MATCH INFORMATION
Who: Giants Netball v Melbourne Mavericks
When: Saturday 12 July
Where: Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
Time: 5pm AEST
Broadcast: Kayo | Foxtel | Binge
The Melbourne Mavericks will close out their 2025 season this weekend with a high-stakes clash against the Giants in Sydney, with both teams vying to finish sixth on the ladder.
When the sides last met on Easter Sunday in Round 3, the Mavs delivered a commanding 71-56 win at home, continuing their recent dominance over the Giants. The Mavs have won the past two encounters, including a thrilling 55-54 victory in Sydney in Round 13 last season.
Both teams enter Round 14 with identical records of four wins and nine losses, but it’s the Mavs who sit just ahead in sixth place on percentage. A win will secure that position, while a loss will see them drop to seventh.
The Mavs are coming off a tough 49-60 defeat to the Thunderbirds in Adelaide; their lowest score of the season. Despite the loss, the team has shown resilience in third quarters, winning the past four across their last four matches. However, closing out games has been a challenge, with no fourth-quarter wins in their last two outings.
The Giants also struggled in Round 13, falling to the Fever, 56-73, in Perth - the biggest losing margin of the round. They failed to win a single quarter, marking the third time this season they’ve gone without a quarter win. Their fourth quarters have been particularly problematic, with just two wins and one draw across the season.
Defensively, the Giants have conceded an average of 69.3 goals per match, the highest in the league this season after 13 rounds.
This match will also be a significant milestone for Giants co-captain, Jo Harten, who will play her final professional netball match. Harten began her elite career with the Mavericks in England back in 2006, and will finish with 202 combined ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball appearances, including 130 for the Giants.
Looking ahead to her side’s final match for 2025, Mavs head coach, Tracey Neville, said it was about more than one game – it was about what the club is building for the future.
“We are still building as a club and although there were things we weren't competent in in that game from Saturday [against the Thunderbirds] there has been some really great things we've been putting in place over the last four weeks. It's just about getting back to what we do well and how we can really challenge the Giants this weekend.
“I think we're a great matchup team with them, [and] we always have a great contest against them. I'm not going to say it's been easy - they have come into form over the last two months - but it’s always a great challenge when we play them, and I think finishing off as a club in our last game for the season, there's also a lot of pride and honour around it as well.”
With pride, ladder position, and legacy on the line, expect a fierce contest as both teams look to finish their seasons on a high.
