Where and When: Saturday 28 August, 2:30pm at Nissan Arena (Brisbane)
Where to Watch: Nine, 9Now, Telstra TV or Netball Live App.
Tickets: The venue will operate at a reduced capacity this weekend in line with the current Queensland Government COVID guidelines and protocols.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.
Last time they met: It was just two weeks ago in the major semi-final with the match coming down to the dying seconds. With the GIANTS finishing first and the Swifts second, the two teams were playing off for a spot in the Grand Final and a week off. It was the GIANTS who found themselves on the back foot at the end of the first quarter, trailing by eight goals due to a surge from the Swifts in the final minutes of the first Power Five. The GIANTS responded well in the second and third quarters to only trail by one heading into the final quarter. The GIANTS had their opportunities to take the lead both with 90 seconds remaining and then again with a second chance with six seconds remaining but were unable to convert. The Swifts took the win by one and proceeded straight through to the Grand Final.
What it means for the GIANTS: A win on Saturday would see the GIANTS take out their first Suncorp Super Netball Championship. The club was founded in 2016 and was one of three new teams to enter the new Suncorp Super Netball competition in 2017. The GIANTS made the Grand Final in their inaugural year, but went down the Sunshine Coast Lighting by 17.
What it means for the opposition: The Swifts have a long history within the National League competition, with six club championships across the competition’s different formats. The Swifts last took out the title in 2019.
The Number: 66 – the GIANTS and the Swifts have both been on the road for 66 days now. Both teams departed Sydney on June 23 as the COVID outbreak began to worsen. All teams have made sacrifices this year, but both NSW teams have definitely faced the toughest challenges this year.
Key Match Up: We’re going to highlight the match up of the brains trust for both teams, with the head coaches – Julie Fitzgerald v Briony Akle. Fitzgerald, who will coach her 360th game on the weekend, will stand tall in her ninth grand final while Akle, who was once coached by Fitzgerald, will head into her second grand final in just four seasons.
