The GIANTS are back home on Saturday night as they get set to take on the Melbourne Vixens and square the ledger in round nine.
#SSNGiantsVixens
Quaycentre, Sydney Olympic Park
Saturday, June 22 at 7.00pm
Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx…
Watch:Telstra TV and Netball Live Official App
The Vixens had a convincing with over the GIANTS in round two this season, however it was Melbourne team’s first win over the GIANTS since the first meeting between the two sides in round six, 2017.
The GIANTS will be out to notch their fourth win of the season following two frustrating weeks; a draw with the West Coast Fever in Perth before a last-minute loss to the Swifts last round.
There’s plenty on the line with the GIANTS still sitting in the top four on the ladder but on the same amount of wins as the Magpies just below them. A big win and bonus points would put the GIANTS back in touch with the Vixens in third place.
Both teams will also be keen to bag another win before the competition pauses for the 2019 Netball World Cup with nine Vixens and three GIANTS travelling to the UK.
The GIANTS lead the head-to-head ledger against the Vixens with four wins to the team in orange and two to the Vixens.
The round two winning margin of 16 goals is by far the biggest between the two teams with the other five meetings between the two sides decided by eight goals or less.
After a slow start to their round eight clash with the Firebirds, the Vixens ran out 71-60 winners to now sit in third place on the ladder with five wins, a draw, two losses and 19 bonus points.
The GIANTS are just behind in fourth place on the ladder with three wins, a draw, four losses and 16 bonus points.
With shooting star Mwai Kumwenda missing this season through injury, the Vixens have turned to the equally-threatening Caitlin Thwaites to partner with Tegan Philip in the shooting circle.
Thwaites is sitting fifth on the Suncorp Super Netball leading goal scorer tally with 280 goals from 308 attempts at an impressive 90.9 per cent shooting accuracy.
Overall the Vixens have the fourth-best shooting accuracy at 87.7 per cent while they have the third-best attacking record, scoring 61.3 goals per match.
Down the other end, the defensive duo of Emily Mannix and Jo Weston hold the second-best defensive record, conceding just 54.8 goals a game.
Thwaites and Weston will join midcourter Liz Watson on the plane to the World Cup to represent Australia with Kate Moloney, Mannix and Philip this week announced as reserve athletes for the tournament.
The GIANTS will be out to correct some of their statistics from the first half of the season as they hold the third worst shooting accuracy (85.8 per cent) and fifth best attacking record with 58.9 goals a game.
The GIANTS know they have a second-half issue, having won seven of eight second quarters but only winning two fourth quarters; drawing one and losing five.
The GIANTS have had a settled line-up over the past three matches, starting and playing with the same seven: GS Caitlin Bassett, GA Jo Harten, WA Kim Green, C Jamie-Lee Price, WD Amy Parmenter, GD Kristiana Manu’a and GK Sam Poolman.
Over that time they have beaten the Thunderbirds, drawn with the Fever and lost to the Swifts.
There’s plenty on the line for the GIANTS’ final game before the World Cup bye so make sure you’re at the Quaycentre on Saturday night when the GIANTS face the Vixens.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
2017, R6: Vixens 59 def GIANTS 51 at Melbourne Arena
2017, R12: GIANTS 56 def Vixens 52 at AIS Arena
2017, PF: GIANTS 65 def Vixens 57 at Melbourne Arena
2018, R5: GIANTS 58 def Vixens 51 at Quaycentre
2018, R12: GIANTS 60 def Vixens 58 at Melbourne Arena
2019, R2: Vixens 61 def GIANTS 45 at Melbourne Arena
