A “powerhouse” performance from a future Diamond, another Helen Housby
masterclass, West Coast Fever coach Dan Ryan marvels at Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang’s “spectacular” combination and the Adelaide Thunderbirds’ failure to launch.
Here are the big talking points out of round 13 of Super Netball, which attracted more than 33,500 spectators at the weekend, including a home and away record of 11,013 at Perth’s RAC Arena for the Fever’s clash with the Giants.
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‘POWERHOUSE’ MUNDY STARS IN DERBY
Much of the lead-up to the final Victorian derby at John Cain Arena on Monday was about the past – the rivalry and acrimony that’s built up between the Vixens and Pies – but it was a glimmer of the future that shone brightest on game day.
The performance of 22-year-old Hannah Mundy, who replaced Liz Watson at wing attack just before halftime after Ash Brazill had the best of her, was one for the ages and swung the game in the Vixens’ favour.
Watson, regarded as the best wing attack in the world, had just one centre pass receive before coach Simone McKinnis moved her to centre to bring Mundy on at WA.
Where the national captain had failed, Mundy – looking every inch the future Diamond – succeeded, first on Brazill, then Maddie Hinchliffe and finally Jodi-Ann Ward, helping the Vixens win 64-55 in front of 9000 fans.
After 33 minutes, Mundy finished with nine goal assists and 23 feeds, nine with an attempt, as well as eight centre pass receives, 11 second-phase receives and two deflections. Her speed, depth and connection with MVP Kiera Austin proved game-changing.
“I thought she was just a powerhouse, really,” McKinnis said of Mundy, the daughter of former Diamond midcourter and vice-captain Shelley O’Donnell.
“She took the drives … the change of direction, the feeding down in that attack end, the ball movement, speed, variety and options just really opened up a lot more in that second half (after Mundy had entered the game).”
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HOUSBY BACK TO ‘TEAR IT UP’ BEST
In the NSW Swifts’ ninth consecutive win this season, Helen Housby put on another masterclass, continuing a rich vein of form.
In her side’s 78-65 victory over the Firebirds in front of 4544 fans at Nissan Arena, the English Rose finished with 17/18 regular goals and 8/15 super shots, as well as 22 goal assists and 32 feeds, 23 with an attempt. She racked up 119.5 Net Points, the sixth game straight she’s posted more than 100 Net Points.
Former Diamond turned Fox Netball commentator Madi Browne said 28-year-old Housby is playing some of the best netball of her life.
“I feel like she’s back to – or even better than – when she first came to Australia and we were like ‘oh my goodness, this woman is going to tear up opponents in Super Netball and also on the international stage’ and she did!” Browne said.
“When you look at her Net Points, that’s not just shooting. For a goal attack to be hitting those numbers, it’s assists and what she’s doing outside the circle too. That’s what makes her so dangerous; her court awareness and creative play out the front.
“Her connection with Romelda Aiken-George has grown so much since the start of the season. What Romelda has been able to do is a credit to the work Helen’s been doing,” she said.
If Housby plays well, the Swifts play well, Browne said.
“She a real barometer for them – not just as a shooter – but for the energy she brings. You know when she lifts her arms and she’s getting up and about? She’s there for that performance element and she thrives on it.”
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Fever jump to second after Giants win | 00:43
‘COURT-DAY’ COMBO SLAYS GIANT LINE
With 13 gains – which included five intercepts, four deflections with a gain and four rebounds – the West Coast Fever duo of Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang put in one of the finest joint defensive efforts of season 2023 against the Giants on Sunday.
The “Court-day” combination had the better of Jo Harten, Sophie Dwyer and Matisse Letherbarrow in the Fever’s 72-61 win in front of 11,013 fans at RAC Arena, with Bruce and Harten appearing to “share words” more than once.
While Bruce picked up 10 contacts and three obstructions at keeper, goal defence Aryang was cleaner with just six contacts all match.
Asked if Bruce and Aryang – who many expect will both be named in Stacey Marinkovich’s World Cup squad – were the best defence duo in the world, Fever coach Dan Ryan wasn’t coy.
“When they’re on, they’re on and I thought they were spectacular,” he said.
“They had to counteract the best ‘super shooting’ circle in the competition (and when) Matisse (Letherbarrow) came on, she got her hand hot too, so it’s never easy, there’s no relaxed moments.
“But the trust they have in each other, the combination that they are when they’re firing is certainly up there with some of the best in the world,” Ryan said.
OBST FRUSTRATED, NOT WORRIED ABOUT FORM
Adelaide coach Tania Obst is frustrated, rather than worried, about a late-season form dip – which saw her Thunderbirds only turn up for the last quarter of their match against the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
In front of about 9000 pink partisans at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the Lightning handed the Thunderbirds a second-straight loss, winning 56-54 in a scoreline that flattered the South Australians.
Bookend stars Shamera Sterling and Eleanor Cardwell were missing in action for much of the match and the Lightning won the first three quarters before urgency emerged for the Thunderbirds in the last, with Cardwell at goal attack and Lucy Austin at shooter.
In that final quarter, an awakened Sterling had three gains and Cardwell and Austin shot 8/10 regular goals and 6/7 super shots to double Lightning’s quarter score, claw the margin back and almost steal it at the death. But it was too little, too late.
Asked about the performance, Obst was circumspect.
“This is a young team and we’ve given ourselves an opportunity to play in finals with what we’ve done earlier in the year. I don’t know that I’m worried (but) a little sort of frustrated around that we can do that in one quarter,” she said.
“We know we’ve got it in us to do that for more than one quarter so we just need to be a little bit more consistent and put some processes in place at training to then come out and win more than a quarter,” Obst said.
The Thunderbirds, now sitting third, face the minor premiers the Swifts in Sydney on Saturday. The sides’ only other meeting this year, in the second round, ended in an abandoned draw.