MATCH INFORMATION
Who: Queensland Firebirds v Melbourne Mavericks
When: Sunday 22 June
Where: Nissan Arena, Brisbane
Time: 4pm AEST
Broadcast: Kayo | Foxtel | Binge
The Melbourne Mavericks head north this week for a Round 11 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) showdown against the Queensland Firebirds at Nissan Arena.
When the teams last met in Round 6, the Mavs claimed a hard-fought 71-64 win in Hobart. That victory extended their unbeaten record against the Firebirds, having won all three previous encounters since joining the League in 2024. The Firebirds remain the only team the Mavs have never lost to.
Both sides enter this match with identical records for the season thus far - two wins and eight losses - and will be desperate to break their respective losing streaks. The Mavs are coming off a 63-69 defeat to the West Coast Fever in Round 10, marking their fourth consecutive loss - the longest losing streak in the club’s short history. The Firebirds, meanwhile, fell 58-65 to the Adelaide Thunderbirds last week and have slipped to the bottom of the ladder after sitting inside the top four in the opening rounds.
Historically, the Firebirds have fared well in Round 11 fixtures, winning five of their eight previous matches at this stage of the season. The Mavs, however, lost their only previous Round 11 clash last year against the Thunderbirds.
Quarter-by-quarter trends suggest the Mavs will look to finish strong. Their fourth quarters have been their best this season, winning six and drawing one, including victories in their past four final terms, despite the overall match results being losses. Their first quarters remain a challenge, with just two wins from ten starts.
The Firebirds, on the other hand, have struggled to maintain consistency across games, winning just three quarters in their past five matches and only one second quarter all season.
All ten Mavs players took the court in last week’s loss to the Fever, continuing the team’s commitment to depth and rotation. The Firebirds, meanwhile, hold the League’s lowest attacking average, scoring just 59.6 goals per game.
Mavs head coach, Tracey Neville, said there were plenty of positives to take from her team’s performance against arguably the most in-form team in the competition in Round 10.
“For me it was that impact in defence…you know we got body, we took body, we were putting fear in the attackers’ hands, and I think that was so pleasing to see.”
Neville added that she wanted to see wanted to see some of those positives replicated against the in this weekend’s clash with the Firebirds.
“I also want to see that heart and that passion and that fire up as well. That [the Mavs Round 10 clash against the Fever] was such a great example of how you play netball, and it was such a great netball game to watch as well… It’s not even belief anymore, what they’ve [the Mavs players] got to be is competent at what they do, and when they’re competent at what they do, they’re successful, and we’ve just got to keep building on that.”
With both teams eager to bounce back, expect a fierce contest in Brisbane as the Mavs aim to keep their perfect record against the Firebirds intact.
