Where and When: Sunday, May 23 at John Cain Arena in Melbourne at 3:00pm.
Last time they met: The last time the GIANTS and the Melbourne Vixens met was in round nine of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball Season. It was a Tuesday night in September, with the match played at Nissan Arena in Brisbane. The 2020 Premiers were clear winners, defeating the GIANTS by 20 goals. Taking a four-goal lead at the first break, the damage was done during the third (8-15) and topped off in the fourth (11-19). Jamie-Lee Price was strong in the middle for the GIANTS, playing her 100th National League game and racking up 97.5 Nissan Net Points against a quality opponent in Kate Moloney.
Where to watch: Telstra TV and the Netball Live Official App.
What it means for the GIANTS: The GIANTS currently sit on top of the ladder with three wins from their opening three matches. After two weeks in Sydney at their new home venue Ken Rosewall Arena, the GIANTS will spend the next two weeks on the road starting this weekend in Melbourne. For the GIANTS it’s a matter of continuing to build momentum, with strong starts to the season not a strength of theirs in the past. The GIANTS have lost (or drew) all of their fourth quarters so far in 2021, so a strong four-quarter performance will no doubt be a focus point this, along with continuing to start strong from the first whistle.
Where’s the opposition at: The reigning premiers will be hungry for their first win as they return home to John Cain Arena this Sunday. After claiming their first Suncorp Super Netball Championship in the 2020 Grand Final, the Vixens currently sit 8th on the ladder and are one of two teams yet to get a win this season. The Vixens are a different looking side this year following the retirement of Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip at the end of 2020 and the absence of Liz Watson due to injury. Former West Coast Fever goaler Kaylia Stanton join Mwai Kumwenda in the shooting circle, along with 20-year-old Ruby Barkmeyer who was elevated from a training partner.
The number: 1092 – if the GIANTS win on Sunday, it will have been 1092 days since the GIANTS last beat the Melbourne Vixens. That win came in round five of season 2018, with the GIANTS winning 58-51 at Quaycentre.
Key Match Up: Sam Poolman v Mwai Kunmwenda. As discussed in this week’s episode of Coach’s Insight, Mwai Kumwenda is pivotal part of an unexperienced goal circle. 2021 was always going to be a year of rebuilding for the Vixens following the double retirement of Thwaites and Philip. Kumwenda has shot a total of 84 goals at 93% so far this season. She will most likely match up on GIANT Sam Poolman who is arguably playing some of her best netball. Poolman had the tough job of matching up on 196cm Romelda Aiken in round three and still managed two gains, three deflections and two rebounds.
