By Matt Fotia
After three and half gruelling months, we’ve finally arrived at the business end of the SSN season.
It’s time to let the emotions take over and let even more of those raw, unfiltered views spill out.
Thursday Takes forges on, with a look at the clubs still in the race for the 2025 premiership.
Check it out below.
FEVER
What more can you say.
The Fever are playing some of the best netball we’ve ever seen in the SSN and their 32-goal demolition of the Swifts on Sunday was their crowning performance of the season so far.
Dan Ryan’s team had a whopping 57% of possession and were taking an average of 28 seconds to score in their thumping of the Swifts. Defensively they were incredible as per usual, combining for 18 gains and an eye-watering 13 goals from gains.
Importantly, the Fever are currently getting impact from every single player.
Whether it be Fran Williams nabbing three gains in her 24 minutes on court, Olivia Wilkinson showing her threat from long range, or Zoe Cransberg adding further versatility to an already strong midcourt.
Just one more to go.
The Fever are in imperious form.
SWIFTS
Beware the wounded Swift.
It’s always tempting to tip against the loser of the Major Semi Final.
Especially when they put out a performance like that.
Especially when their form line is as dodgy as the Swifts.
But if history has taught us anything, we shouldn’t write them off just yet.
First off, it is very rare that a side will be knocked out in straight sets.
In fact, the last side to finish in the top two and not make the Grand Final was the Sunshine Coast Lightning back in 2020. Turns out teams finish in the top two for a reason.
Secondly, this Swifts side is made up of fighters.
There is no chance the likes of Sarah Klau, Maddy Turner and Verity Simmons are going to lie down for the Vixens to run over them.
God knows Sharni Lambden didn’t sit on the fringes all this time to roll over.
Prepare yourself for a bounce back performance.
All is not lost for the Swifts, despite their poor form.
VIXENS
Won’t give an inch.
The Vixens are in an absolute flow state right now.
The simplicity of their task, outlined to them all the way back in around Round Six or Seven, has given this highly talented group a clear sense of direction.
The pivot back to an old school ‘starting seven or bust’ style has also proven to be a minor masterstroke from the outgoing Simone McKinnis, with the players relishing in this renewed clarity of role.
Their performance in Adelaide on Sunday was as impressive as they come.
They were uber efficient with ball in hand, keeping the usually ball hungry Thunderbirds defence to just four gains and they were equally suffocating in defence forcing Tania Obst to move Georgie Horjus into goal attack earlier than she would’ve hoped.
Now faced with yet another battle with their oldest rival, there is one thing for sure.
These Vixens won’t stop until the final whistle.
The Vixens scored an inspiring win against the Thunderbirds on Sunday.