Where and When: Sunday, May 2 at Netball SA Stadium from 3pm EST/2:30pm CST
Last time they met: These two sides last met in round 12 of the 2020 season with the GIANTS taking a 10-goal win over the Thunderbirds. The faint hope of a finals spot was on the line so this was a must-win game for the GIANTS. The home side led at the first break before the GIANTS piled on 18 goals in the second quarter and 20 in the third to cruise to a comfortable win.
Where to watch: Telstra TV and Netball Live Official App
What it means for the GIANTS: A new season brings hope and expectations. It’s a settled GIANTS squad with just one change from last season - young gun Sophie Dwyer earning a full-time contract after Caitlin Bassett headed across the ditch to play at the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. The GIANTS were strong across the pre-season period, winning matches against the Thunderbirds, Vixens, Firebirds, Lightning and Magpies, losing just one other match to the Magpies and scraping out a hard-fought against cross-town rivals the Swifts. Coach Julie Fitzgerald has experimented with Kristiana Manu’a at wing defence while Amy Parmenter has played both wing attack and centre across the pre-season. It’s a versatile shooting circle with Dwyer joining captain Jo Harten and new Diamond Kiera Austin in a dynamic circle with all three strong Super Shot shooters.
Where’s the opposition at: The Thunderbirds have taken a youthful approach to the 2021 season and are still led by former GIANTS assistant Tania Obst. They are a new-look side after opting not to renew former captain Chelsea Pitman’s contract and losing other co-captain Layla Guscoth back to England, Kate Shimmin to the Lightning and Sasha Glasgow to the Fever. Georgia Horjus took the SSN by storm last season and will be part of a shooting line-up including South African Lenzie Potgieter and Samantha Gooden. Their defensive end houses Jamaican star Shamera Sterling while Matilda Garrett has crossed from the Magpies and there are big wraps on fellow Jamaican import Latanya Wilson. Local South Aussie Hannah Petty will captain the side supported by fellow South Australian Maisie Nankivell and experienced South African international Shadine van der Merwe.
The number: 19. Dwyer is just 19-years-old but already turning heads after her first full pre-season as a contracted athlete. She made two appearances as a training partner that joined the Queensland hub last year but has lit up the pre-season matches. She looks effortless on court but can sink goals from anywhere and will be a new face for SSN defenders this season.
Key Match Up: Jo Harten v Shamera Sterling. Two international superstars in their own right, expect Harten and Sterling to both have a huge say in which team comes out on top in this contest. Harten comes into her second season as captain and was the League’s most prolific Super Shot shooter last season. Sterling is capable of shutting down the best shooters in the competition on her day and does it in style as a dynamic defender.
