The Super Netball season is about to get underway and the exciting news for fans is that they’re allowed back in the stands for all matches across 2021.
Round one action
What better way to kick-start the season than a grand final rematch between the Vixens and Fever in Melbourne on Saturday at 3:00pm AEST, before the Magpies and Lightning go head-to-head at the same venue at 7:00pm AEST.
On Sunday, the Firebirds welcome the Swifts up North to get their season going at 1:00pm AEST, then the Thunderbirds host the Giants in Adelaide at 3:00pm AEST.
2021 fixture
All teams will host seven home games across the 14-round regular season, with the finals series played over three weeks — including the grand final, which will be played on Sunday, August 29.
Each team will get a rest in round eight, which will be played across two weekends, while the Indigenous round is yet to be announced.
There’s plenty to look forward to with the new home of netball in Sydney in action from round two, as well as night matches to be played throughout the season and Collingwood hosting two matches in Launceston.
Here’s a look at the full fixture
New rules
Last season we saw the inclusion of the super shot and rolling substitutions.
The super shot provided the GA and GS the opportunity to score two goals by shooting from a 1.9-metre designated zone within the goal circle active in the final five minutes of each quarter, while the rolling substitutions rule allowed teams to make positional changes during play, as well as during stoppages and intervals — with no limit to the number of substitutions made.
This season, Super Netball will see the extra time rule finally come into play after it was put on hold last season due to player wellbeing concerns.
Extra time will be added when two teams are tied at the end of the regulation match. A 90-second break will be taken, and the match will then go into five minutes of extra time.
Where to watch
The Super Netball season will be broadcast live on Nine, Telstra TV and the Netball Live Official App.
2020 rankings, 2021 notable ins and outs
Melbourne Vixens
2020 regular season standing: 1st (W 11, L 2, D1) Defeated West Coast Fever 66-64 in the grand final
Ins: Kaylia Stanton (Fever)
Outs: Liz Watson (injury), Caitlin Thwaites (retired), Tegan Philip (retired), Elle McDonald (Thunderbirds)
West Coast Fever
2020 regular season standing: 3rd (W 8, L 5, D 1), Lost to the Vixens 66-64 in the grand final
Ins: Sasha Glasgow (Thunderbirds), Sunday Aryang (elevated from training partner)
Outs: Kaylia Stanton (Vixens), Ingrid Colyer (injury)
Sunshine Coast Lightning
2020 regular season standing: 2nd (W 9, L 5), Lost to Fever 73-59 in the preliminary final
Ins: Mahalia Cassidy (Firebirds), Kate Shimmin (Thunderbirds)
Outs: Laura Langman (retired), Jacqui Russell (retired), Ashlee Unie (injury)
NSW Swifts
2020 regular season standing: 4th (W 8, L 5, D 1) Lost to Fever 67-62 in the minor semi-final
Ins: Tayla Fraser (elevated from training partner)
Outs: Sophie Craig (delisted)
Queensland Firebirds
2020 regular season standing: 5th (W 6, L 7, D 1)
Ins: Kim Ravaillion (Magpies/return from maternity leave), Gretel Bueta (return from maternity leave)
Outs: Mahalia Cassidy (Lightning)
GWS Giants
2020 regular season standing: 6th (W 5, L 7, D 2)
Ins: Sophie Dwyer (elevated from training partner)
Outs: Caitlin Bassett (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic), Teigan O’Shannassy (Swifts)
Adelaide Thunderbirds
2020 regular season standing: 7th (W5, L9)
Ins: Matilda Garrett (Collingwood), Elle McDonald (Vixens), Latanya Wilson (Jamaica/English Superleague)
Outs: Sasha Glasgow (Fever), Layla Guscoth (English Superleague), Chelsea Pitman (delisted), Kate Shimmin (Sunshine Coast)
Collingwood Magpies
2020 regular season standing: 8th (W 1, L 13)
Ins: Kalifa McCollin (Southern Steel), Ash Brazill (return from injury), Jacqui Newton (Vixens)
Outs: Madi Browne (English Superleague), Matilda Garrett (Thunderbirds)
