The GIANTS produced a spirited and determined performance in the Show court Showdown on Thursday evening.
Despite going down to the Swifts by nine goals, the GIANTS showed plenty of resilience and growth throughout the 60-minute contest.
In what was a typical spicy and physical derby clash, the Swifts made the early running before the GIANTS worked their way back into the contest, lifting their intensity and building stronger connections across the court as the game progressed.
Assistant coach Jen Wright said the match provided a valuable test in the team’s final pre-season hit-out.
“It was a real tussle. It always is when you play in any version of a derby,” Wright said.
“But for our last pre-season hit out there was lots of positives and good things, and lots of things that we can still fine tune.”
After a slower start, the GIANTS responded strongly, settling into their structures and producing some of their best passages of netball.
Increased defensive pressure and improved ball movement allowed the team to generate momentum and close the gap during the second quarter.
“It was just great to see them play some of their best netball,” Wright said.
“We’ve seen it in patches, but I think for us tonight we were a lot more consistent.
“We really stuck to our game plan, particularly through that middle period, and it was great to see them shine. Moving forward it’s just about consistency, which is what everyone’s striving for.”
Showing patches of brilliance alongside plenty of grit and determination, the GIANTS continued to challenge the Swifts deep into the contest.
Trailing by six goals heading into the final quarter, the side battled hard but couldn’t quite produce the same momentum that had brought them back into the match.
“I think we probably came out of that quarter a little sluggish and that’s something we’ll address moving forward,” she said.
“But it was great to see the girls fight to the end, and there’s lots of positive takeaways, particularly defensively
With strong passages of netball and valuable lessons taken from their final pre-season outing, the GIANTS will take confidence from the performance as they turn their focus to the season ahead.
The GIANTS will be looking to kickstart their season in the league’s season opener against the Melbourne Mavericks on Saturday, March 14 at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo.
QT: 10-18
HT: 26 – 29
3QT: 40-46
FT: 54-63
