Super Netball: Firebirds playing for faithful fans of the Far North

Firebirds captain Gabi Simpson says the goal for Sunday’s meeting with the ladder-leading Melbourne Vixens will be to do the club’s Far Northern fanbase proud.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 09: Gabi Simpson of the Firebirds celebrates winning the first quarter during the round 11 Super Netball match between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the Queensland Firebirds at Priceline Stadium on September 09, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

With finals out of the picture for Queensland Firebirds, captain Gabi Simpson says the goal for Sunday’s meeting with the ladder-leading Melbourne Vixens will be to do the club’s Far Northern fanbase proud.

The match will be played in Cairns as part of the competition’s annual Indigenous Round and the skipper said it presented a rare opportunity to put on a show for the Firebirds faithful in Far North Queensland.

“Being able to travel with the team is really fantastic to get that team camaraderie going but, more importantly, being able to get up to North Queensland, which is such a big part of the Firebirds, is just incredible,” she said.

“We haven’t been able to get up there in my time at the club — which has been a long time — so to be able to come up north and be a part of the atmosphere up there is going to be really special.”

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 08: Gabi Simpson of the Firebirds passes during the round two Super Netball match between the Queensland Firebirds and the Melbourne Vixens at Nissan Arena on August 08, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

A slow start to the season, in which the Firebirds lost four and drew one of their first five games, has put finals out of reach, but Simpson said the team would be giving its all against the minor premiers.

“We’ve proven over the last few weeks we can mix it with the top teams and give them a solid run, so we’re there to really put our foot down and show what we can do in this competition,” she said.

“Vixens are the benchmark of this season, so we want to show that we’re capable of matching it with the best.”

The Firebirds will take the court in an outfit again designed by Aboriginal artist Rachael Sarra, from Goreng Goreng Country.

SUPER NETBALL IN CAIRNS

Six Super Netball players to watch in Cairns

Super Netball to tackle lack of Indigenous players

NSW Swifts shooting to end ‘frustrating’ trend

Fever out to secure finals berth in Cairns crunch match

Firebird right at home for Vixens clash

Giants’ big chance to hook stars of the future

“Rachael worked closely with the Firebirds to create a piece that represented both the Indigenous culture of Australia and the club’s culture,” Simpson said.

“It means a lot to us and it really represents who we are, not just the seven players on court, but the entire community around us that makes us the best team and best community that we can be.”

Originally published as Super Netball: Firebirds playing for faithful fans of the Far North