By Sophie Taylor
Only one remains undefeated after a blockbuster Round 6.
We run through the main talking points.
VIXENS FOURTH QUARTER DOMINANCE
The Vixens are all alone at the top this week after a tremendous battle against the Thunderbirds which well and truly went down to the wire.
With both teams undefeated this match was always set to have a huge result, and it was the Vixens who swooped in with another outstanding final quarter to get the job done.
Led by captain Kate Moloney and the sideâs long arm brigade in defence, the Vixens caused plenty of held balls and errors from a usually clinical TâBirds side.
But it was the final quarter where the Vixensâ game really set the tone.
Trailing by two goals at the final change, the Vixens needed an extra push to get the job done.
And thatâs where their fitness came in.
Renowned for their fourth quarter â and yet to drop one this year â the Vixens boasted confidence and that never-say-die attitude that earned them a premiership last year.
They ground away at the Thunderbirds and a five-goal run midway through the final term set them up for a runaway victory.
Kiera Austin was electric in her 100th match, with her four Suncorp Super Shots pivotal even before the Vixensâ monster final quarter.
With just eight goals in the final term the Thunderbirds looked stagnant in attack for the first time this season.
A host of changes in the second half felt forced compared to Tania Obstâs typical calculated rotations, and while Shamera Sterling-Humphrey picked off eight gains she registered just two in the final term.
CLOSE UNTIL THEY WERENâT
Round 6 truly was a round of âalmost thereâ for multiple losing sides.
The Swifts could have gotten the job done against an injury-ridden Firebirds outfit if it werenât for a blistering second half from the home side.
The Swifts were within a one-goal margin during the fourth until a flurry of Firebirds goals midway through the quarter forced the Swifts to turn to the Suncorp Super Shot to stay in the match.
If the Super Shots had fallen perhaps the story would have been a little different. But three long-range misses from Grace Nweke and Grace Whyte gifted an injured Firebirds unit the opportunity to run home commanding victors.
Feverâs hot start got them over the line against the Mavericks despite a heated contest throughout the rest of the match.
The 20-7 opening quarter set the Mavs back from the very beginning, forcing them to play catchup but trailing every quarter despite winning the second and third terms.
Within five goals as the final Power Five arrived, the Mavs had done a wealth of work to put themselves back in the content.
But electric defence from the Fever â particularly Fran Williams â forced the Mavs to play the ball around and failed to score in the final five minutes as the Fever ran away with a commanding 12-goal victory.
The GIANTS had a chance to steal victory from the Lightning before an enormous final quarter from Donnell Wallam.
Sitting on 42 goals apiece to begin the final term, a three-goal start from the Lightning put them in good stead to run the game down.
Wallam shot 16 goals while the Lightning defence kept the GIANTS to just nine in the final quarter, most importantly keeping long-range sharpshooter Sophie Dwyer and Matisse Letherbarrow away from the Suncorp Super Shot.
As for the Thunderbirds, it was pressure down the court that caused errors against the Vixens at a sold-out John Cain Arena.
GOAL SHOOTER ACCURACY
Last week, we took note of the importance of rebounding and whether accuracy is really that important.
This week, the competitionâs goal shooters stepped up.
Shooting at a collective 90 per cent for the round, the leagueâs top scorers showcased why they sit atop that leaderboard.
The weekly improvement from Mary Cholhok was particularly impressive, going from 64 per cent accuracy last week to 95 per cent this week with 63 goals from 66 attempts.
Similarly, Romelda Aiken-George improved from a 74 per cent accuracy last week to 88 per cent this week.
Inaccurate Suncorp Super Shot attempts were the thorns in the side of Grace Nweke and Elmeré van der Berg, reducing their accuracy on the scoresheet.
Donnell Wallam has elevated her accuracy each round this season, marking her first week above 90 per cent accuracy with just three misses to her name this week.
ON THE STATS SHEET
Romelda Aiken-George (286 goals) has officially taken the lead in the scoring race, with a 50-goal haul against the Mavs elevating her above Nweke and van der Berg (both 282). This is the first time all season van der Berg hasnât led the tally.
Austinâs accuracy during the Power Five this week put her to the top of the Suncorp Super Shot tally (28) while Letherbarrow still holds top spot for attempts (39).
Courtney Bruceâs 11 deflections on the weekend moves her to the top of the deflections leaderboard with 39, ahead of Sterling-Humphreyâs 37.
Latanya Wilson still holds top spot for intercepts with 19, trailed by Jessie Grenvold and Sterling-Humphrey with 17 apiece.
Centre pass receives are still being dominated by Maddie Hay, who has held top spot since Round 1, though Sophie Dwyer has tied for the first time this season with both players on 131 for the season. Georgie Horjus remains on top for goal assists (130).
