It was the GIANT win which solidified what GIANTS Netball was about and going to be in Suncorp Super Netball.
In the first final of the first season of the new all-Australian netball competition, the GIANTS came from the heavens to defeat Collingwood Magpies by a goal, 52-51, in the 2017 Minor Semi-Final.
The following week the team in orange would advance to the inaugural Grand Final by beating Melbourne Vixens, sending the minor premier out of the finals in straight sets.
Fast forward five seasons and the GIANTS and Magpies meet again in the minor semi-final at Ken Rosewall Arena this Sunday.
That famous victory remains treasured in the hearts and minds of the orange army and coach Julie Fitzgerald and captain Jo Harten.
Fitzgerald says the inaugural final and regular season laid the foundations for what the club is today.
“It was just such a monumental day for us because of the crowd. It was our first season and we had a packed stadium, we sold standing room only tickets, everybody was in orange and everyone got behind us,” the league’s most experienced coach said this week.
“I think through that first year we were always conscious of the fact that everything we did was setting us up for the future. The culture we established, the engagement we got from fans and the public all of that was setting us up for the future years.”
Harten, who has achieved great heights in her career with the pinnacle a gold medal for England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, rates that final as one of the best contests she’s been on court for.
“It’s probably one of the best games of netball I’ve played in in my career,” the GIANTS captain said this week.
“It felt like the odds were slightly stacked against us. Even though we were playing at home, the Magpies had the upper hand in that game and I just remember having this inner will not to be beaten that day.
“I think we were five or six down in the last quarter and I remember putting my head down and trying to defend my heart out because I did not want to be beaten at home.
“To win that game in the fashion that we did and with the crowd being so electric it was a really special time.”
Now GIANTS captain, Harten feels the win that day paved the way.
“I do agree with Jules, that really set some really cool foundations for our club and moving on from that game we had this confidence that we knew we could challenge anyone, on any given day.”
The GIANTS will host the Collingwood Magpies this Sunday in the Minor Semi Final at Ken Rosewall Arena. Make sure you #StandUnited with the GIANTS in this must-win match. CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets.
This piece was written by Megan Hustwaite - sports journalist and GIANTS Ambassador follow her here.
