The Melbourne Mavericks have reinforced their fourth placed hold on the Super Netball ladder after a thumping win over the troubled Giants Netball.
Watch every game of Suncorp Super Netball LIVE & On-Demand on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
The 60 to 41 win now puts the Mavericks two games clear of the bottom half of the ladder as they march to what could potentially be their maiden finals campaign.
Meanwhile, Giants recorded their lowest ever score to remain winless in yet another demoralising game for the Sydney side.
Known as one of the most physical teams in Super Netball, the Mavericks wasted no time in showing that intensity. The defensive tactic worked immediately when they got under the skin of Giants shooter Matisse Letherbarrow. In the first ten minutes of play the usually prolific goaler was held to just one from three.
In a timeout late in the first quarter, Giants coach Nerida Stewart didn’t mince her words to Letherbarrow, saying, “You need to be more aggressive if you want to own your position.”
While she did go on to drain two supershots, Giants still trailed by two points at the first break.
Letherbarrow was sent to the bench shortly afterwards, returning later in the game.
Jessie Grenvold, Kim Brown and Amy Parmenter had an absolute field day in defence for the Mavericks, collecting a combined 18 gains and 19 deflections.
Five of those came in the second term when they opened up the floodgates for their side, spurring a 20 to nine goal scoring spree to take a 13 goal lead into the main break.
Grenvold was outstanding, strengthening her claim as a possible Diamonds’ invitee when the squad is announced later this month, while Parmenter was rewarded as the match MVP.
Speaking post match, Mavericks captain, Parmenter, complimented their defensive unit work. “We have known for the last few years that we don’t always match other sides in our size, so we have to use our strengths which are speed and our agility. When we are in a unit that is how we play our best.”
When last these two sides met, Giants were without Jamaican defender, Jodi-Ann Ward. Known for her impressive elevation and closing speed, Ward was one of the standouts for the Giants today. Her combination with goal keeper Erin O’Brien, who finished with five gains, continues to grow but in worrying signs Ward looked to roll her ankle late in the match and immediately headed for the medical bench to seek treatment.
Speaking post match, O’Brien was complimentary of the Mavericks’ attacking end.
“It was a big challenge. They have such a good attacking end and they feed her (Shimona Nelson) really well. Then they put someone like Uneeq (Palavi) in there who can score goals from anywhere and moves so well. I guess we handled it well, but were also a bit inconsistent.”
‘Stop feeling sorry for ourselves!’ | 01:06
Giants made several attacking positional switches throughout the match, but to no avail. The Mavericks won every quarter as they came away with a 19 point win.
One of the key differences between the two sides was their centre pass conversion rate. Mavericks finished with 73 percent, while the Giants faltered under the immense pressure to a sub par 51 percent.
Sligar stands tall
Giant’s vice captain Amy Sligar is having an impressive season. The 24 year old is in her fourth Super Netball season and has found her stride as a leader in the team. The versatile midcourter is one of the side’s most consistent performers notching up, on average, at least one intercept, two gains and two pickups per match. She has also been quite economical in conceding, on average, two turnovers per game and nine penalties. That is quite impressive for an athlete who has played every minute of their season so far, across wing defence and centre. This will surely have caught the eye of national selectors.
Sexton steps up
After a few rounds spent as a temporary replacement player, Charlotte Sexton has been officially elevated as the Maverick’s permanent replacement for the injured Tara Hinchliffe. So far in season 2026, the 191cm tall defender has made three appearances, two of which were quite impactful. In Round 5, against the Lightning she was on for a mere nine minutes and collected one intercept. In Round 7 against the Firebirds, Sexton was instrumental in shutting down shooter, Mary Cholhok, while also collecting one gain, two deflections and one pick up.
VIXENS BREAK RECORD TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS
The Melbourne Vixens have continued their unbeaten streak, with a 71 to 48 victory over the Queensland Firebirds. Their nine on the trot sees the Vixens break the Super Netball record for most consecutive wins to start the season.
The result was a fitting celebration for captain Kate Moloney who celebrated her 200th national league game. One of the fiercest competitors on court, she’s the first player to play 150 Super Netball games and put on a show for the occasion, notching up 16 goals assists, 29 feeds and two gains.
After a level headed start to the game, the Vixens found their groove in the second quarter courtesy of Kate Eddy and her hustle at wing defence. In a career best season, Eddy snagged two pick ups and an intercept in the second quarter to give her side a 10 point lead heading into the main break.
The match up of Sophie Garbin and Kelly Jackson was enticing, with the two more used to battling each other in international colours. Jackson used her long arms to disrupt the Vixens attacking combination, finishing with four gains to her name. Garbin had some uncharacteristic errors early, but she settled into the game and anchored the attacking end, recording 44/48 in an MVP performance.
Speaking post match, Garbin was reluctant to acknowledge her own performance but was full of praise for her skipper in the milestone game. She said “There isn’t a Vixens without Kate Moloney, she is the heart and soul of the club. If we are down in a game, you know you can rely on her to pull something out.”
The Vixens defenders may have lacked height against their direct opponents, but both Rudi Ellis and Jo Weston used their footwork and position to win plenty of ball. The pair combined for 12 of the team’s 18 gains, compared to the Firebirds eight.
In the second half the Firebirds’ defenders took it up a level, with Jackson in particular having an impact. However, the hard work was often wasted as her side capitalised on just 38 percent of their gains. With the margin not getting any smaller, coach Kiri Wills called a timeout to have a stern word to her side.
She said “We are not scoring our turnovers, you need to get ballside and be there for your mates. Take some responsibility for the ball out there.”
After a lacklustre start to the season, Kiwi shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit has found her feet with the Firebirds. Up against Diamond’s defender Weston, she scored 18 from 26 alongside her 10 goal assists. Her two super shots in the third quarter were pivotal in stopping the margin from stretching out.
The Vixens put their foot down in the final quarter, and were able to push out to a 23 point lead and continue to prove that they are the team to beat in 2026.
Shamera opens up on post natal struggles | 05:52
Captain fantastic
Vixens captain Kate Moloney celebrated her 200th National League game, having played all of them for the Vixens across the ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball. She took over the captaincy in 2017, is a three time premiership winner and two time Sharelle McMahon medallist. Having also made her Diamonds debut in 2017, Moloney spent some time on the fringes but has been a key part of their mid court in recent years, being named vice captain in 2025.
Too many talls
Queensland Firebirds 11th player Elsa Sif Sandholdt was a revelation in the early rounds, when she was included as a result of some mid-court injuries. Despite strong performances against some of the league’s best defenders she has seen limited court time since, andbeen missing from the game day 10 in recent weeks. With both her and Mary Cholhok being tall shooters, it would be a bold move to either omit Cholhok and or run with only one goal attack but as wins continue to evade them it could be a risk worth taking.
Discussion about this post