The NSW Swifts will be looking to their leaders this Sunday when they face the Melbourne Vixens for a place in next weekend’s Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final in Brisbane.
Both sides are stacked with international experience, but it’s the team that makes the best use of it that will book a date with the Sunshine Coast Lightning, according to Katrina Rore.
The World Cup-winning New Zealand defender addressed the media today and said the vibe was good in the Swifts camp ahead of the do-or-die clash with the Vixens.
“The camp is good, we just had the best training week I’ve had since I got here, and been going through the processes about how to beat the Vixens,” she said.
“They are going to be a huge challenge, and were very impressive last weekend, but we’ve beaten them twice this year so we can take confidence from that.”
Experience is like an extra player out on court, and while this may be the Swifts’ first Finals foray since 2016 – and a first for many of the current roster – Rore said the team boasted big-game experience from other competitions.
Paige Hadley won a World Cup with the Diamonds in 2015, Helen Housby and Natalie Haythornthwaite won Commonwealth Gold with England last year and Sarah Klau played in this year’s World Cup Final. Rore herself has also won everywhere she’s played.
“We have all that experience and now it’s about us bringing through the players that haven’t been there yet,” Rore added.
“It is not just about getting to that level, it’s about wanting to be there and embracing it. You have to enjoy the challenge and really get among it.
“This is our time to put our foot forward and bring everyone along with us. All 10 players need to stand up and do their jobs but it’s the leaders who need to show confidence in the game plan.”
The biggest threat from the Vixens? Rore says that’s an easy one to answer.
“Their team play, definitely,” she says. “I think (against the Magpies last week) they just went out there as a full team and brought it all over the court.
“You know Liz Watson and Caitlin Thwaites are top Aussie Diamonds and will want to win badly, but we want it just as much, if not more”
The NSW Swifts and Melbourne Vixens go head-to-head at the Quaycentre, Sydney Olympic Park, on Sunday at 1pm (AET). The game will be broadcast live on Channel Nine at the Telstra Netball Live App.
MATCH NOTES: Preliminary Final
- When the teams last met in Round 12 the Swifts defeated the Vixens 57-51 in Sydney.
- In six previous meetings the Vixens have won three matches, the Swifts two and there has been one draw.
- The first Super Netball meeting between the teams was a draw in 2017, then the Vixens won the next three matches, while the Swifts have won the past two.
- The Swifts and Vixens have met 25 times across the former trans-Tasman Championship and Super Netball. The Swifts have 15 wins, the Vixens nine and there has been one draw.
- The Swifts ended the Minor Round in second place with 10 wins, a draw, three losses and 36 bonus points. The Swifts’ 36 bonus points was the most of any team across the Minor Round.
- The Swifts won both previous matches between the teams this season; R5 60-50 and R12 57-51.
- The Swifts are coming off 48-58 loss to the Lightning in the Major Semi Final on the Sunshine Coast.
- The Vixens ended the Minor Round in third place eight wins, a draw, five losses and 29 bonus points.
- The Vixens are coming off a 62-49 victory over the Magpies in the Minor Semi Final in Melbourne.
- The Vixens win over the Magpies in the Minor Semi Final was their first Super Netball Finals win. The Vixens claimed the Minor Premiership in 2017 but lost both finals to finish third and they didn’t play Finals in 2018.
- The Swifts and Vixens have met in one previous playoff which was in the former trans-Tasman Championship. The Swifts won the 2016 Australian Elimination Final 67-53 in Sydney.
