The Queensland Firebirds will continue their pursuit for a finals berth when they play host to Collingwood Magpies at Nissan Arena tonight as part of their Pride Match celebrations.
Many thought Tuesday night’s loss to the West Coast Fever might have put an end to the Firebirds’ hopes, though they themselves never stopped believing.
Those chances received a boost on Wednesday night when the Adelaide Thunderbirds caused an upset win against fourth-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning.
“Finals are still possible for us; it is just going to be a little harder to get there,” Firebirds coach Megan Anderson said.
“The equation was we had to win our last three games to make finals a definite proposition. But on a technicality, we can still make finals, depending on other results and of course if we win our last two games – probably by reasonable margins.
“We are striving for that, and we just want to keep building on the momentum we have had in the last four games. We have improved out of sight from the first half of the season and want to finish with a bang.
“Yes, we lost to Fever and yes it hurts. But as I said to the girls, be disappointed for maybe an hour tops and then look forward to what is next and what we can control. And that is our match against the Magpies.”
It recent weeks it was uncertain if the Queensland Firebirds would play at home again this season, now they finish with three consecutive games at Nissan Arena.
In the Firebirds final home game of the season tonight, it is their inaugural Pride Match, which Anderson said makes the match a double celebration.
“It is good be here and be able to thank our fans. To thank our family and friends for supporting us in what has been a crazy season and an emotional roller coaster,” she said.
“So, it will be good to celebrate in front of them who have just been all so bloody brilliant this year. And topping it off is that the theme of our last home game is Pride in Sport. Which all of us at the Queensland Firebirds are excited about and proud to be a part of.
“We just want to help netball be an inclusive game, a safe space and to be able to celebrate the diversity of the community within our netball community.”
The Queensland Firebirds can confirm midcourt player Jemma Mi Mi received better news than expected following her scans on Wednesday.
The scan cleared the wing attack of any damage to her Achilles, though revealed a calf tear which will see her miss tonight’s match with the Magpies.
Mi Mi, who the Firebirds will review now on a week-to-week basis, will be replaced in the side by Macy Gardner.
