that was ruled a draw. Those two points are really helping them on the ladder because they’re 1 and 2.
“I can’t wait to see those two play each other and I think that would make a really awesome grand final.”
The Thunderbirds haven’t made finals since 2013, the last time they won a domestic premiership.
But Adelaide now boast arguably the deepest squad in Super Netball, with Jamaican defenders Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson and recruit Eleanor Cardwell book-ending a court filled with home grown Australian talent on the rise.
“Traditionally they’ve shown signs of brilliance and fallen and the last hurdle,” Bassett said.
“I feel like Elle Cardwell is that missing piece of the puzzle for them — not just on court shooting but her leadership and her ability to stand up in big moments.”
The Thunderbirds have now beaten reigning premiers the West Coast Fever twice this season, giving them every confidence they can go all the way.
Swifts ‘gathering real momentum’
Meanwhile, the Swifts are in a serious purple patch, winning seven games in a row to rocket into premiership contention.
The Swifts are firing on all cylinders, with Helen Housby in career best form and Romelda Aiken-George proving to be the best value pick-up of the year.
After just missing finals last year, the Swifts have beat the Fever in a rich vein of form and are primed to add to their 2019 and 2021 titles.
“The Swifts are gathering real momentum,” Bassett said.
“At the start of the season a lot of people wrote them off with a different line-up and Romelda Aiken-George taking some time to settle.
“But Helen Housby has been absolutely incredible. The different options they can put in defensively is just huge. They’ve got so many options that if something’s not working or in a certain player match-up they can switch things.
“I get excited watching the Swifts and it’s hard not to because they’re building a lot of momentum.”
Do the Fever have anything to worry about?
In an interesting quirk, all four of the West Coast Fever’s losses have been by just one point in thrilling games.
Fourth quarter fade-outs have also become a bit of a trend for the premiers.
“If you look at how they’ve played this year, their last quarter is their worst quarter,” Bassett said.
“If you can hang with them, push them to the very end and play smart with the ball in hand in the last few minutes, it’s proved that’s a way you can beat Fever.
“They’ve lost four games now by one goal, which is crazy to think it’s their biggest losing margin.
But Bassett believes the close losses could be a blessing in disguise and the perfect preparation for finals for the Fever.
“I definitely think you have to take the positives from it,” she said.
“Losing a couple of games by one goal is nothing. When I talk to other players I always say, ‘Would you rather lose a game by 20 goals or one goal’ and they all say one goal because at least you know you’re in it and you only need to make a couple of tweaks.
“When you’re losing games by one goal it can be really tempting to through out the whole game plan but it’s just execution of one or two tiny things you need to tighten up on.
“They’re a really experienced side. They obviously won last year. They know the feeling of winning and what it takes to win. I don’t think it’s a disaster for them.
“As long as they’re in the top four that’s all that matters because once it comes to finals anything can happen.”
‘X-factor’ could get World Cup spot
The Diamonds’ final squad for the World Cup will be named in a couple of weeks and there is great intrigue surrounding the goal shooter position.
While Cara Koenen, Steph Wood and Kiera Austin are likely to be picked, the fourth shooting spot will likely come down to a choice between Donnell Wallam and Sophie Garbin.
Bassett believes Wallam might be the “X-factor” Australia needs to fill the shoes of the pregnant Gretel Bueta at the World Cup.
“Gosh it’s really hard,” the ex-Diamonds said of the Wallam vs Garbin debate.
“It’s really hard to judge what Sophie Garbin’s done this season because she is playing out of position.
“It’s a huge risk either way.
You have to take confidence in Wood, Koenen and Austin have been brilliant this season and are proven themselves on the international stage. They will be the anchors in the team.
“They’re losing Gretel Bueta due to her pregnancy and she’s like an X-factor player. If I look at who a real X-factor is at the moment I would really struggle to go past Wallam.
“She is incredible in that she’s not just a tall holding shooter. She can move.
“You see the passion in her face. She rises to the big moments and has done a really good job anchoring her team this season.”
Super Netball Round 12 (all times AEST)
Collingwood Magpies vs Adelaide Thunderbirds — Saturday 5pm
West Coast Fever vs Sunshine Coast Lightning — Saturday 7pm
NSW Swifts vs Giants — Sunday 2pm
Queensland Firebirds vs Melbourne Vixens — Sunday 4pm
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