The Firebirds and Magpies played their first Pride Match in 2021 and this year’s occasion will be marked with both teams donning rainbow bibs in a show to LGBTIQ people that they are welcome and safe in netball.
LAST TIME WE MET
A five-point halftime lead wasn’t enough for the Firebirds when they travelled to John Cain Arena to face Collingwood in a Round Four Easter Sunday clash earlier this season. A run of seven goals to the Magpies after the halftime break gave the hosts the lead as they outscored Queensland 23-8 for the third quarter on their way to a 69-61 win. Donnell Wallam scored 44 points including three Suncorp Super Shots while Mia Stower also made three Suncorp Super Shots as she racked up 15 points. Remi Kamo put in a phenomenal defensive display with seven gains, four intercepts and five deflections.
TEAM NEWS
The Firebirds have called up Hulita Veve as a temporary replacement player after confirmation during the week that Macy Gardner broke her wrist after falling heavily following a collision in last weekend’s loss to Melbourne Vixens. Ash Brazill returns to the Magpies midcourt after missing last weekend’s loss in Adelaide due to illness while Kelly Singleton’s stint as a temporary replacement player continues.
KEY MATCHUP – RUBY BAKEWELL-DORAN v SOPHIE GARBIN
Bakewell-Doran was the Firebirds’ stand-out player in a tough loss to the Vixens last weekend. The Australian international defender recorded six gains and four intercepts in the 12-point defeat in an all-action display. She’ll be aiming to extend that good form against Sophie Garbin. The Magpies goaler is shooting at just 63 per cent this season and spent a significant portion of last weekend’s loss to the Thunderbirds on the bench, making just six goals in the 52-47 loss.
KEY STAT
The Firebirds will have to be pinpoint accurate with their feeds in Saturday’s game as they come up against Magpies defender Jodi-Ann Ward. The Jamaican was the player of the game when these teams met earlier this year and has recorded 24 intercepts this season – a league-high tally, four higher than international teammate Shamera Sterling.
LAST WORD
"To go from last year only being able to call it the Pride Match and it not be an official round to Netball Australia endorsing an inclusion round an us being able to celebrate pride as part of that, it's a really nice step forward." - RUBY BAKEWELL-DORAN ON THIS YEAR'S PRIDE MATCH BEING PART OF SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL'S INAUGURAL INCLUSION ROUND.
HOW TO GET THERE
Tickets are still available via Ticketek. All the information regarding game day is available here.
