By Stephanie Smarrelli
We’re halfway through the home-and-away season and pressure is building.
The competition is beginning to split with genuine contenders emerging but there’s still time for teams to turn their season around.
That said, the clock is well and truly ticking. Every win from here could be the difference between securing a finals spot and falling short.
Last weekend the Sunshine Coast Lightning fumbled a golden opportunity, going down to the Adelaide Thunderbirds by a single goal.
Meanwhile, the Fever were kept uncharacteristically quiet at home, losing by six goals, a result made more flattering on the scoreboard by the sharp shooting of Sasha Glasgow and Olivia Wilkinson.
Now, the two sides meet on the Sunny Coast both desperate to return to the winner’s circle and put last week behind them.
For the Lightning, a win is crucial to keep their top-four hopes alive. The Fever, on the other hand, will be looking to reinforce their credentials as a genuine premiership threat.
When these teams last met, the Fever controlled much of the contest, though the Lightning stayed within reach. A strong final quarter narrowed the margin, but this time they’ll be aiming to set the tone from the outset.
Fever defeated Lightning the last times the teams met.
Donnell Wallam’s combination with Cara Koenen continues to develop, with Wallam showing a willingness to back her long-range shot.
While she may not be the most potent from distance, it only takes one to land in a tight finish.
That shooting end will face a stern test against a Fever defence that’s in strong form and thrives on disruption.
Ruth Aryang made an impressive return last weekend after more than a year out with injury. Though her stat line was modest, her movement and reach created uncertainty for the Vixens’ attack.
That unpredictability could trouble a Lightning side that has, at times, hesitated with ball in hand.
Alongside Aryang, Fran Williams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney form a defensive unit capable of applying relentless pressure and getting into the heads of their opponents.
But the Lightning will take confidence from having Liz Watson steering the midcourt. One of the game’s elite, her composure and control will be vital in settling her side.
At the other end, the contest could prove just as decisive.
Lightning are chasing a return to the top four.
Glasgow and Wilkinson have both proved they can keep their team in a game when the going gets tough so the pressure will be on the Lightning defenders.
Their key focus? Limiting the pair’s influence in the two-point zone.
Courtney Bruce and Karin Burger have formed a strong partnership in defence, while Ash Ervin provides the extra centimetres in height which could prove valuable against Romelda Aiken-George this weekend.
Ervin tallied four deflections and two gains against the Fever in Round 1 and while she may be Lightning’s youngest defender, she could be most impactful on Sunday.
While there will be key battles across the court, there’s one player who could ultimately shape the result.
Alice Teague-Neeld.
Fever noticeably missed her presence last weekend and will be eager for her return.
But the club seems to be taking the midcourter’s back soreness week by week, waiting until game day to pull her out of the team list the last couple of weeks.
If she plays, her drive, composure and precision feeding will address the gaps exposed against the Vixens.
If not, the Fever could be vulnerable, particularly if the Lightning midcourt ramps up the defensive pressure and disrupts their path to circle edge.
REST OF THE WEEKEND
The Mavs will look to cement their place in the top four against the Swifts on Saturday night. Their previous meeting was a thriller, but this time the Swifts will be the ones in enemy territory, and the Mavs have learned their lessons after a few tight losses.
The Mavs narrowly loss to the Swifts earlier this season but they'll look to flip the script this week.
Then the Firebirds will have the chance to redeem themselves. The last time they went head-to-head with the Thunderbirds they were dismantled. Twenty-seven goals separated the two teams who looked to be in very different leagues. The Firebirds have improved since then, but to be in finals contention they’ll need to start challenging the competition’s best.
Rounding out the weekend, the GIANTS face the daunting task of taking on the reigning premiers in Melbourne. The Vixens remain unbeaten and full of confidence, but an upset over the ladder leaders could prove season-defining for the GIANTS.
