Melbourne Double Header Highlights Round Seven

Friday Night, June 24
Queensland Firebirds vs Adelaide Thunderbirds
Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre - 8:30pm.

In a netball first, the Thunderbirds and the Firebirds travel north to Townsville this week to expand Australia’s netball audience.

The Thunderbirds will be highly confident after equalling the highest ever score in CBT history when they beat the Darters 80-41 last week.

The Firebirds haven’t won a game this year, but my home side keeps persisting. After going down by one-point to the Darters in Round Five, they came out in Round 6 and challenged the Melbourne Kestrels for the full sixty minutes.

The Firebirds losing streak is an anomaly considering the Queensland side has one of the highest team shooting averages in the CBT. One of their problems is that they don’t have the depth in their bench to make any impact changes.

This seemed to be the major difference against the Kestrels last week who had the advantage of bringing on fresh players in the second half, while the Firebirds were forced to stick with their starting seven to remain competitive.

In contrast, Adelaide coach Marg Angove has the advantage of having the best Australian Wing Defense, and the fittest new mum in Australia, Peta Scholz available on the bench, as well as Kirby Mutton, Carrie Worthley, and Bianca Reddy.

While the Thunderbirds should be a shoo-in, the Firebirds have a strange knack of playing well against the Adelaide side and created history last year when they denied the Thunderbirds of the minor premiership.

Nevertheless, the Firebirds will have trouble containing the speed and creativity of the Thunderbirds forward line.

Tip: Thunderbirds by 14.

Friday Night
Perth Orioles vs AIS Canberra Darters
Challenge Stadium, Perth – 7:30pm.

This is a game that both sides will have identified as one they can realistically win.

In the mid-court, the contest between Canberra’s Jacqui Murphy and Perth’s Stacy Rosman should be entertaining as they have both been producing great form. Another clash to look out for will be between Darters go-to shooter Susan Pratley and the Orioles inspirational captain Sam Lee.

The West Aussies seem to have the stock of exceptionally tall, young shooters and their current crop – Nikala Smith and Janelle Lawson – are holding up their end well for the Orioles.

Consistent shooting seems to be what the Orioles have been missing all these years, and with these players performing well the Orioles have surprised many by improving this season.

The Darters are filled with future Australian stars but don’t seem to know how to win right now. A winning mindset will be all the harder as the Darters endured a 39 point demolition against the Adelaide Thunderbirds last week.

While the Darters will be aiming to make amends for last week’s loss, Perth seems to have the form and confidence that the Darters are missing.

Tip: Orioles by 8.

Saturday Night, June 25
Melbourne Phoenix vs Hunter Jaegers
Vodafone Arena, Melbourne - 6:30pm.

The CBT is ripe for an upset – are the Jaegers the team to do it? There are a number of good reasons why it’s possible.

The two teams were only divided by 6 points last time they met. Additionally, Jaegers Goal Shooter, Jane Altschwager, has posted massive scores in the last two rounds with 42 goals against the Kestrels and 43 goals against the Orioles.

Furthermore, Jaegers Ali Tucker and Kimberley Purcell are one of the only defensive line-ups that can challenge the Phoenix and Australian shooters, Eloise Southby-Halbish and Sharelle McMahon.

In the mid-court, the Phoenix are supreme with Natasha Chokljat, Ingrid Dick, and Wendy Jacobsen. And coming off their first loss of the season to the Swifts, they will be determined to limit their losses to one.

Last time these teams played it was all tied up until the last quarter, but if the Jaegers shooters can get the jump on the Phoenix defenders, there could be a very exciting finish.

The Melbourne side has the home court advantage this time, and I think this factor, along with the Phoenix pride, will get them over the line by a whisker.

Tip: Phoenix by 3.

Saturday Night
Melbourne Kestrels vs Sydney Swifts
Vodafone Arena, Melbourne - 8:30pm.

I tip the unstoppable Swifts outright and it seems the Australian coach Norma Plummer agrees with me, as this week she said she could see the Swifts finishing the 2005 CBT season undefeated.

This game will still be worth watching for the Liz Ellis and Caitlin Thwaites clash in the goal circle. Last time they played, the young Kestrels shooter was brought on in the last quarter and posted 8 from 10 goals on the Australian captain.

If the Kestrels can provide precise high balls to Thwaites, who is as tall as Lizzy’s Kiwi nemesis, Irene Van Dyk, the young shooter could cause a serious headache for the Swifts.

But even if Thwaites can match it with Ellis for the full sixty minutes, it will be a tough ask for the Kestrels to come away with a victory. This is because the Swifts include one of Australia’s most enviable line-ups.

Swifts Centre, Sarah Barrett, was named in the Australian team for the first time this week. She has had good practice for her new role as she is the on-court link for five other Australian team members: Cath Cox, Megan Anderson, Mo’onia Gerrard, Ali Broadbent and Ellis.

The Kestrels only Australian representative Cynna Neale was excluded from the Australian team this time due to lack of form. Neale’s accuracy used to carry the Kestrels, but without this and super-defender Janine Illitch, the Kestrels will struggle despite their home court advantage.

Tip: Swifts by 20.

Note: All start times Local unless stated.

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