Where and when: Nissan Arena, Saturday August 8, 1.00pm AEST
Last time they met: The GIANTS and the Thunderbirds last met in round 13 of the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball in Adelaide at Priceline Stadium. At that point of the season, the GIANTS were playing to keep their spot in the top four, with the GIANTS and the Magpies fighting it out for the fourth and final spot. The GIANTS came out strong in the opening quarter outplaying the home side by 10 goals. However, they were only able to extend the margin out by four goals throughout the remaining three quarters. Shamera Sterling from the Adelaide Thunderbirds was named MVP despite her side going down by 14 goals.
TV and online: Channel 9 / Telstra TV / Netball Live App
What it means for the GIANTS: The GIANTS will be hungry to take the win in in their second game of the season. Despite playing some impressive netball in round one, the GIANTS didn’t take home the points in the opening round. After one game the GIANTS currently sit just outside the top four. After playing the Thunderbirds on the Saturday, the GIANTS will have a short turnaround before they launch mid-week netball taking on the West Coast Fever on Tuesday August 11 in round three.
Where’s the opposition at? The Adelaide Thunderbirds have been flagged by many as the underdogs for season 2020. They opened their campaign against the West Coast Fever, with the competition getting an insight into their new look side. The team from Adelaide opened the game strong, but after five unanswered the goals the Fever took the momentum and they didn’t see the lead again. GIANTS defenders will need to turn their attention to new Thunderbird Sam Gooden during the Rebel Power 5, with the 23-year-old scoring nine of the team’s 10 Suncorp Super Shots.
In the spotlight: Every GIANT played their part in round one. Some notable performers were Amy Parmenter who returned to 2020 the same way, if not better, than how she left 2019; Jo Harten was also impressive with her signature long range shooting, Kristiana Manu’a kept English Rose Helen Housby quiet and Caitlin Bassett looked back at her best. One match up to keep your eyes on will be Australian Diamonds goal shooter and Jamaican Shamera Sterling, with GIANTS Netball to highlight the head to head in the coming days.
Interesting Stat: The GIANTS have beaten the Adelaide Thunderbirds on every occasion in the history of Suncorp Super Netball.
