344 days since they last hit the court, GIANTS Netball will be eager to make their much-anticipated return to Suncorp Super Netball.
After a last-minute fixture change due to the border restrictions placed on New South Wales residents travelling to Queensland, the GIANTS will need to put a hold on christening their new home, Ken Rosewall Arena.
In unique circumstances, the GIANTS will now open their 2020 season against the NSW Swifts, with the Derby to played at Nissan Arena in Brisbane.
A heart-breaking final round of last season hurt the GIANTS and just under 12 months later, they will be looking to return to playing finals in 2020.
After playing in two successive finals series over their first two seasons in the new competition, the GIANTS missed the finals in 2019 by just .62 of a percent with an inconsistent season hurting them in the end.
The GIANTS will be put to the test straight up, taking on the team that played out the finals the best last season.
The Swifts got the better of the GIANTS in both occasions in 2019, with their last official meeting in round eight, which was June of 2019.
Both teams enter the 2020 season with minimal squad changes.
New captain Jo Harten will most likely team up with Australian captain Caitlin Bassett in the shooting circle, while Sam Poolman and Kristiana Manu’a are expected to continue their defensive line-up at the other end of the court.
Hay, last season’s revelation Amy Parmenter and Diamond Jamie-Lee Price are expected to rotate through the mid-court while the introduction of rolling substitutes will provide ample opportunities for the rest of the squad.
Diamonds squad member Kiera Austin has proven equally as deadly in WA as the shooting circle and will be looking for a starting spot while young defender Matilda McDonell will also be looking to make her mark.
The latest signing of star defender April Brandley, who returns to the game six months after having a baby, will be a big boost for the GIANTS defensive options.
With the increase to 12 players on the bench for the 2020 season, training partners Sophie Dwyer, Matisse Letherbarrow and Claire O’Brien will join the squad with a chance to debut in the orange for the first time.
For the Swifts, they too have strength all across the court with two of their three internationals in the goal circle, their Diamond duo in defence and the return of their captain, Maddy Proud, in the middle.
Coach Julie Fitzgerald said she’s happy to take on the reigning premiers so early on.
“Taking them on this early provides a good marker as to where we sit and there will be much to take away from the game,” Fitzgerald said.
“There is always such a great intensity when we play the NSW derby.
“We are extremely disappointed not to be able to play this match in front of both the supporter groups, but unfortunately it’s one of the sacrifices we have to make to ensure the season goes ahead.
“I’m sure everyone is working hard behind the scenes to have the remaining derby match played back in Sydney, but it will obviously be pending health and government restrictions at the time.”
The GIANTS take on the Swifts at Nissan Arena in Brisbane at 1pm this Sunday, 2 August with the match live on Channel 9 and the Netball Live App
