Reigning Laura Geitz Medallist Gardner will reach 50 SSN games in Sunday's visit to John Cain Arena, as the Firebirds head to Victoria looking to mark the milestone occasion with a win.
The game could also be a memorable one for midcourter Dani Taylor, who has been confirmed as the replacement player for injured co-captain Hulita Veve for the remainder of the season, with the 27-year-old set to make her Firebirds debut if she takes the court having been an unused substitute in last weekend's loss to GIANTS Netball at Nissan Arena.
Sunday's game is also part of First Nations Round with the Firebirds to wear their 2025 First Nations dress, designed by Tribal Sport, and featuring bold orange elements from an original artwork by Mayi-Kulan and Kalkadoon woman Leah Cummins.
LAST TIME WE MET
Crucial errors and failing to punish mistakes proved costly for Firebirds as they slipped to an 18-goal loss against the Vixens in a First Nations Round match up at Nissan Arena in May.
Playing in front of a bumper 4831 crowd on Turrbal and Yuggera land, the Firebirds split the difference in the early stages of the contest but couldn’t keep up with a rampant Vixens as they took out a 70-52 win.
With English midcourter Imogen Allison sidelined, Lara Dunkley, Gardner and Veve played the entire match in midcourt with Dunkley ending game with 22 goal assists and 32 feeds while co-captain Ruby Bakewell-Doran continued her impressive form in defence with seven gains, three intercepts and five deflections.
TEAM NEWS
Taylor has been confirmed as the replacement for the sidelined Veve for the remainder of the season.
A member of the 2025 TAE Aerospace Jets HART Premier Netball League Sapphire division premiers, Taylor impressed in midcourt during the Super Netball Reserves for the Firebirds Futures and will make her SSN debut if she takes the court during Sunday's game.
Vixens midcourter Hannah Mundy remains out with a foot injury with eleventh player Tara Watson to continue in the matchday squad as she has done for the past two weeks.
KEY MATCHUP - Ruby Bakewell-Doran vs Kiera Austin
Austin was deadly from range when these teams met at Nissan Arena earlier this season with the Australian Diamonds international hitting a perfect five-from-five Suncorp Super Shots as well as recording 18 goal assists.
Austin's ability to hit the scoreboard as well as link the ball from the middle third to the goal circle is a big weapon in the Vixens gameplan and a lot will rest on in-form Bakewell-Doran shutting her down for the Firebirds to come away from Victoria with a victory.
Despite the Firebirds' struggles results-wise, Bakewell-Doran has been one of the most consistent performers for the team and leads the league with 21 defensive rebounds so far this season.
KEY STAT
The Firebirds have won four matches against the Vixens in Suncorp Super Netball history - all by single-digit margins.
LAST WORD
"It means everything to me. It's come up so quick, I didn't even realise that I was up to 50 games. I love wearing the purple dress and I feel extremely honoured to wear the purple dress. This is an amazing club and I'm just so grateful for the opportunity that the Firebirds have given me through the years. They've supported me and backed me in. I'm incredibly excited to join some of the amazing players that have played 50 games for the club as well." - Firebirds midcourter MACY GARDNER on what reaching her 50-game milestone means to her.
HOW TO WATCH
Watch Saturday’s game live and on demand on Kayo Sports and Foxtel as well as on Binge. International viewers can catch the entire 2024 Suncorp Super Netball season live and on demand via Netball Pass.
