Queensland Firebirds coach Megan Anderson said her team will take both confidence and lessons out of Sunday match, despite it ending in a five-point loss to the Melbourne Vixens.
A strong start saw the Firebirds lead by three at the first break, before the Vixens proved too good as they handed the home side a 65-70 defeat at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.
The loss was mostly due to lapse midway through the match which saw the home side trailing by 15, before showing some character with a late fightback.
Next week the Firebirds head up the Bruce Highway to take on the Sunshine Coast Lightning, and their coach is expecting a more consistent performance.
“We’re excited for the season and there’s some really good signs for next week,” Anderson said.
“It was a good start, and it shows that when we do what we say what we are going to do then it works, and we just have to be really committed to putting in that hard work for all 60 minutes.
“We are definitely fit enough so just making sure we concentrate and don’t give the other teams the ball, because it is very hard to get back off them. Especially against a team like the Vixens that don’t turn over the ball very often.
“The comeback was pretty good, I think to be 15 points down and comeback and go really close to winning it just shows that a game is never lost.”
All eyes were on debutant Donnell Wallam and she didn’t disappoint as she shot 41/43 and 2/5 with super shots.
After the game the 28-year-old told media she was please with her first SSN game in purple and excited to be playing along side star goaler Gretel Bueta.
“I guess I’ve trained with the Firebirds for the last few weeks now, so I felt pretty confident with the combination between Grets (Gretel) and I,” Wallam said post-match.
“And as Megs (coach Megan Anderson) said I think it just going to grow and I just felt comfortable playing with everyone out there.”
“We (Grets and I) have a good bond there and the good thing is it is only going to get better as the season goes on.”
A proud Anderson agreed with Wallam’s comments and she was equally looking forward to the combination developing, as well as those in her team’s defence.
“First game out at SSN level and she did a great job,” the Firebirds coach said of Wallam’s debut.
“I think the connection with Gretel is growing every day and I think the feeders are really starting to find her and find confidence in her in the circle.
“And a few two-pointers in there as well and I am just expecting Donnell to get better and better every game now that she’s had that first taste at SSN level.
The Queensland Firebirds take on the Sunshine Coast Lightning at USC Stadium next Saturday night.
