A future Diamond has emerged from the shadow of an incumbent as Sophie Dwyer's stunning rise continued in GIANTS Netball's 68-54 win against the Melbourne Vixens at Join Cain Arena.
The GIANTS are unbeaten after four rounds despite the setback of losing Australian goal attack Kiera Austin to a season-ending knee injury.
19-year-old Dwyer added another 23 goals, including five Suncorp Super Shots, against fierce Vixens duo Jo Weston and Kate Eddy to prove in just her second season that she belongs in the world's toughest netball league.
Her arrival could not have come at a better time for Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich who is facing many selection questions in the build-up to next year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Dwyer's confidence to keep attempting shots when the game was on the line in the third quarter was precisely what the GIANTS needed.
"We knew it was going to be a tight tussle with the Vixens, as it always is," Dwyer said.
"We strayed from the game plan in the middle part but really happy with how we finished off."
The brave Vixens remain winless in their title defence but will not be without admirers after Mwai Kumwenda (38 goals) led the home side on a third quarter fightback.
For every blow Kumwenda landed, the GIANTS had an answer against the last-placed Vixens.
An unruffled Jo Harten sank 29 goals, including three Suncorp Super Shots to steady her GIANTS when the Vixens were charging in the third quarter.
Wing attack Maddie Hay – another in the infancy of her Super Netball career – also made smart decisions and executed brilliantly under pressure, while veteran defender April Brandley finished with seven gains.
The GIANTS should have made more of their advantage in the first half after a lively opening stint from goal attack Dwyer whose trio of two-point Suncorp Super shots signaled a fearlessness to take aim from anywhere.
Dwyer's GIANTS pinched 12 gains from their hosts on their way to a commanding first-quarter lead but failed to shake the determined Vixens.
Captain Kate Moloney's leadership and touch around the circle edge kept the Vixens in the hunt when they trailed 32-26 at halftime.
The Vixens will make their way north to take on the Queensland Firebirds next round while the GIANTS will fly over to Perth to face the West Coast Fever.
Score Breakdown
Q1: Vixens 8 v GIANTS 13
Q2: Vixens 18 v GIANTS 19
Q3: Vixens 16 v GIANTS 17
Q4: Vixens 12 v GIANTS 19
Player of the Match: Sophie Dwyer (GIANTS Netball)
GIANTS Shooting Statistics:
Sophie Dwyer: 28/36 - 77.8%, G1: 23/29, G2: 5/7, Total Points: 33
Jo Harten: 29/40 - 72.5%, G1: 23/30, G2: 6/10, Total Points: 35
Vixens Starting Seven: GS - Mwai Kumwenda, GA - Ruby Barkmeyer, WA - Kate Moloney, C - Allie Smith, WD - Kate Eddy, GD - Jo Weston, GK - Emily Mannix
GIANTS Starting Seven: GS - Jo Harten, GA - Sophie Dwyer, WA - Maddie Hay, C - Jamie-Lee Price, WD - Amy Parmenter, GD - April Brandley, GK - Sam Poolman
