In a Super Netball match that featured a good old fashioned shootout, the Melbourne Mavericks banked just their second win of the season, 71-64, against the Queensland Firebirds.
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Both teams featured towering shooters and defenders working overtime to make a dent in their volumes.
It was the Mavericks who had the best of the deal, with a pumped up Shimona Jok rock solid under the post with perfect stats of 61/61 in an MVP performance. Goal keeper Liv Lewis was also having her best game of the season showing incredible athleticism to force four blocked shots against opponent Mary Cholhok.
Despite giving away a 17 centimetre height difference, Lewis’ aerial display restricted passes into Cholhok and her confidence to go to the post. Her volume of just 33/44, despite a supportive cameo from Emily Moore, just wasn’t enough to threaten Mavericks on the scoreboard.
After watching from the sidelines last week with an ankle injury, Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter made a spectacular return to the game. Her physicality forced numerous errors by the Firebirds as she finished with two gains and four deflections.
A heavy head collision between Firebird Ruby Bakewell-Doran and Maverick Sasha Glasgow in the third quarter saw them both leave the court. Both were forced to temporarily leave the court under the league’s concussion protocols, with Bakewell-Doran visibly distressed on the sidelines.
Earlier this week, Firebirds goal attack Tippah Dwan decided to step away from the game to continue rehabbing her knee. Dwan’s departure presents a prime opportunity for Emily Moore to show why she deserves a full 60-minutes which, coach Kiri Wills said is something she would like to see from Moore. While she didn’t quite hit those minutes today, her contribution of 17/22 is heading in the right direction.
Samoan goal attack Abigail Latu-Meafou has been filling the vacant goal attack role for the Firebirds over the last two rounds. Latu-Meafou’s connection with Cholhok is on point and her efforts at post also helped the Firebirds make a comeback attempt, however her nine from ten including four supershots were not enough.
Missing Mavs
Today’s match marks 20 outings for the Melbourne Mavericks. Yet since their inception, 18-months ago, the team has not once taken the court with their full 10 contracted athletes. In 2024 Sasha Glasgow and Lauren Parkinson [nee Moore] missed the full season. So far in 2025 Parkinson is yet to make her Mavericks debut, and English international Eleanor Cardwell is unlikely to return to play until Round 12, as she rehabs from knee surgery.
Will they swap Dwan for a Diamond
Mere hours before the news dropped that Dwan was taking a break, former Firebird and Diamond’s goal attack Gretel Bueta posted a netball training session to social media. The Liz Ellis Diamond winner hasn’t played netball in well over two years, after having stepped away to expand her family with husband Nico. And while it could be a great coincidence and pure speculation that she is making a return to the game, the timing could be the saving grace for the Firebirds.
Price: ‘Having Jo back will be exciting’ | 00:47
BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS LOSE AS FEVER CONTINUE RED-HOT START
West Coast Fever have continued their hot Super Netball form, taking a 67 to 61 win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds, despite a last minute Georgie Horjus supershot clinic.
Not having dropped a game since Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard returned, Fever continue their march up the ladder and now sit comfortably inside the top four.
It was an abysmal third quarter from the Thunderbirds, scoring only 10 points, that allowed Fever to run out to a 13 goal lead.
Horjus tried to steal victory at the final moments, with four super shots that narrowed the margin to just three, but it was too little, too late.
The loss sees the Thunderbirds facing a potential drop to fourth position, and at risk of losing the chance to defend their back to back titles.
It was the battle of the Jamaican shooters, with Romelda Aiken-George and Fowler-Nembhard posting up for their respective sides. Both stalwarts of the game, it was Fowler-Nembhard who top scored with 53 from 55, leading her team to victory in the process. Meanwhile Aiken-George was showing visible signs of frustration with the physical attention she was receiving from her opposition.
With plenty of defensive firepower across the court, the Fever were first to cause major disruption forcing some uncharacteristic fumbles from the Thunderbirds that the mid court hustled hard to turn into goals. Jordan Cransberg led the way, with three pick ups, 20 goal assists and two gains to earn MVP honours.
Thunderbirds record 3rd win of season | 00:55
Sunday Aryang was the stand out defender, determined not to be outdone by the dynamic Jamaicans. She finished with a game high six gains, and forced several changes in opposition as the Thunderbirds tried to quell her influence.
At the other end of the court, the steady but strong pressure from Latanya Wilson and Matilda Garrett started to pay dividends, as the connection between the Fevers attackers started to break down. However, Thunderbirds finished the game with a measly eight gains, only four of which turned to a goal, while Fever were impressive with 16 gains, 11 of which resulted in a goal. These numbers will have Thunderbirds desperately hunting for a way to win enough ball with Shamera Sterling-Humphrey on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.
A problem like Shamera
The Adelaide Thunderbirds continue to try and plug the hole left by Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who announced her pregnancy a few weeks ago. While fellow Jamaican super star Latanya Wilson has certainly lifted her work rate, the fear factor Sterling-Humphrey brings is proving hard to replicate as opposition teams are finding their way to goal more easier than usual.
Seeing double
The West Coast Fever have two sets of siblings in their line up, including identical twins Jordan and Zoe Cransberg. Both having made the shift cross country from Victoria, Jordan earned her first full time contract last year while Zoe is their 11th player for season 2025. The two have been seamlessly rolling on and off court through the centre position, leaving opposition and fans alike confused about who they are up against.
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