By Stephanie Smarrelli
Now that the cobwebs have been dusted off and the Round 1 nerves are out of the way, expect Round 2 to lift the intensity across the league.
The winners will be eager to build momentum, while the teams that stumbled in Round 1 will be desperate to get their first win on the board.
None more so than the NSW Swifts, who find themselves in the bottom four for the first time since 2024.
Playing in this weekend’s double header at Qudos Bank Arena, the pressure will be on them to take a win in front of their home crowd.
Standing in their way is a fearless Melbourne Mavericks outfit brimming with confidence after defeating the GIANTS in Round 1.
The Mavs have shown they’re capable of upsetting the Swifts, coming from seven goals down early last time the sides met to steal the match.
While the Mavericks line-up taking the court this weekend looks different to the squad that faced the Swifts in Round 13 last year, the team’s core remains intact and their confidence is growing.
While the Swifts will need to quickly shake off their Round 1 defeat to the Adelaide Thunderbirds if they are to put their season on the right track.
The Mavs will be feeling confident following their Round 1 win.
One of the Mavs’ key cogs in Round 1 was Jamie-Lee Price, the 2025 Liz Ellis Diamond dominated across the court, shutting her down will be at the top of the Swifts’ to do list.
Former Maverick Tayla Fraser likely gets the nod up against Price with Maddy Proud expected to take on the challenge as well.
Price finished Round 1 with a staggering 140 Net Points, 32 feeds, 21 goal assists and three deflections.
In the goal circle Helen Housby and Grace Nweke will look to make their mark for the Swifts.
When the two are in sync, they’re one of the most dangerous combinations in the league.
But the last time they faced the Mavs, Jessie Grenvold and Kim Brown proved they’re more than capable of disrupting that connection.
Speaking of the Mavs’ defenders, Tara Hinchliffe proved her worth against the GIANTS last week, with seven gains she was a menace in defence and will pile more pressure onto the Swifts.
The Swifts’ defensive end on the other hand goes into Round 2 with a few question marks following last weekend’s clash with the Thunderbirds.
Head coach Briony Akle rotated four different players through the goal defence and goal keeper bibs during the match and finding the right combination will be crucial this week.
The Swifts will want to bounce back from their loss to the Thunderbirds.
All three of the Mavericks' goalers are capable of slotting long range shots as well, adding to the challenge for the Swifts’ defensive unit.
With the Swifts eager to bounce back and the Mavs determined to prove their win last week wasn’t a fluke, expect a fast-paced and fiercely contested clash at Qudos Bank Arena this weekend.
If the Swifts can execute their game plan and leave last week behind them, then they may have the edge against the Mavs.
But if the Mavs’ defensive pressure can disrupt the Swifts’ flow then they’re more than capable of dealing the Swifts their second loss of the season.
REST OF THE WEEKEND
Round 2 will begin with a Queensland showdown on the Sunny Coast.
It’s a pivotal match for both the Lightning and Firebirds who are looking for their first win of the season.
There’s plenty at stake with neither side wanting their season to start with zero wins and two losses.
Next, the Thunderbirds and Fever go head-to-head in Adelaide.
Fever will take on the Thunderbirds in Adelaide.
The TBirds will be hoping to string together back-to-back wins in front of their home crowd while Fever will be out to prove they’re the real deal after defeating Lightning last weekend at RAC Arena.
Then an unmissable double header Sunday begins with the GIANTS taking on the reigning premiers.
The GIANTS are hunting to get their first win on the board while the Vixens will hope to reinforce their status as one of the teams to beat.
Tickets are still available for Sunday’s double header, with the league setting out to break the record for SSN’s biggest crowd.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of it, purchase tickets to the double header via Ticketek.
Can’t make the game? Tune in LIVE or catch up on Kayo, Foxtel and BINGE.
