By Bodhi Stringer
The 2024 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season is shaping up to be a dash for the last two finals places. The 14 round season is already up to round nine in a flash and all teams are still within a shot of finishing within the top four. However, the top two spots are seemingly locked away with the West Coast Fever and the Melbourne Vixens occupying first and second respectively, both boasting a seven-win and one-loss record to start the season, the Fever's only loss coming at the hands of their top spot rivals the Vixens in round seven.
Whilst first and second look to be locked away with six rounds to go, anything can happen and with the remaining six teams all being within three games of each other, this year’s SSN season is shaping up nicely.
Fever and Vixens currently a cut above the rest
As mentioned, the West Coast Fever and the Melbourne Vixens are currently sitting pretty on top of the SSN ladder, both with the same 7-1 record only separated by percentage.
Having finished 3rd and 4th respectively last year, the Fever and Vixens failed to make it to the Grand Final with the Fever managing to playoff in the preliminary final against the NSW Swifts after downing the vixens in the minor semi-final in 2023.
However, both teams have started incredibly strong in 2024, with the Vixens only one win away from equalling their win total from last season. In the make up of the season, the Fever and Vixens will play each other twice with one of those matches already having taken place. The round 13 encounter will likely be the decider for top spot come season's end, barring any unforeseen upsets along the way.
The two teams have a track record of finding each other at the pointy end of the season having played each other in four finals since the start of 2020, including two grand finals (2020 and 2022) where they are one a piece. Could 2024 see them play off in their third grand final in five seasons?
As mentioned, the two teams do play each other again but both have another six games to get through before the finals series, and in a competition this hotly contested, anything can happen.
The Fever have the Thunderbirds, Swifts, Firebirds, Giants, Vixens and Mavericks to round out their season, with three games being at home and three being on the road including the round 13 matchup against the Vixens.
The Vixens on the other hand have the Mavericks, Lightning, Swifts, Thunderbirds, Fever and Firebirds with the same split of home and away games as the Fever. Both teams are in great spots currently and based off the start to the season, it would be shocking if these two teams do not finish first and second on the ladder at the end of the regular season.
How does six go into two?
As mentioned before, all teams outside of the Fever and Vixens are within three games of each other and all contending for the final two spots in the top four with six rounds left. The Adelaide Thunderbirds currently lead the chasing pack, currently having a 5-3 record and looking to cement their spot in third, whilst the Sunshine Coast Lightning, NSW Swifts and Melbourne Mavericks all are sitting on a 3-5 record and are the most likely teams to round out the last spot in the top four.
However, the Queensland Firebirds and the Giants are both currently 2-6 and are playing each other in round 9 in what is a do-or-die matchup that could kickstart the winner's charge for the top four.
Seeing that all teams currently from third to eighth are within three wins of each other, there is sure to be some huge matchups to close out the season, with every round being critical as no team wants to drop a game for the rest of the season.
All six teams apart from the Giants and the Lightning play both the Vixens and Fever in the last six rounds of the season, and will be looking to cause a major upset to really shake up the ladder. If they are unsuccessful in beating the Vixens and Fever however, the Firebirds, Mavericks, Swifts and Thunderbirds will all be looking to make their remaining four games count to book their spot in the finals.
Currently being the reigning premiers the Adelaide Thunderbirds are poised to take out one of the remaining spots in the finals. But who out of the remaining teams secures fourth is truly the biggest watch for the remainder of the SSN season.
While over half of the SSN season has been completed, we are still no closer to knowing what the final four makeup will be. It is believed that the top two teams, the Fever and Vixens, will retain their placings in the finals, but the remaining two positions are still anyone’s for the taking, with the Thunderbirds the top pick to take out third. This leaves just one position for the remaining five teams who all have a realistic shot at making the finals in 2024. The remainder of the 2024 SSN season is set to be thrilling, which really cements the fact that the Suncorp Super Netball League is the best Netball League in the world.
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