Can Lightning strike twice?

By Stephanie Smarrelli 
 

While you might be tempted to call your champions now after some convincing performances, there’s still a long way to go. 
 
And the heat is only going to build more come Round 2. 

The Thunderbirds are in the spotlight again this week, feeling confident off the back of a commanding win at home against the Vixens. 

But their next challenge awaits. 

Enter the Lightning. 

The Sunny Coast outfit were the only team to defeat the Thunderbirds at this year’s Suncorp Team Girls Cup and their meetings last year were close affairs. 

Fresh off a win against the Mavericks, the Lightning are humming along and will be energised by a boisterous home crowd this weekend. 

When the two sides meet it’ll be a battle of the attacking ends. 

Steph Fretwell and Reilley Batcheldor reminding the competition they’re the long bomb specialists with eight Super Shots between them last week. 

While Georgie Horjus and Lauren Frew flaunted their own shooting skills. 

Accuracy will be key this weekend, as both teams have strong defensive units. 

The heat will be on throughout the midcourt as well with Hannah Petty coming off a dominant performance for the Thunderbirds and Liz Watson a prolific one for Lightning. 

While we often give all the glory to the goalers and defenders, don’t sleep on the importance of the midcourt tussle. 

Kristiana Manu’a will present a challenge for the Thunderbirds coming off a blistering performance against the Mavericks and a solid showing when the teams last met at the Suncorp Team Girls Cup. 

But the Thunderbirds midcourt know how to get the job done and will do everything in their power to avoid turning ball over. 

This match truly could go either way with both teams wanting to assert their superiority.  
 

REST OF THE ROUND 
 
The Firebirds are up and about early with their first ever SSN Round 1 win in the books. 

But pressure will be on their goalers to improve their accuracy with their most accurate Mary Cholhok only shooting at 73 percent last week. 

Despite getting the dub against the GIANTS they’ll find it hard to notch up many more wins with their execution sitting low. 

This week they’ll face a West Coast Fever desperate to get their first win on the board after the side were dismantled by the Swifts. 

Speaking of the Swifts, sitting on top of the ladder they’ll look to continue to flex their might when they return home to take on the Mavericks.  

While the Mavs will be eager to bounce back from their 10-goal loss to the Lightning and what better way than defeating the current top dogs? 

Closing out the round the Vixens will feel at home in front of their home crowd and will be looking to put last week’s performance behind them when they go head-to-head with the GIANTS. 

A win will put the cherry on top for Vixen Jo Weston who will celebrate her 150th match if she takes to the court. 

Last season’s cellar dwellers, the GIANTS will be fighting to register an early win during their trip to Melbourne to avoid repeating last season’s mistakes.