Last Week
Fever faced Collingwood in Launceston in what was a close affair.
There was almost nothing to split the two sides through the first half as the margin never exceeded two goals. When Fever did turn over the ball, Courtney Bruce often found a way to get her team back in possession with three Gains and five Deflections before the main break.
Halfway through the third quarter, Fever were the first to blink and Collingwood seized on the opportunity and built up a seven-goal lead.
Despite a strong fourth quarter, where Fever brought scores back level, the Magpies were determined to get their fairy tale ending as they just edged ahead come the final whistle.
The Vixens also had their final regular season game thwarted by the opposition, as the Giants came from behind to win 60-57.
A strong start from Diamonds captain Liz Watson helped her side push forward early in a tough opening quarter. As the game progressed, the Vixens slowly edged further forward but the Giants never let the deficit blow out.
Despite leading for almost the entire game, the Giants pulled level with two and half minutes left on the clock. The Giants showed why they have one of the most feared Super Shot attacks in Suncorp Super Netball as they sunk 10, including two in the final Power Five, to seal the win.
Match Ups
There will be five players battling it out on the court this week fresh off Diamonds World Cup selection. Three of those will be in Fever’s defensive circle with Bruce and Sunday Aryang facing up against Vixens Goal Attack Kiera Austin.
As one of the competition’s best defensive duos, the pair average more than nine Gains a match and will need to be on the ball to stop Austin’s range shooting. Throw in Malawi Goal Shooter Mwai Kumwenda under the post and it is bound to be a popcorn worthy battle.
On the other side of the court, Sasha Glasgow will be looking to repeat her performance from last time against the Vixens, scoring eight Super Shots. She’ll have to contend with Jo Weston in Goal Defence who was kept quiet back in round eight but will be buoyed by World Cup selection.
Last time the sides met, Alice Teague-Neeld had a great game but the Vixens’ stacked midcourt featuring the likes of Liz Watson and Kate Moloney will be an enthralling battle.
Along with Verity Simmons and Jess Anstiss, Teague-Neeld will battle for control over the midcourt and Fever hope to be able to do their trademark feeding into Jhaniele Fowler.
Season’s Meetings
Round 1, 2023 – Fever 62 defeated Vixens 61
The first meeting of the season was in the very first week of the Suncorp Super Netball competition. Fever won the game at home by a single goal, scored by Jhaniele Fowler in the very last second.
After some brief back and forth play, Fever pushed ahead by five goals at quarter time. The Vixens quickly regained control and brought scores level again in the second term thanks to slick midcourt play.
The game continued to see saw as Fever again created a buffer in the margin before the Vixens eroded it away. Scores were level with five minutes to play and Sasha Glasgow put through her first and only Super Shot with 70 seconds left on the clock to give Fever a lead.
Despite Austin scoring one back, there was just enough time on the clock for Fowler to sink the winning shot and bring the house down.
Round 8, 2023 – Fever 73 defeated by Vixens 74
The sides met again in Round Eight at John Cain Arena with the Vixens this time getting the upper hand by one goal.
The Vixens got off to a good start before Fever came alive in the Power Five, scoring two Super Shots to bring the margin down to two at quarter time.
From there the scoreline stayed close and Fever eventually went into the lead after half time, thanks to increased defensive pressure.
Glasgow scored three Super Shots in the final quarter to bring her match tally to eight, the final one putting Fever ahead by one with 30 seconds left to play.
It was Austin who ultimately stole the win away, scoring a buzzer beating Super Shot to secure the points.
Stats and Facts
Fever and Vixens have come together for three finals in the Suncorp Super Netball era.
Fever won the two most recent encounters in the 2022 Major Semi Final and Grand Final, while the Vixens came out on top in the 2020 Grand Final by two goals.
Last week, Fever recorded their most Deflections of the year with 21, but with only three of them resulting in Gains what happens after the touch will determine how Fever can control possession.
Teague-Neeld played one of her best games of the season last time the sides met, racking up 42 Feeds, 38 Centre Pass Receives and 29 Goal Assists. Fever will need another strong performance from their star Wing Attack.
Preview By. Oliver Lane
