Talking points: Round 3

By Sophie Taylor

Saturday matches reigned supreme throughout a blockbuster round of activity boasting down-to-the-wire finishes and two big results.

We run through some of the major talking points from the weekend.

LADDER HEATING UP

The undeniable Thunderbirds hold top spot on the ladder and, ominously, make no signs of shifting from that spot.

With their extra time win on the board this week the Vixens retain second spot with a flawless record on paper.

Things start to get to get interesting around third and fourth, however.

The Mavericks and Fever swapped spots on the ladder this week, with the Mavs’ second tight loss in a row bumping them from third to fifth and Fever’s huge victory over the GIANTS shifting them into the top four.

Lightning’s position in fourth is holding on by a thread, lucky to remain there after a one-goal victory and the Mavs’ loss.

The Mavericks will take a few days to lick their wounds and find a replacement for injured star Tara Hinchliffe, who looks to have suffered another ACL tear on the weekend, but do not count them out despite their 1-2 record.

Similarly, the Swifts are not a losing team. They will take their position in sixth as a challenge rather than their fortune.

While Top 4 is certainly not out of the odds for any team at this stage in the season, even the winless Firebirds and GIANTS, getting wins on the board early has never been more important.

One thing is for certain, and already clear after three rounds: finals positions will be hard to come by this season.

Particularly third and fourth. Although we all know how much can change in the second half of the season…

THE FINISHING TOUCHES

All the Mavericks needed on Saturday night was to put the finishing touches on the match, and they would have had their first Melbourne Derby win in five attempts.

Instead, the Vixens’ class shone through for an outstanding extra time victory.

And that class all came down to finesse and smart decision-making, claiming a momentous come-from-behind win to remain undefeated.

With this match being both head coaches’ first big-time derby, it became a matter of which side could settle under enormous pressure and last-minute changes.

With the Vixens’ settled lineup and winning attitude, it seemed clear that once the match entered extra time, they would be able to control the airways and secure the win.

And there’s one big thing to remember about the Vixens in this exact scenario: they LOVE to be backed into a corner.

Unfortunately for the Mavs, they left the door open enough for the Vixens to swoop in at the death. 

So, the finishing touches the Mavs are after?

Awareness of the clock winding down, for one, which could have allowed another quick goal before the full-time siren and thus not force extra time. 

But also the confidence to get the job done after holding a commanding lead not just this week, but last week too. 

Captain Amy Parmenter remarked post-match that “we’re used to being the hunters” and “the Mavs aren’t used to being in this position”.

If the Mavs can harness that energy and keep piling on the pressure, watch out for the second half of the season.

THUNDERBIRDS FLYING HIGH

Another round, another enormous Thunderbirds victory. 

Questions were duly asked about the importance of a home crowd rallying behind them, but they stood tall in the face of a Firebirds side stacked with New Zealand talent.

The Thunderbirds registered another club scoring record this week, with the 73-46 result (27 goals) the largest T’Birds winning margin in SSN history.

Elmeré van der Berg was near-on unstoppable again this round, piling on another 44 goals and four Suncorp Super Shots that were more a show of flair than a determination to stave off the Firebirds.

Factor in the shared defensive load to produce a whopping 28 gains (15 intercepts) and the question is well and truly: will the Thunderbirds drop a match this season?

However, all the same questions were asked last year about an unbeatable Swifts side which ended up falling down the rankings in a disappointing second half of the season.

The important thing for the Thunderbirds here is to not rest on their laurels. 

Head coach Tania Obst continues to cleverly share the goal attack load amongst a variety of options. 

Preferred starter Lauren Frew (12 goals at 100 per cent, 10 assists) is undeniable to post at 187cm, while impact player Kayla Graham (four from four and seven assists) provides a handy option off the bench.

Playmaker Georgie Horjus is the undeniable star of the show in the attack end, craftily making an impact in the goal circle when Obst needs a change in the wing attack role.

The shared impact of Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, Latanya Wilson and Matilda Garrett also cannot be underestimated, with all three providing different – but still ball-winning – options in defence.

While, yes, the Thunderbirds were coming up against the winless Firebirds, this result well and truly was a reminder to the rest of the competition that no one can take the T’Birds lightly. Be warned.

ON THE STATS SHEET

Thunderbirds recruit van der Berg retains top spot on the goaling tally for the third week in a row, sitting pretty with 165 goals and followed closely by Donnell Wallam (150 goals) and Grace Nweke (137). Wallam is atop the tally for attempts with 190 while Romelda Aiken-George has returned to her top spot for offensive rebounds (22).

Three more Thunderbirds lead respective leaderboards. Horjus leads all-comers with 78 goal assists while Wilson narrowly tops the intercepts tally with 10 to Sterling-Humphrey’s nine, and Sterling-Humphrey’s eight rebounds keep her ahead of Jo Weston (six rebounds, seven intercepts).

GIANTS recruit Jane Watson leads the league for deflections with a whopping 20 to her name already despite the GIANTS’ lowly status, while teammate Matisse Letherbarrow leads the tally for both successful Suncorp Super Shots and attempts (16 from 26).

Elsewhere, Maddie Hay has taken top spot for centre pass receives in her new colours with 79 to her name, 16 ahead of Horjus and 18 ahead of Hannah Mundy in third.