Thursday Takes: Round 9

By Matt Fotia 

The SSN season is a marathon, not a sprint. 

And deep down all fans will tell themselves not to overreact to one win, one loss, one quarter or even one moment. 

Basically, don’t ride the rollercoaster. 

Thursday Takes flies in the face of that logic. 

Each week you’ll find our raw, unfiltered views on your club and what the weekend’s performance means for them going forward. 

Check it out below. 

FEVER 

Clinically good. 

The Fever could be one of the best ‘Plan A’ teams in world sport. 

Put simply, when allowed to play their game, or when their game is in good order, they are close to unstoppable.  

At times on Saturday night, they were moving the ball with surgical precision and cutting the Swifts usually dynamic defence apart. 

Dan Ryan’s crew gave up just 10 turnovers for the match, had 75 attempts from just 88 feeds and missed just one shot on goal in an incredibly efficient performance which made everyone stand up and take notice. 

FIREBIRDS 

Imogen is starting to find her feet. 

There is no doubting Imogen Allison’s netball ability. She is a world class player.  

But like several notable imports, it has taken her some time to adjust to the high-octane nature of the Suncorp Super Netball League. In addition to this she’s also had to move across the world and deal with a concussion issue which kept her out of the game for two weeks. 

Her performance against the Lightning could be a sign she’s ready to make her presence felt, collecting a season high five gains, four intercepts and three deflections in the Firebirds’ loss to their Queensland rivals. 

And while it might be too late to push the Firebirds into the finals this season, they could well reap the benefits in 2026 and beyond. 

GIANTS 

Erin O’Brien is the future. 

Erin O’Brien has not missed a beat since her SSN debut late last year, and there have been plenty of beats to keep up with, to become one of the GIANTS most dependable players. 

She has played every minute of the GIANTS 2025 campaign, holding down the goal keeper position for the first seven rounds before stepping out into goal defence following the season ending injury to Jodi-Ann Ward in Round 7. 

The move to goal defence hasn’t slowed O’Brien down. 

In Round 8 against the Vixens, she had eight deflections, seven gains, five rebounds and nine centre pass receives, while on Sunday she had 11 deflections, five gains, two rebounds and eight second phase receives in the GIANTS win against the Thunderbirds. 

The GIANTS look like they are beginning to turn a corner, and with Erin O’Brien in their ranks it could be the last corner they turn for a while.  

LIGHTNING 

Courtney could be the key. 

Last week it was Liz Watson who showed signs of getting back to her brilliant best. 

This week it was Courtney Bruce. 

Bruce played 55 minutes of netball on Saturday evening for 13 deflections and eight gains in a wonderfully strong defensive display. 

A fully fit, and peaking, Bruce gives Belinda Reynolds plenty of versatility in her defence end, given the former Fever captains’ ability to swing into goal defence. 

Not only does it give Reynolds versatility, an in form Bruce makes Ash Ervin an even more dynamic option off the bench and gives the Lightning one of the best ball winning combinations in recent history. 

MAVERICKS 

Missed the starter’s gun. Again. 

Four minutes into Sunday’s Melbourne Derby and the Mavericks were already 7-0 down in what would turn out to be a decisive quarter of netball. 

Tracey Neville’s side had just 38% possession, gave away 23 penalties and five turnovers in a chaotic first quarter which ended with them eight goals in arrears. 

Slow starts have been a problem for the Mavericks recently, having lost three of their past four by eight (Vixens), five (Lightning) and four (Thunderbirds). 

The one they didn’t lose? A tied first term against the Firebirds, their most recent win. 

SWIFTS 

The loss they needed to have. 

It goes without saying that no professional athlete or coach ever wants to lose. But there is a strong argument to say the Swifts loss to the Fever on Saturday could benefit them in the long run. 

There has been evidence across the last fortnight or so to suggest that Briony Akle hasn’t been overjoyed with her side's overall performance. 

There is no doubt Akle would’ve been putting work into ironing out these issues, but when you’re winning there’s a subconscious tendency to think everything is just fine. 

But when you lose, it hits home a little bit harder.  

THUNDERBIRDS 

Bogey team losses should cost them finals. 

It should be season over for the Thunderbirds. 

For the second time this season they’ve lost to the bottom side, the GIANTS, this time in front of their home crowd on Sunday afternoon. 

In an eight-team competition, in which three sides are well off the pace, an inability to bank six wins from six against these sides is criminal. 

This pair of losses to the GIANTS should have shut the door on the Thunderbirds chase for an unprecedented threepeat, but it remains ajar. If they can win at least one, but more than likely two, of their upcoming games against the Vixens, Lightning and Fever they should still qualify. 

Their destiny is in their own hands – just. 

VIXENS 

Sophie loves the Mavs. 

Sophie Garbin might just be the Melbourne Mavericks number one fan. 

It is clear Garbin loves nothing more than facing up against the competition’s newest club. 

In her four career outings against the Mavericks, Garbin has netted 186 goals at 91% and collected 14 rebounds. Further to the point, her best two performances of the 2025 season have come against the Vixens crosstown rivals (Round 4 – 45 goals, three rebounds, Round 9 – 48 goals, four rebounds). 

The Vixens couldn’t have played Garbin’s bunnies at a better time. 

The Diamonds shooter is an integral part of the Vixens assault on the finals and can be a gamechanger for Simone McKinnis’ side when in form. 

And thanks to the Mavericks, she’s back on song.