Re-Watch the classic match between the Queensland Firebirds & New South Wales Swifts - The ANZ 2015 FINAL - FULL LENGTH (1hr 38m)
STREAM LINK available here at 09:30 (BST=UCT +1) 10:30 (SAST) 18:30 (AEST) 20:30 NZST Saturday 23rd May 2020 - only on smart devices (tablet, PC, phone or Web enabled TV)
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Do not miss this FULL length screening - billed as the 'most exciting match of the century'. Even if you know the score it's excitement right the final whistle!!!!!
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PLUS - join Ian Harkin and friends from @NetballScoop - for analysis and comment on Twitter - follow them during the match and have your say!
- Here's how Kelli Underwood previewed the 2015 Grand Final for FOX News
AUSTRALIAN netball’s biggest day is almost here. Netball expert Kelli Underwood previews the ANZ Championship Grand Final. Forget the big boys in the rugby league — the real state of origin heavyweight battle is happening this Sunday in Brisbane.
For the second time in five days the New South Wales/Queensland rivalry will hit fever pitch, with the Swifts entering into enemy territory to take on the Firebirds in the much anticipated season decider. One team will hold aloft their second ANZ Championship trophy. If Wednesday night was the curtain raiser, Sunday will be the main event.
All you can ask for in a grand final in any code is the two best teams hitting the contest in peak form. And netball has delivered. The Queensland Firebirds have won 12 games in a row. Their last loss was way back in round one, more than 100 days ago.
The Swifts had a stuttering start before finding their feet to win seven of their last eight games. They are the two best teams in the competition by far. And this year they have played three compelling and brutal games.
In Round 3 in Sydney, Caitlin Thwaites had a shot with seconds on the clock to seal the game, only to miss. It ended in the first draw of the season.
In Round 5 they headed to Brisbane. Swifts captain Kim Green missed the game with concussion while Firebirds skipper Laura Geitz reached a milestone, playing her 100th game. It proved the motivation for the home side, as the Firebirds won by four.
Then only two weeks ago, they squared off in the Australian Conference Final. Again, the Swifts were missing their injured captain. But they stunned the Firebirds in the first half with their fierce attack. It was the most brutal and high quality display of netball we’d seen all year. But the Swifts sprung a surprise move in the second half, emptying their bench and resting their stars ahead of their semi-final. They essentially handed the win to the Firebirds.
Both teams will be playing like there’s no tomorrow on Sunday. No resting. This is it.
The Swifts are tired and sore. Kim Green is battling a calf injury, but she is a gritty competitor, key playmaker and fearless leader who could drag her side to victory on one leg.
The sentimental favourites are the Firebirds. They’ve been grand finalists two years running, only to end up the bridesmaid. Laura Geitz is netball’s golden girl and she gets the chance to add to her trophy cabinet with a second championship that would sit alongside her Commonwealth Games and World Championship gold medals.
I’m tipping Laura and her ‘birds, but only just. It should be a classic.
Teams
GS - Romelda Aiken
GA - Gretel Tippett
WA - Caitlin Nevins
C - Kim Ravaillion
WD - Gabi Simpson
GD - Clare McMeniman
GK - Laura Geitz (capt)
Bench:
Rebecca Bulley
Laura Clemesha
Beryl Friday
Verity Simmons
Amy Wild
Coach:
Roselee Jencke
GS - Caitlin Thwaites
GA - Susan Pettitt
WA - Kim Green (capt)
C - Paige Hadley
WD - Abbey McCulloch
GD - Julie Corletto
GK - Sharni Layton
Bench:
Jade Clarke
Taylah Davies
Erin Hoare
Micaela Wilson
Steph Wood
Coach: Rob Wright
LOOK AWAY NOW IF YOU DONT WANT TO KNOW THE RESULT!!!
- And the match report from @guardian_sport
The Queensland Firebirds have claimed a stunning victory in the trans-Tasman netball grand final rallying in the final seconds to defeat the NSW Swifts 57-56 in a thriller. In a scarcely-believable comeback the Firebirds spent almost the entire match trailing but took the lead for the first time with 15 seconds to go when goal attack Gretel Tippett scored the decisive goal.
Tippett’s goal triggered an almighty roar from the sell-out 7000-strong crowd as the Firebirds held on for victory at Brisbane Entertainment Centre sealing their first title since 2011 with their 13th consecutive win. Firebirds captain Laura Geitz said the final whistle came as “so much relief” with her side just mere moments away from a third successive grand final failure.
“In previous years there’s times where you sort of go ‘oh this is where we fail a bit we choke’” Geitz said. “It just wasn’t the case it was the complete opposite effect and feeling tonight. That’s this team in a nutshell - in the pressure moments never give up.”
Given next to no chance of spoiling the Firebirds’ unblemished run to the ANZ Championship decider the Swifts looked good value to do just that but stumbled late allowing Queensland to score the last five goals of the game. The Firebirds’ league MVP Romelda Aiken was at her prolific best scoring 47 out of 51 attempts and while her partner Tippett (10/17) was comparatively shaky she came good when it counted.
Injury-dogged NSW captain Kimberlee Green played a full game and was at the heart of everything the Swifts did while grand final MVP Sharni Layton and Julie Corletto barely gave Queensland an inch in defence.
“We’re pretty devastated” Green said. “It’s a tough pill to swallow because we were right in the match the whole game.” The result continues NSW’s poor record in Queensland with the franchise yet to win a game in Brisbane. It is Queensland’s first title since 2011 and comes after defeats in each of the last two grand finals.
In scenes reminiscent of the Australian conference final two weeks ago at the same venue NSW started the must stronger side and took a 22-17 lead into quarter-time. Their dominance continued into the third term as the Swifts opened up a game-high six-point advantage.
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