Net Gains: Wallam leads Firebirds revival; Swifts unveil Wallace-Joseph replacement; Giants vow to fight
Firebirds’ former coaches would have been left wondering where their chargers’ fight came from after QLD knocked off the high-flying Fever in a thriller. That and all the Super Netball news in Net Gains.
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No one can deny the Queensland Firebirds’ win over the finals-bound West Coast Fever on Saturday night was thrilling theatre and highly-emotional release for a playing group that has been under enormous pressure.
The scenes of players and officials in tears after the victory were joyful to watch.
For most, at least. Imagine previous coaches Bec Bulley and Lauren Brown watching on from afar.
It’s been well known for some time that there was a disconnect between Bulley, in particular, and her playing group.
It had been evident last season, there were rumours about players looking to sign elsewhere in the recent trade period and it’s believed the players had let management know about issues in the off-season - something that must have been brought up with the rookie coach in any post-season review.
In discussions with both Bulley and several Firebirds players ahead of the season, all talked about the unity of the group.
How much work had been done in opening lines of communication, players receiving feedback and criticism, allowing players a voice in the team.
The analogy used by many was of the unit being in a row boat, with everyone needing to pull in the same direction to get to where they wanted.
That seemed evident for the first three games of the season, in which the Firebirds fell to defending premiers Adelaide by a single goal, beat the Giants in a tight match and then led the Swifts for much of their home clash before going down in extra time.
Things fell apart though, over the next month. If this was a rowing boat, no one was stroking in unison.
Four losses in succession were broken by a 10-goal win over the Thunderbirds in round 8 but Bulley was fired just over 10 days later.
The performance against the Mavericks just days later, was, in the words of interim coach Brown, and captain Kim Ravaillion, disappointing.
For the team to turn things around so comprehensively just a week later against the Fever would have been baffling for the former coaches.
As Ravaillion - who has been sidelined for significant stints this year after off-season back surgery - said after last week’s loss though, emotion played a major part.
“You can fake it till you make it as much as you want but it’s been a massive week, we’re all exhausted and to be honest, I’m just so proud that they stepped out there today and tried to give their best,” she said after the loss to the Mavericks.
“It’s done now, it’s about what we do next.
“We don’t really have a choice (about regathering ourselves and pushing on). This is our job, we’re elite athletes and we just need to put our heads up, our bums up and get on with it.”
They managed that and it was no surprised to see Ravaillion front and centre of the celebrations on Saturday night.
While she’s not been able to contribute on court as much as she would have liked, there is no doubt she has led her players through this crisis - both in their overtures to management before Bulley’s removal, and their response afterwards.
What happens over the next three weeks though is anyone’s guess.
Interim co-coach Katie Walker’s enthusiasm has been infectious for the players but that can only last so long.
The woman pulling the tactical strings is former Birdies mentor Roselee Jencke.
Her coaching nous is unquestioned, so why she wasn’t named as the stand-alone mentor is somewhat puzzling.
While she’s the mother of midcourter Macy Gardner, there’s plenty of examples in the professional era of that happening - just look across town at the Brisbane Broncos’ Kevin and Billy Walters.
For now at least, the coaching team is working.
“Rose and I couldn’t be prouder,” Walker said after the Fever win.
“It’s an incredible feeling for these girls first and foremost, but for the fans and for the club and for all the people that do stick by us, it’s a huge reward and I hope they all celebrate it.”
WILL WALLAM STAY?
Donnell Wallam is currently long odds to remain at the Firebirds given she’s off contract at the end of the season and likely to be in the sights of several other clubs.
Wherever she goes though, the goaler is likely to be seeking a program that allows her to thrive as a leader and have a say in her development.
One of the players’ complaints about Bulley is understood to have been the level of micromanagement of the coach, allowing little independence from the athletes.
An athlete with the ability to rise to the occasion, Wallam finished with a stunning haul of 66 points in the Firebirds’ win.
Wallam conceded earlier this season her confidence had dipped and missing shots she should be converting had “had a bit of an effect mentally on me”.
She was buzzing after Saturday’s win though and the attitude of interim co-coach Walker, who had been convinced the Firebirds could knock off the Fever.
“From the moment Katie came in, she just goes: ‘We’re going to win this weekend’,” Wallam said.
“That was just the mentality from the first training session to captain’s run and I just think we took that in and took confidence from those words and did that performance.”
Wallam said after the match she was emotional following the win following what had been a taxing couple of weeks.
But Walker had no doubt the Diamond would rise to the occasion.
“She would never say it but she is just a winner,” Walker said, responding to a question about Wallam’s clutch two-point shooting early in the match that kept the Firebirds in touch with the Fever.
“If there’s anybody that you want the ball in the hands of at clutch moments, it’s Nellie.
“Some people just have that in them and Nellie is one of those people, so it didn’t surprise us at all.”
Asked whether she responded to a coach that had such faith in her, Wallam’s response spoke volumes.
“It definitely does and you just want to play when your coach has so much confidence in you and gives you the green light like Katie does,” Wallam said.
“I just love playing for Katie.”
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR GOALER
The NSW Swifts have moved on from the Sam Wallace-Joseph affair, installing shooter Uneeq Palavi in the team for the remainder of the season.
Under the terms of a termination, any Super Netball club has 21 days from the date of parting to name a temporary or permanent replacement player, who does not have to come from the club’s training partner ranks.
The Swifts and Wallace officially parted just under a fortnight ago and while they played with nominated athlete Grace Whyte in the match-day 10 last weekend - as they had since Wallace-Joseph last took the court in round 7 - they last week brought Tonga international Uneeq Palavi into the fold.
A Mavericks training partner, Palavi is well known to Swifts coach Briony Akle, who was on the Tala coaching bench at last year’s World Cup in South Africa.
“I worked with her in the Tongan team at the World Cup and I saw what she did against the world’s best,” Akle said.
“It was searching (for) who could be that player (to replace Wallace-Joseph) and I certainly think Uneeq can be that strong holding target as well as a moving (goaler), can shoot from anywhere.
“She’s had a couple of training sessions with us and fit in beautifully.”
Akle, who instils great belief in her players, said she did not want Palavi to change to fit into the Swifts line-up.
“I really think it’s about not telling her too much and playing on instinct,” Akle said.
“You’ve only just come into a team, the expectation is not on her, it’s on everyone else around (her) to do their job and we know she’ll be the target at the end but she’s just got to come in and be her really.”
She did that well on Sunday despite the Swifts going down to the Vixens, finishing with 24 points on 21-of-24 shooting, including three super shots in her Super Netball debut.
GIANTS VOW TO FIGHT OUT SEASON
The Giants have sunk back to the bottom of the Super Netball ladder after their loss to the Sunshine Coast and the Firebirds’ shock win over the Fever.
But they won’t give up their season without a fight.
New Zealand midcourter Sam Winders has vowed the Giants won’t just sleepwalk through the rest of the season.
“We’ve really got to focus in on these next three weeks and not just go through the motions and play netball, we actually have to make something of it,” Winders said.
The Giants face the competition’s toughest road trip next week, heading to Perth to take on the Fever.
But Winders is more excited than worried about taking them on.
“That’s going to be a pretty tough one next week in Perth.
“Looking forward to it though because it’s always good to play in front of a stadium full of netball fans and that’s certainly what it is up there.”
Despite losing on Sunday, the Giants pushed the Lightning, with just one poor quarter costing them dearly.
VIXENS WITH ONE HAND ON MINOR PREMIERSHIP
The Melbourne Vixens have been the quiet achievers this season, somehow flying under the radar at the top of the ladder and now holding a two-game buffer at the top of the Super Netball table.
Their 20-goal demolition of the Swifts on Sunday - powered by a 17-8 final quarter - gave them one hand on the minor premiership heading into the final three games of the season.
But things are definitely not decided yet.
The Vixens have a tough run home, facing the Thunderbirds and Fever - second and third on the ladder - as well as the Firebirds, who have said they want to be top four disrupters in the final stages of the season.
Simone McKinnis’s side has shown not just its incredible depth - and that of the Netball Victoria pathway - but how well the combinations are gelling ahead of the finals.
The Vixens have covered incredibly well for the absence of Kate Eddy and Zara Walters but their injection back into the side for the finals will be a major fillip for the side.
“Poor Simone, she’ll have some decisions to make,” captain Kate Moloney said.
With Adelaide already locked in as grand final hosts, the Vixens have plenty of motivation to remain at the top of the ladder, with the minor premiership coming with a home final - and the potential of more than 10,000 fans at either John Cain Arena, or Rod Laver Arena.
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Originally published as Net Gains: Wallam leads Firebirds revival; Swifts unveil Wallace-Joseph replacement; Giants vow to fight
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