NS Scoreboard: SSN Round 12 2024

Writers: Jenny Sinclair, Elly McNerney, Katrina Nissen, Ian Harkin, Andrew Kennedy, Georgia Doyle

Photographers: Clinton Bradbury, Hannah Howard, May Bailey

Cover Photo: Clinton Bradbury

Results

Adelaide Thunderbirds 73 def Melbourne Vixens 58

Melbourne Mavericks 72 def Sunshine Coast Lightning 71

Queensland Firebirds 61 def NSW Swifts 60

West Coast Fever 68 def GIANTS Netball 65

Milestones

Georgina Sulley-Beales – umpired her 50th national league match.

Injuries

Lauren Frew (Thunderbirds) – ankle injury. Frew was a question mark even to play Round 12, but then sustained an ankle injury in the second quarter and returned to the bench wearing a moon boot.

Donnell Wallam (Firebirds) – missed the game against Swifts through illness.

LET’S TALK ABOUT:

News of the Week

It was revealed by the ABC’s Britt Carter during the week that the Melbourne Mavericks had tried to stop their training partner, Uneeq Palavi, from playing for Tonga during the Pacific Series, as there was a chance she could debut in Super Netball. Palavi chose to play for her country, but unfortunately Hulita Veve (Firebirds) and Kelea Iongi (Central Pulse) weren’t released from their teams, leaving Tonga questioning the positioning of the series during Australia and New Zealand’s domestic seasons. 

Palavi has since temporarily joined the Swifts as a replacement for Sam Wallace-Joseph – who mutually parted ways with the club – and has impressed under the post. 

Uneeq Palavi receiving flowers for her recent Swifts debut. Image – May Bailey/Clusterpix Sports

The fight for fourth place is still going with the Melbourne Mavericks and the Queensland Firebirds still within a mathematical chance of contending finals. Mavericks currently sit on the same points as Sunshine Coast Lightning who have a superior percentage, while the Firebirds must win their next two matches and hope Mavericks drop at least one, for them to make their first finals campaign since 2018. 

Against all odds, interim co-coaches Katie Walker and Roseless Jencke have won their last two games in charge of the Firebirds. Prior to that it looked certain that the Firebirds would hold the wooden spoon at season’s end. 

Queensland Firebirds celebrate their come from behind win. Image – May Bailey/Clusterpix Sports

2025 signing announcements have started with the Firebirds kicking things off by announcing Hulita Veve as the first athlete to sign on for the club next season. She joins Lara Dunkley, Macy Gardner and Ruby Bakewell-Doran who each signed multi-year contracts this season. 

Hulita Veve has just signed a new contract with the Queensland Firebirds. Image – May Bailey/Clusterpix Sports

Super Netball Reserves

Thunderbirds 67 def Vic Fury 56;
Fever 68 def GIANTS 47

The rookies

After a long wait, Vixens midcourter Zara Walters returned from a lower back injury and took the court against the Thunderbirds. In what was an unhappy game for Vixens, Walters was a shining light. Up against the strongest defence in the competition, she demonstrated her potential with 20 feeds, nine assists, one gain, and three pickups in 40 minutes of court time. It was just her fourth game at this level, and she clearly has a big future. 

Uneeq Palavi can’t do anymore to convince clubs she is worthy of a full time SSN contract. During her 49 minutes of court for the Swifts, she potted 37/43, including two supershots, and pulled in 3 rebounds and 2 pickups, for just two turnovers. And that’s despite limited training time with the athletes around her. 

Olivia Wilkinson had an important 20 minute cameo for Fever, at a time when starting goal attack Shanice Beckford was starting to flag. Wilkinson finished with 4/6, with her two misses coming from supershot range, but more importantly, she is handling the pressure of Super Netball much better, giving up just 1 turnover during her time out on court. 

Olivia Wilkinson had another important cameo as she goes from strength to strength each week. Image: Clinton Bradbury/Bradbury Sports Photography

Source link