Super Netball: Vixens deny Mavericks a debut win in Melbourne, Sunshine Coast make statement and West Coast Fever fire in thumping
The Mavericks made a bold and loud entrance into Super Netball on Sunday, but not quite on the scoreboard, Liz Watson and Courtney Bruce notch statement win for new club at home, while West Coast Fever wasted no time in firing a clear shot to the rest of the competition.
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Super Netball is back for 2024. The Melbourne Mavericks have begun their debut campaign with a seven-point loss to their cross-town rivals, Liz Watson and Courtney Bruce notch win in club debut, and West Coast Fever wasted no time in firing a clear shot to the rest of the competition.
Keep up to date with the full first round wrap below.
VIXENS DENY MAVERICKS DEBUT WIN
-Dane Heverin
The Melbourne Mavericks’ introduction to Suncorp Super Netball was bold and loud but the Melbourne Vixens claimed bragging rights in Melbourne’s newest rivalry with a 68 to 61 win in front of 8,250 fans at John Cain Arena.
The Mavericks, who are the newest team to join the competition after securing the licence left vacant by Collingwood, declared their intentions early when they took the court to the sound of Rihanna, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s hit Run This Town.
From the opening centre pass, the court reverberated to the deep bass of house music to usher in a new fan experience of netball that made it feel more like a rowdy Friday night than a Sunday afternoon.
On court the new rivals played cat and mouse for most of the opening half as the Mavericks found their feet and the Vixens – who were missing injured pair Jo Weston and Hannah Mundy as well as losing Diamonds captain Liz Watson to the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the off season – put new combinations to work.
The Vixens eventually stamped their authority however with star showings from shooter Sophie Garbin alongside mid courters Zara Walters and Kate Moloney enough to overpower their new younger sibling.
Diamonds representative Garbin found her new home at the Vixens after Collingwood departed the competition and she immediately showed she is comfortable in her new colours in shooting 42 goals from 46 attempts including a perfect 3 from 3 super shots.
“So amazing, so good to get the win. I said at the start of that last quarter going out that I’ve been on the other side of one of these and how hard the Vixens come out,” Garbin said.
“Super excited to be a Vixen.”
Garbin’s connection with Walters and fellow shooter Kiera Austin (18 goals from 22 attempts) was a standout, while centre Moloney was the highest rated player on the court as she controlled the game nicely.
For the Mavericks, Molly Jovic in centre impressed and was the main feeder for England shooter Eleanor Cardwell who shot 32 goals from 41 attempts including taking advantage of the super shot in the final five minutes of every quarter with seven two-point goals.
MAVERICKS MAKE LOUD ENTRANCE
The Mavericks took their pre game warm ups with the song Danger Zone from Top Gun blaring as it was adopted as an unofficial anthem of the team.
Mavericks fans were regularly encouraged to get up on their feet, cheer and applaud to the sounds of a DJ set featuring the likes of Calvin Harris and Daft Punk that provided a backing track to the entire match.
The message was clear: the Mavericks are here to shake things up.
The blaring tunes, vocal announcer, flashing lights from the roof as well as the goalposts, smoke machines and dance troupe that featured prominently throughout the game ensured there would be no sounds of silence and the crowd were constantly stimulated.
Thanks to all the Maverick fans that cheered us from the stands or from the couch today 🫶 pic.twitter.com/S13EYJ7Ek3
— Melbourne Mavericks (@MelbMavericks) April 14, 2024
Which is exactly how The Mavericks want their home games to be.
The club is operated by Craig Hutchison’s Sports Entertainment Group (SEG), the parent company of Sports Entertainment Network (SEN), who acquired the licence made vacant by Collingwood after last season.
SEG are also involved in the National Basketball League with Melbourne United and the Perth Wildcats, and Hutchinson is an avid follower of American sport and is eager to bring the US arena experience to netball.
They have work to do to bring more Mavericks fans along for the ride however as the loudest cheers were reserved for Vixens goals and jade, crimson and navy outnumbered sky blue in the stands.
MAVERICKS ENDURE INJURY-RIDDLED BUILD-UP
Mavericks endure injury-riddled build-up
The Mavericks’ lead in to their Super Netball debut was far from ideal with English shooter Sasha Glasgow horrifically breaking her leg during a pre-season match and defender Lauren Moore ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the Team Girls Cup a fortnight ago.
They also failed to register a win in the pre-season tournament in what was a tough start to head coaching life in Super Netball for Tracey Neville who guided England to gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and was an assistant at last year’s premiership winning Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Neville and her team were also left scrambling for last minute replacements and they found them in shooters South African Rolene Streutker and Jamaican Shimona Jok.
Streutker made her debut for South Africa last year and had been with the Mavericks as a training partner, and she featured against the Vixens off the bench shooting one goal.
Jok was absent from the Mavericks line-up but she is now at her third club after previously playing for Collingwood and the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
LIGHTNING UNDERLINE PREMIERSHIP CREDENTIALS
- Katrina Nissen
Sunshine Coast Lightning underlined their Super Netball premiership credentials, delivering a slick 16 point win against last season’s runners-up, the NSW Swifts.
In front of a raucous Sunshine Coast crowd, it was a clinical performance by the home side, who clung to a slim lead for much of the match before hitting the accelerator in the final term to win the match 79 points to 63.
Lightning’s victory was built on the back of superior ball handling, giving up just 10 turnovers to the Swifts’ scrappier 20.
All eyes were on new Lightning recruits Liz Watson and Courtney Bruce, and the Diamonds duo starred in their first outing. Watson contributed 44 feeds and one intercept, while Bruce finished with four intercepts and made life difficult for Swifts’ shooter Sam Wallace-Joseph.
Returning from a serious knee injury after a two year absence, Wallace-Joseph struggled to find her groove, and returned just 24 from 26. The Trinidad and Tobago international was recently mired in controversy when she shared her disdain at the US President’s acknowledgement that Easter Sunday coincided with Transgender Day of Visibility.
Wallace-Joseph’s negative opinion left netball fans outraged, and despite her apology and the league’s subsequent disciplinary action, she still has a lot of trust to rebuild.
While her shooting partner, Helen Housby had a hot hand and contributed eight supershots, it was moments of ill-discipline that cost the Swifts dearly. Co-captain Paige Hadley was clearly frustrated at times, questioning some of the umpires’ calls.
After the match, Swifts co-captain Maddy Proud addressed the physicality of the match. “They have a tough intensity, and we sort of felt like they were riding us like a backpack for most of the game. That really wears you down toward the end of a game. I thought it was very well done by them, and they still managed to stay in play.”
In the third quarter, the battle between Housby and Lightning’s Bruce was mouth-watering. There was plenty of niggle going on behind play which led to a heated exchange just before the end of the term.
The circle wasn’t the only place that play got overly physical, with young Lightning wing defence, Ava Black and Swifts co-captain Paige Hadley in the midcourt. Both players appeared stunned with Black grabbing her head. While the league’s revamped concussion protocol wasn’t enacted in this circumstance, it did give a moment of pause for fans.
After the match, Black addressed the physical nature of play, saying that she sometimes ‘walks into moments like that. “I feel like that’s sort of the best part of SSN. When you walk out on the court, you never know what is coming. As a wing defence, I have to be a bit of a pest. That is my role at times.”
Swifts’ goal keeper Sarah Klau was best for her side, finishing with five gains, but it was Lightning’s Cara Koenen who took out MVP honours with a mammoth 50/53 points. Speaking after the match she said, “We weathered the storm, Swifts don’t give up a lot of ball so we had to make sure we scored anytime we got the opportunity.”
BELINDA’S BALANCING ACT
Lighting’s stacked team will be a nightmare for coach Belinda Reynolds this season. In a side overflowing with talent, Reynolds has already alluded to the headache of trying to make sure that each of her athletes gets a decent amount of court time. And while many youngsters wouldn’t mind apprenticing under their Diamonds’ stars, could it also be a detriment as they struggle to get on court experience?
REMEMBRANCE
A touching moment of silence was held before the warm-up of today’s match, as a sign of remembrance for the fallen and injured victims of the Sydney massacre on Saturday 13 April.
F-BOMB REV-UP FAILS TO FUEL GIANTS AS FEVER FIRE
West Coast Fever have thrown down the gauntlet to their opponents, rattling off a record 19 point win over Giants Netball in the Super Netball season opener.
After a hectic recruiting season that saw half their playing roster change, Fever’s premiership chances had been written off early by many pundits. However few chinks showed in Fever’s armour as they built on an early lead, despite a flurry of supershots from Giants’ Sophie Dwyer.
Fever emptied their bench in a convincing win, despite clearly missing the presence of former captain Courtney Bruce, who defected to Sunshine Coast Lightning during the off-season. With a new-look defensive circle still learning to work together, Fever struggled at times to contain the hot hand of Dwyer, who nailed nine supershots.
However, both sides were limited in their ability to strip the opposition of ball. Despite plenty of physical clashes, there was a combined total of just six intercepts across the match. Giants’ co-captain Jo Harten fired up about her team’s deficiency, yelling, “Get up in their f****** faces” during a break in play.
Jess Anstiss had a particularly heavy clash after being sandwiched by Giants Chelsea Pitman and Jamie-Lee Price.
Despite missing a kidney, Fever’s new captain didn’t appear to suffer any ill effects and played out the game, leading defensive gains for her side.
Attacking strength won the match with the Giants unable to contain Fever, who opened up a five-point lead in the first quarter and built on that across the match.
Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard earned her MVP with dominant shooting statistics, sinking 67 points, including some unprecedented long range work with three supershots.
Her connection with Jamaican teammate and new Fever recruit Shanice Beckford was on song from the opening whistle, with their opponents unable to shut the duo down.
Giants’ new co-captain Jamie-Lee Price was among her side’s best.
She had a strong battle against Kelsey Browne, who found a last-minute home with Fever after Collingwood’s demise.
However, it was Fever’s Alice Teague-Neeld who led all-comers in attacking statistics across the match.
Wearing her new orange colours, exciting defender Jodi-Ann Ward had a relatively quiet game, finishing with just one gain.
JO IS GO!
Following a lengthy history of knee issues, Jo Harten called time on her decorated 117 cap international career in 2023.
In a coaching capacity, the star shooter helped England to their best ever World Cup finish – a silver medal.
With more time to manage her troublesome joints, Harten was in fine form during Round 1, finishing with 29/34, including five supershots.
STARTLING STATISTICS
Safe hands were the theme of the day for Fever, who had a staggeringly low eight turnovers for the 60 minutes of play.
They also converted a solid 88% of their centre passes, compared to Giants, who still reached a respectable 70%.
THUNDERBIRDS HOLD ON
Reigning premiers Adelaide Thunderbirds had an unconvincing one point win to start the season, with their 63 to 62 point victory almost soured by the Queensland Firebirds’ last quarter fightback.
Two missed attempts by Donnell Wallam in the dying seconds of the match could have levelled the scores or even won the game, but both attempts rimmed out, the disappointment stark on her face.
Firebirds looked a different team from their seventh-place finish of last season, with the heroics of Thunderbirds’ star-studded defensive end the ultimate difference between the two sides.
Led by Jamaican goal keeper Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, her rangy arms devoured a range of misfired passes, making Firebirds goal shooter Wallam frustrated from the opening whistle.
With the Firebirds trailing early on, fans were heartened to see Kim Ravaillion return from serious spinal surgery.
The former Diamonds’ midcourter notched up her 150th match, albeit spending much of it on the bench.
Entering the game during the third quarter, Ravaillion brought more consistency to the midcourt and led a Firebirds’ turnaround.
Speaking post-match, Ravaillion was candid about the reality of her netball future.
“There was fear of not playing again, but I said to myself ‘I’m not going to let that happen’ and I did whatever I could to make sure I was strong enough and ready to go,” she said.
“When Bec gave me the nod I knew I was ready, I was in the zone and wanted to win so bad.”
With scores locked heading into the final five minutes, it came down to a supershot shootout. Nerves were tested, with the Thunderbirds hesitant to put up the two-point goals until Georgie Horjus finally found the centre of the ring.
Both sides traded super shots until a Sterling-Humphrey block spoiled the run for the visitors.
Wallam had the opportunity to win the game for her side with a two goal shot, but overcooked it, handing the thrilling victory to the home side.
MVP Sterling-Humphrey’s heroics were on full show throughout the match, and she finished with 10 gains.
She and compatriot Latanya Wilson both won ball in the final quarter that allowed Thunderbirds to eke out the win.
Thunderbirds lost some of their star power during the off season, with the experienced Romelda Aiken-George contracted to fill Eleanor Cardwell’s shoes.
The veteran proved why she still deserves a contract, finishing with 48/57. After being dumped by Sunshine Coast Lightning, Laura Scherian was also a good foil to the flare of Georgie Horjus.
Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst was impressed with her side’s tenacity, as they blooded new combinations on court for the first time.
“This team has a real belief that regardless of the situation and personnel we know that we will get the ball back, … and put it through the ring,” Obst said.
“Aiken-George was solid for us under the post, Frew in her debut at SSN was a reliable option for us and went to post confidently and Scherian made the most of the opportunity, so very happy with all three and their performance tonight”
A NEW DWAN
After two years with Adelaide Thunderbirds, Tippah Dwan returned to Queensland Firebirds with a premiership to her name.
Facing her old side for the first time, the time training against the league’s most intimidating defence line paid off as she recorded 18 from 20 shots, including five super shots.
SUNSHINE SPIRIT
With three Jamaican Sunshine Girls in their line-up, Thunderbirds have athleticism and flare to boot.
Sterling-Humphrey and Wilson combined for a whopping 16 gains, while new recruit Aiken-George was reliable as ever, forming a slick combination with her mid-courters.
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