MATCH INFORMATION
Who: Melbourne Mavericks v Queensland Firebirds
When: Saturday 17 May
Where: MyState Bank Arena, Hobart
Time: 5pm AEST
Tickets: Via Ticketek
The Melbourne Mavericks are heading south this weekend to host their annual first game at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart, Tasmania, where they will take on the Queensland Firebirds.
This Saturday, May 17, at 5pm AEST, the Mavs will be stepping out in front of their Tasmanian family.
In the rivalry with the Firebirds to date, the Mavericks currently hold a 2-0 advantage, after claiming two wins in the 2024 season. In Round 6, Mavs took a 69-62 victory, and then followed with a dominant 73-61 win in Round 10.
Both the Mavs and the Firebirds are entering this weekend eager to bounce back after last week’s results.
The Mavs loss last week will be a driving force, with the final score being 78-61 against the Fever, in a game where they were without their captain, Amy Parmenter. This week they are ready to reset and find their rhythm.
The Firebirds also had a challenging meet in Round 5, falling to the Thunderbirds by nine.
Neither team can be underestimated coming into this week’s match, as once again, the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) ladder is tight.
Last time the Mavs were at MyState Bank Arena they took home some fond memories, edging a 72-71 win against the Sunshine Coast Lightning. They will be tapping into this same energy – both from the crowd and the squad – as they take on the Firebirds this Saturday.
Mavs midcourter, Maisie Nankivell, said her team is eager to bounce back after last week’s outing against the Fever.
“When you are not playing the netball that you know you can put out there, that’s when it gets frustrating. So, I think this week, we focus on our individual roles and confidence coming out on game day to bring that intensive from the start.”
With the Mavs being the only SSN team to have a home game in Tasmania, Nankivell spoke on the strong support they receive from the local crowd.
“The Tasmanian family really turns up and we have great memories playing there last year. We love being able to get over there and claim it as a home ground - it's such a beautiful place and we love the fans and the support they bring.”
The Firebirds are not going to be an easy team to face, but Nankivell says the Mavs are ready to fire this weekend.
“There is definitely no team that you can look at and think it is going to be an easy beat, so we are going to have to play our best netball to be able to get the win over them.”
Tune in this Saturday at 5pm as the Mavericks look to regain their momentum.
