Thankyou for reading
Thanks for joining me for the grand final rematch between the Giants and Lightning, the match lived up to its hype, with the Giants impressive and the Lightning perhaps missing Laura Langman. It’ll be interesting to see how they rebound next week. Imagine those two sides might find themselves at the pointy end of the ladder come the end of the season.
There’s one more match to wrap up the first round of the season – between the NSW Swifts and Queensland Firebirds. I hope we’ll be able to bring you some more netball action very shortly.
Enjoy your Sunday! If you’re looking for AFL or NRL results, keep an eye on the website for a wrap-up report. I’ll be back here next week blogging some more live sport!
West Coast Fever defeat Adelaide Thunderbirds 74-56
An improved quarter from the Thunderbirds hasn’t saved them from an eight-point loss to the Fever. They lost the final quarter by just the one point (14-15), meaning they lost every quarter as well as the game. Interesting to hear the reaction to the bonus points system after that one.
Jhaniele Fowler was the star for the Fever, scoring 66/68 (at an incredible 97%). She almost doubled her nearest rival, with Adelaide’s Nelson finding the net 37 times out of 42. Fowler was almost a one-woman show for West Coast, with Stanton adding three goals and Medhurst five. Medhurst registered 25 feeds for the game in a wonderful team performance from the Fever.
However, it looks as if Verity Charles has injured her ankle. Not clear yet how bad that is.
#THUvFEV a tough landing on the ankle for @WestCoastFever player Verity Charles resulting with her being carried off the court - it looked like a nasty fall and we all wish her a speedy recovery.
— #SuncorpSuperNetball (@SuperNetball) April 29, 2018
Updated
Giants defeat Sunshine Coast Lightning 54-51
Drama as the Lightning get a goal on the buzzer and thus the bonus point. They take two points from the match despite the loss. The Giants’ theme song blares as the teams gather in the centre of the court. Great to see Fitzgerald’s side somewhat redeem the grand final loss from last year.
Bec Bulley takes player of the match – reckon Kim Green was unlucky not to take it, while Jo Harten probably also had a claim. Bulley says Fitzgerald is the “greatest coach in the world, and truly a legend of the game”. They’re happy to get the win for her milestone game.
Exciting match from both sides and a good indication that we’ll have an exciting season ahead.
Updated
Q4 00:20 Giants 54 v Lightning 50
Wood again, as the Giants get a warning for time wasting. Lightning desperate for the turnover but they can’t find it and Green is superb as the Giants nearly turn the ball over and she keeps it in with a desperate dive. Pettitt in support and the Giants will win.
Lightning fans are upset about New Zealand star Laura Langman’s absence (she quit the game after being a key cog in the Sunshine Coast premiership).
Ohhhhh Langman where are you? @GIANTS_Netball well deserved — lightning mid court players looked unfit and didn’t have the urgency 😳😩 https://t.co/mS9Cj5cBf0
— Say My Name (@OnMyWhistle_18) April 29, 2018
Updated
Q4 01:40 Giants 53 v Lightning 49
Things getting frantic as the Lightning push to up the pace. Wood finds the net, while the Giants try and slow things up with all players out of the circle. They finally push the button and Harten scores. That might be the game.
Q4 03:10 Giants 52 v Lightning 48
Ouch, Wood is sore after her own fall, but she’s back up and keen to get on with things. She finds Bassett and the Lightning take a one point lead for the quarter. This isn’t quite over. Big play from Pretorious with a great tip out, but the Giants take the ball back after it goes out. Harten scores again.
Q4 04:30 Giants 51 v Lightning 47
Green asked her coaching staff what the score was for the quarter - so the Giants have their eyes on not only the overall win but the bonus point. McAuliffe with a nice tip out – she’s been the best on court for her side this quarter. Harten gets the goal nonetheless. She’s got 31/33 at 94%. Bassett takes one back, and Mentor makes Wood pay for her hesitation with a rare tip out from her this game. Pretorious with a great turnover and Bassett scores again. Kim Green asks for the court to be cleaned after she takes a tumble, thankfully she’s OK!
Q4 06:39 Giants 49 v Lightning 44
Bassett up to 31 goals now – shooting at 86%. Harten takes the goal back with Mentor giving away an obstruction penalty. Now it’s the Giants’ turn for a timeout as their lead is clawed back to five. I’m tipping a Giants win from here – have simply been too good when it mattered most. Mentor having a down game hasn’t helped.
Green reminds her side that things aren’t over – and that they need to keep pushing with effort for the win.
Updated
Q4 07:30 Giants 49 v Lightning 43
Kim Green is a big part of this Giants success story – 42 feeds and 19 goal assists so far. Giants have had 63% possession this quarter – when the number up to this quarter sat at around 51-49. Wood misses but Bassett follows it up. Things looking good for the Giants, although Mikaere finds a turnover in the middle and Wood nails it.
Q4 09:50 Giants 47 v Lightning 40
Liz Ellis says she reckons Geva Mentor has a gold medal hangover, failing to come out and really challenge Harten on that occasion. With a six point lead to the Giants, the Sunshine Coast are unravelling, the ball thrown over the sideline. What can they do from here? Harten makes it seven and a panicked Noeline Taurua calls timeout.
Updated
Q4 11:30 Giants 45 v Lightning 40
Pettitt ensures the Giants pull ahead again with the goal from beside the post. Obstruction from Manu’a lets Wood in again, and we’re going goal for goal. Pettitt takes the penalty for contact, with a caution for Mikaere after just three penalties. Four point lead to the Giants, and Manu’a gets the turnover again! Giants go up by five.
Q4 13:50 Giants 42 v Lightning 39
Manu’a with the intercept against Bassett - that’s what we’ve been waiting for! Great that her coach has backed her in despite Bassett dominating that last quarter. Giants, however, are penalised for a carry and Sunshine Coast will come again. First goal of the quarter goes to Bassett.
Three-quarter-time Thunderbirds 42 v Fever 59
Nothing doing for the home team at Priceline Stadium in Adelaide. They lose the third quarter 15-20 while Fowler continues to dominate (although she has missed one to blemish her perfect record! She now has 54/55 at 98%). The final quarter is about to begin in what looks like our first eight-point game of the 2018 season.
Updated
Three-quarter-time Giants 42 v Lightning 38
Maddie McAuliffe at centre pulls off an important intercept, and Wood scores as a result. Can they pull back the bonus point? No! Guthrie with the excellent intercept and turnover and the Giants will take the third-quarter bonus point, plus some momentum going into the final quarter. Giants win that quarter 15-13.
Updated
Q3 01:30 Giants 41 v Lightning 36
We’ve had a sub for the Lightning, Scherian is off for Mikaere who takes her spot in WD. It doesn’t stop the rot, however, with the Giants taking the first goal of the resumed quarter. Harten, however, strikes back immediately for two goals in a row despite some physical checking from Pretorius.
Updated
Q3 03:06 Giants 39 v Lightning 35
Some great vision of Julie Fitzgerald, incredibly it’s her 300th netball coaching appearance! Check out her impressive profile here. Looks very nervous despite her team’s lead.
Smart time-out called by the Lightning as the Giants extend their quarter lead to 12-10. They need to wrest back the momentum they held earlier in the quarter.
Updated
Q3 05:00 Giants 37 v Lightning 34
Bassett with a rare miss - she’s now at 26/31 thanks to some great pressure by Bulley. Can the Giants capitalise? They’re patient this time, and it’s Harten again – twice. Well done by the Giants to pull back the advantage, and lead the quarter 10-9.
Q3 06:30 Giants 35 v Lightning 34
Patient build-up from the Giants this time and a penalty to Pretorius sees them pull ahead again. But it’s Bassett again to pull it back level. Guthrie has upped her game this quarter, and she sets up Pettitt.
Q3 07:50 Giants 33 v Lightning 33
Ambitious attempt to find Harten doesn’t pay off for the Giants, and it’s Bassett again. Think the Giants might need another defensive switch to cull her influence. It’s all square at Qudos Bank Arena.
Q3 09:10 Giants 33 v Lightning 31
Harten’s radar is back on, but the near-immediate reply comes from Bassett. Great touch from Kim Green hits up Harten again. Green’s showing no signs of having missed game time. Manu’a struggling a little bit with Bassett who has been able to find too much space for the Giants’ liking.
Q3 11:10 Giants 30 v Lightning 28
Third quarter begins goal for goal, with the Giants maintaining their slender lead. Ooh, Lightning almost turn it over with Bassett deciding the shot’s out of her range, but they’re lucky to turn it back over with the Giants taking it over the sideline. Rare miss from Harten gifts the Lightning an attempt to pull the margin back, but the Giants force another turnover through the middle. It’s another miss! This time to Pettitt.
Great to see some advocates for women’s sport in the crowd
Ladies who league plus the wonderful Brittany Carter!
First stop this afternoon. @GIANTS_Netball v @sc_lightning with @_BrittanyCarter and @copes9 to cheer on @Kimmygee8 and @SamPoolman! 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/i8E5lP4CkY
— LadiesWhoLeague (@LadiesWhoLeague) April 29, 2018
Thunderbirds 26 v Fever 38
Things aren’t looking too good for the Thunderbirds, who have lost the second quarter by a similar margin to the first (12-16). They look to have no answer for West Coast’s Fowler, who is now up to 36/36 (and still shooting at 100%!) So dominant is Fowler, they’ve hardly needed Medhurst, who has just two goals (from four attempts).
Nelson is doing well for the home side, with 20/22 (91%) but Fever are on track for what might be our first eight-point game (four points for the win, plus four for winning each quarter).
Half-time Giants 27 v Lightning 25
Pettitt starting to find some space again, and nails a long-range goal before Harten follows it up with a regulation shot. Bassett with the contact on Manu’a and the Giants have the chance to score on the turnover. Guthrie, however, is sloppy with her footwork and gives away a stepping penalty. Giants have a chance to score just before the buzzer but Pretorious comes out of nowhere with the intercept. Exciting end to the quarter!
Lightning take the bonus point, having won that quarter 13-12. That’s a bonus point each so far.
Updated
Q2 01:39 Giants 25 v Lightning 25
Some messy play from both teams as set plays start to unravel with turnovers down both ends. Bassett goals despite the obstruction to take the Lightning in front again. Giants struggling to find space up forward, but finally draw level through Harten.
Q2 03:27 Giants 23 v Lightning 24
Great quarter from the Lightning but Scherian throws the ball out of court, and the Giants have a chance to consolidate. Browne and McAuliffe stand aside, and Pettitt takes the Giants back to one. Mentor and Pretorius starting to get on top.
Q2 05:46 Giants 22 v Lightning 23
11cm separates Manu’a and Bassett (who stands at 193cm). Le’ts see what impact that has as the Lightning take the lead for the first time. Feel like the Giants’ turnovers were more of an issue than any defensive shortcomings, but Manu’a does put Bassett off the shot on this occasion. Bassett has already scored more than she did in the first quarter. She’s now at 18/22 (82%).
Q2 07:37 Giants 21 v Lightning 21
Uh oh, Giants with a little bit of panic creeping in, Pettitt goes for an ambitious long goal with no reward, and the Lightning pull scores back to level. Now the Giants call timeout. Poolman comes off for Manu’a, who was injured in last year’s pre-season. Let’s hope she can deliver.
Here’s some live action from the first quarter:
First quarter comes to an end and the @GIANTS_Netball are looking the goods. #GIAvLIG pic.twitter.com/mF6DZpSFg6
— 9Netball (@9Netball) April 29, 2018
Q2 08:00 Giants 21 v Lightning 20
Lightning time-out emphasises tightening up the defence. On cue, Pretorious and Mentor combine to deny Pettitt. Teams trade turnovers and Pretorious intercepts on the stretch. That’s two in a row denied now as the timeout works wonders.
Q2 09:40 Giants 21 v Lightning 17
Pretorious out with the penalty lets the Giants in again. Mentor calls time out for her team, as she senses her opponents getting on top. Guthrie also starting to have an impact, with seven goal assists, just one behind Green’s eight.
Q2 10:40 Giants 19 v Lightning 17
Little separating these two now, going goal for goal, and only one extra attempt from the Giants. Bassett and Poolman get physical, with Bassett finally starting to assert her trademark dominance. She’s at 13/16 (81%).
Q2 12:30 Giants 16 v Lightning 15
Really liking Kimberlee Green’s game for the Giants. She had the six goal assists, nine centre pass receives and 14 feeds at quarter-time.
Scherian gets a nice pass into Bassett, who gets the first goal of the second quarter. She follows up with the second after a nice assist from Browne. Giants maintain a little breathing space with Harten beating Mentor to the pass from Pettitt. Harten has the edge over Mentor to date. Wood pulls one back with a penalty.
Quarter-time Thunderbirds 14 v Fever 22
For those wondering, we have a simultaneous contest happening between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and West Coast Fever. As is perhaps not a surprise, the Fever are up comfortably, 22-14 at quarter-time. Jhaniele Fowler has a whopping 20/20 goals at 100%!
Quarter-time Giants 15 v Lightning 12
Oops, Kelsey Browne takes a stumble, looks as if it was some friendly fire, but it’s quite the physical contest. Bassett with 9/12 (75%) but she really hasn’t looked comfortable in front of goal. Pettitt takes the Giants out to a three-point lead to finish off the quarter.
Bonus point goes to the Giants.
Updated
Q1 01:30 Giants 13 v Lightning 11
Intimidation from Mentor puts both defenders out of play and the Giants are able to get some breathing space back. They had a five point lead at one stage in this quarter, and will want to finish with at least the bonus point.
Q1 02:30 Giants 11 v Lightning 10
Pettitt and Harten combining very nicely – in agreement with the commentators, think they’re better suited as teammates than opponents! Meanwhile Bassett with a critical miss, but a contact from Poolman lets her finish off the good work of her teammates. McAuliffe providing the running for the Lightning to cut the margin back to one.
Q1 05:00 Giants 10 v Lightning 7
Poolman doing an excellent job on Bassett - the Lightning are hesitant to go over her head. Pretorious out of play with the contact to set up Harten, but the tip forces them to come again. Pettitt again in plenty of space as the Giants are first to hit double figures.
Q1 06:00 Giants 9 v Lightning 6
Bassett eases the nerves with some steadier hands. Somewhat surprised the Lightning haven’t used the time out available yet, they look as if they could do with a break and slow down the Giants’ momentum. Bassett finds yet another wobbler as the Lightning find some fluency.
Q1 08:00 Giants 8 v Lightning 4
Pettitt probably the pick of the shooters so far, even with the one miss. Looks dangerous every time she presents. On the other hand Bassett is being challenged by Sam Poolman, who has denied her more than once now. Harten going at 100% (4/4).
Q1 10:00 Giants 5 v Lightning 3
Pettitt looking comfortable in goals, she puts the Giants up 4-1. Obstruction by Bulley lets Wood in, but a biiig pass from Green hits up Pettitt again. Crowd excited by Green and Pettitt’s fast passing. Bassett with another goal, but it wobbles on the rim. Looks nervous.
Q1 11:30 Giants 3 v Lightning 1
Giants through Harten, twice, to take an impressive advantage. Ligthning finally on the board through Bassett. Some great pressure from the Lightning defence sees the first mistake by the Giants with McAuliffe pulling off an excellent intercept.
Q1 13:30 Giants 1 v Lightning 0
First goal of the game to Susan Pettitt, great start for the Giants. Poolman with the nice tip to deny Bassett. Giants look energised, and Bassett misses her first shot on goal!
Starting seven
We’re not far off starting here, with players entering the arena now.
Your starting seven ⚡️👊#SunCoastProud #GIAvLIG #Suns pic.twitter.com/2IZctPdyVo
— Sunshine Coast Lightning (@sc_lightning) April 29, 2018
Sharni Layton returns
Another positive for Collingwood yesterday was the return to action of Sharni Layton after the experienced defender took time away from netball last year due to exhaustion.
“My heart was warmed when I saw her take that flying intercept... I think the whole crowd lifted off their seat with that one,” Keppich-Birrell said. “She’s a spectacular athlete and it’s just a matter of, week by week, working herself back into being the best Sharni that she can be.”
- AAP
Other rule changes
“Several other rule changes were unveiled this week. As in basketball, team officials and bench players will be allowed to walk the sideline to talk to players and the number of time-outs has been doubled; from one per team, per half to two, meaning there could be as many as eight time-outs a match. The breaks between quarters have also been increased by a few minutes.”
Bonus points
One of the talking points of the season is the new ‘bonus points’ system. Teams are awarded a bonus point for each quarter won, so even though the Vixens won the game yesterday, they lost three of four quarters. That meant they won four points for the win, plus one for the quarter they won – for a total of five. The Lightning, meanwhile, while they lost the game, won three of four quarters, so emerged with three points.
As Delahunty has written in her season preview, the game’s bosses say the system will “incentivise teams to make every quarter count” and reward closeness across the competition.
One person happy with the changes this round is, predicatbly, Collingwood coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell.
“I don’t think I was a massive fan of the new points system when it was first talked about but today I’m pretty happy with it,” she joked.
What do you think of the scoring system, do you like it?
Updated
Melbourne Vixens defeat Collingwood Magpies 59-58
In case you missed the news from yesterday, the Vixens won a thrilling Melbourne derby by one point against the Magpies.
The Magpies led by two with less than four minutes to play after trailing by eight goals in the second quarter, but shooter Mwai Kumwenda scored three of the final four goals for the Vixens to take victory.
In keeping with the new scoring system, the Magpies earned three bonus points thanks to winning three of four quarters.
“I thought it was a really tough, high-quality game,” Vixens coach Simone McKinnis said after her side’s late comeback victory.
“I thought both sides played exceptionally well at different times. I said to the girls at the end, I was just really proud of the way they worked right to the end until they got that opportunity (to win).”
- AAP
Welcome
Hello everyone and welcome to this blockbuster grand final rematch from 2017!
The Giants will be out for redemption after Sunshine Coast won the inaugural grand final in 2017. They’ve got a very similar squad going into this season (With the addition of Kiera Austin), so there’s no reason they can’t challenge again.
Lightning captain Geva Mentor says her side are aware they’ll be targeted this year.
“Everyone will be after our scalp as reigning premiers but there are other teams that are a threat like Vixens and West Coast Fever with Jhaniele Fowler that will make it a really tough competition,” she said.
The Lightning are without one star: Sarahpheinna Woulf will miss a decent chunk of time, after injuring her ACL in the pre-season.
Kate will be here shortly. In the meantime have a read of Erin Delahunty’s preview of this season of Super Netball.
