Talking points: Round 9

By Sophie Taylor & Stephanie Smarrelli
 

Shock results and a shuffled ladder: Round 9 had it all.

Intriguing outcomes keep coming as the season  rolls on.

We run you through our top talking points from Round 9.

SWIFTS STOPPED

The Swifts and Fever came to blows for the second time this season with the Fever putting an end to the Swifts’ stellar run.

If the Swifts had won the four points, they would have overtaken the league’s all-time win record – 10 wins in a row.

But alas, the Fever came out firing and showed from the very beginning they were willing to do whatever it took to get a seventh win on the board.

Unsung hero Jordan Cransberg was immense.

She piled on the pressure up and down the court and provided a crucial link between the attack and defence, splitting the Swifts’ midcourt effortlessly.

She piled on 27 goal assists into Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard (71 goals from 72 attempts), ably assisted by Alice Teague-Neeld (25 assists).

At the other end, a shared effort between Sunday Aryang and Kadie-Ann Dehaney nullified the impact of Swifts sharpshooters Grace Nweke and Helen Housby.

Paige Hadley worked tirelessly through the Swifts midcourt but could not do it all, while Housby’s eight Suncorp Super Shots from 15 attempts kept the finger on the pulse.

GIANTS DO IT AGAIN

It was another round to forget for the Thunderbirds who fell to the GIANTS for the second time this season.

The see-sawing match went down to the wire, with neither team able to put more than three goals in a row on the board with the lead changing four times.

And while the Tbirds’ defensive pressure forced turnovers galore from the GIANTS, it was composure and accuracy to post that decided the result.

A 100 percent game from Jo Harten (17 regular time goals and four Suncorp Super Shots) and 97 percent day from Sophie Dwyer (28 from 29 and four from four) proved crucial.

The battle between Jamie-Lee Price and Hannah Petty was immense while Latanya Wilson worked tirelessly in the Thunderbirds’ back-end to no avail.

Importantly, Sunday’s result has pushed the Thunderbirds out of the top four for the first time this season and ultimately forces the reigning premiers to take a hard look at how they tackle the remainder of the season.

Two Tbirds losses in a row will put some confidence into their next opponent, the Firebirds, who are licking their wounds after a derby loss on the weekend.

MELBOURNE BELONGS TO…

The Vixens went four from four against their crosstown rivals on the weekend, extending their dominance over the Mavericks with the nine-goal victory.

It was the opening quarter of action which decided the eventual result, with the Vixens piling on the first seven goals of the game before the Mavs got an attempt on goal.

While the Mavs worked their way into the contest from thereon out, it was that early lapse that kept the Vixens at a distance throughout the remainder of the clash.

Only one result between the two Melbourne sides has had a scoreline greater than nine goals, proving that the Mavericks are on the right track.

But while they keep having 0-7 starts to matches, it will be challenging for the newest team in the competition to get that bogey win over a club with so much history.

Sophie Garbin was in fine form putting up 48 goals from 51 attempts, ably assisted by Kiera Austin (17 from 21 and 16 goal assists) while Jo Weston, Kate Eddy and Rudi Ellis combined for the team’s nine gains.

Seven Suncorp Super Shots from Uneeq Palavi (four from nine) and Sasha Glasgow (three from five) could not change the result, with Shimona Jok’s influence nullified by the Vixens’ defence.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Sunshine Coast Lightning defender Courtney Bruce was enormous in her 150th domestic league match on Saturday afternoon, racking up eight gains (13 deflections) against the Firebirds.

Playing across goal keeper and goal defence, Bruce’s third quarter was a handy reminder of how good she is when she’s not carrying an injury.

Elsewhere, Kim Brown (nee Jenner) played her 100th match on Sunday afternoon, the Mavs marking her third club following her debut for the Firebirds in 2017 and a stint with the Fever in 2023.

She led the defensive charge against the Vixens with three gains (one intercept, four deflections, one rebound).

The new-look combination between GIANTS defenders Erin O’Brien and Casey Kopua was a sight to see.

O’Brien’s had a breakout season for the ages, and while the loss of Jodi-Ann Ward hit the GIANTS hard, the experience of Kopua has allowed O’Brien to take a huge step forward.

Cara Koenen had an important game in the context of her individual season, piling on 54 goals at 100 percent and sending warning signs to the competition.

Finally, Netball Barbie was seen in the flesh on Monday afternoon, with Origin Diamonds captain and Sunshine Coast Lightning midcourter Liz Watson taking the plunge in the AFL’s annual Big Freeze.

Supporting the Fight MND foundation, Watson dressed the part as Margot Robbie’s Barbie.