Round one has finally landed! Fans at John Cain arena today were positively buzzing with excitement as the two Melbourne teams went head to head, with the Mavericks taking on the Vixens.
What an opening game it was for the Melbourne Mavericks this Suncorp Super Netball season!
After enjoying the pre-game entertainment and our Flying Goose member bar and lounge, the Trailblazers were just as ready and rearing as the players for their team to showcase what they have been working towards all year.
Coming up against the star-studded Melbourne Vixens, it was never going to be an easy battle. However, the Mavs starting seven: Amy Parmenter, Kim Jenner, Eleanor Cardwell, Molly Jovic, Gabby Sinclair, Tayla Fraser, and Olivia Lewis took to the stage and proved themselves an absolute force to be reckoned with, finishing the first quarter down by just 2 goals following an impressive last five minutes of power play.
Half-time saw the Mavericks chasing the Vixens with the scores at 29-36. With some regrouping to do, athletes turned to Tracey Neville and inaugural team captain, Amy Parmenter for guidance, whilst Trailblazers turned their attention to the Snaffle Squad, tearing up the court with their ‘Snaffle Strut’ and killer dance moves!
Coming out of the break refreshed, energised, and ready to fight their way back to victory, the team fought their way to a five point margin with the likes of Maisie Nankivell, Rolene Streutker and Jessie Grenvold all firing up in their debut Mavs games.
Hungry for victory and following an incredible preseason, Kim Jenner stood up for her team, playing a tight game of relentless defence and winning turnover ball against the tough to beat Kiera Austin.
Fighting until the very end but unable to waver the Vixen’s stunner supershots, the Mavs pulled up just seven goals short with a score of 61-68 in their first home game.
Despite the scoreboard not showing the outcome the Mavs wanted, one thing is for sure, this exciting new team are here to throw a curveball into the season, and have certainly made their mark after today’s stellar performance.
Welcoming a new team into the SSN is no easy feat, and the energy in John Cain arena today proved that the Mavs taking to the court was not only a milestone moment for their team, but for netball as a whole.
The Mavericks take on the New South Wales Swifts next Sunday, April 21 at Sydney Olympic Park.
