The Melbourne Mavericks were defeated by West Coast Fever, 78 -61, in a challenging outing at RAC Arena on Saturday night.
Mavs captain, Amy Parmenter, was unfortunately sidelined due to a minor ankle injury in the hours before the game, with vice-captain, Molly Jovic, stepping up to lead the team. An opportunity therefore arose for Mavs Reserves defender, Zoe Davies, who was added to the match day squad, going on to make her Mavericks debut.
Q1: Mavs 14 – 22 Fever
Sasha Glasgow returned to RAC Arena for the first time since becoming a Mav. The game started as a back-and-forth battle until Shanice Beckford shifted the momentum, with an intercept to give the home team an early lead in the game. The Mavs quickly found themselves chasing the scoreboard as a result of the pressure applied by Fever.
Q2: Mavs 38 – 29
Jessie Grenvold came on in the GK position, whilst Glasgow worked hard outside the circle linking with Jovic and Maisie Nankivell to feed into Shimona Jok. The lead stretched out to 11 causing a need for change with the Mavs. Tactical changes of Uneeq Palavi coming into GA was made, as well as debutant, Davies, entering as WD. The change found momentum for the Mavs coming back to within eight. Still, as Mavs head coach, Tracey Neville, said from the bench; “We have to better”, heading into the second half.
Q3: Mavs 42 – 59 Fever
After the main break, Mavs came out matching the Fever with a goal-for-goal to start the third. Olivia Lewis came back into GK trying to disrupt the ever-dominant Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, with Tayla Fraser moving into C and Glasgow heading back to GA. The Power Five saw a confidence boost for the Mavs with Palavi coming into GS and the shooting duo each scoring Super Shots. However, due to unforced errors by the Mavs, the Fever regained control of the game to build another handy lead.
Q4: Mavs 61 – 78 Fever
With the chase for a comeback on, we saw Jovic come back on in C with Nankivell moving to WD and Fraser to WA. The Mavs came out with 4-1 to start and we saw the combination of Lewis and Grenvold back in the defence circle. The flying Mavericks is what they were being called, taking punches on intercepts down the court and out of the circle. Glasgow finished with a standout final term, generating four Super Shots to her name.
In the Super Netball Reserves competition, the Mavs Reserves were also in action in Perth this weekend, and started strongly taking the lead from the Fever Reserves early in the game, entering the second half with a four-point lead; 22–18. However, the Fever Reserves did not let the Mavs Reserves from their grasp, coming back to claim a 43-40 win.
The Mavs will quickly shift their focus to Round 6 of Suncorp Super Netball, where they will again be on the road, but this time for a home game against the Queensland Firebirds in Hobart.
Meanwhile, having already played three games across the first two rounds of the season, the Mavs Reserves will have a bye next weekend.
