GIANTS NETBALL 2020

[Ian Harkin]

#1308534

It was hearts in the mouth stuff in Brisbane today.#SSNFirebirdsGIANTS

— GIANTS Netball (@GIANTS_Netball) August 15, 2020

[Ian Harkin]

#1309225

Coach Julie Fitzgerald has responded after the GIANTS lost by one goal to the Sunshine Coast Lightning with goal defence Kristiana Manu’a sent off court.

— GIANTS Netball (@GIANTS_Netball) August 20, 2020

[Ian Harkin]

#1310861

Alexander questions Giants’ use of Bassett from bench

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/netball/alexander-questions-giants-use-of-bassett-from-bench-20200828-p55qc5.html?fbclid=IwAR3SFHkrsDLJ0YpcjEhnNgP3MSue9gmeg-mUZRc17DdnwVyj-xEuR3dZOtU

[Zara Collings]

#1310862

To be honest, I don’t think Alexander is wrong. If you’re a bench impact player for the majority of your season (which is what it looks like it will be) to then being the starting 7 Captain of your international team that will surely impact your confidence and if nothing else, match fitness and recent experience.

However, can Julie Fitzgerald be blamed for putting her on the bench when they need the 2 point shots being taken to stay in a good portion of their games? Probably not.

If Alexander is saying CBass can shoot from the 2 point shot range, is this not the time to be doing it? Missing a few super shots a game isn’t going to impact her national selection and ability on the international court, but surely sitting on the bench for a large portion of the season will?

It’s a strange one…

[Ian Harkin]

#1310895

I just think they’ve been getting it all wrong. Their tactics the whole way. The last round was a good example. Bassett was certainly rusty when she came on, but she was just starting to get into the game and they took her off. The Giants then got outscored 7-2. The whole idea of the super shots seems to be affecting them both positively and negatively. Positive in that they’ve got a couple of shooters who are good at it and it’s helped get them back in a couple of games, but negative in that their whole game plan seems to be based around the super shot and it’s ruining their play.

[Tully]

#1310899

I like that someone has had the guts to come out and question Matinkovich. Now let’s wait for the squad selection. Selection of any Fever players with the exception of Bruce would likely result in questions around what Alexander is suggesting in this article.

As for Giants and Bassett….I would like to see Austin – Bassett start a match. What do they have to lose? Nothing. Bassett is looking very scratchy when she comes on so let’s see how she starts alongside Austin. Harten – Bassett as a combination isn’t great. But the team selections of Giants this year does not take away from the fact that Bassett has been missing short shots and rebounds for awhile. Bassett’s form started to regress before 2020.

[Jinxibo]

#1310901

Interesting discussion!

Personally I think LAs comments are a veiled swipe at the number of overseas players in SSN. Fitzgerald is an experienced coach and if the issue was only about CBass shooting 2 pointers, as LA says she can, then Fitzgerald would have seen it in training! To me she’s suggesting that Cbass should be playing because she is the Diamonds captain and leading GS. Who else is there?

Her comments about players working their “butts off” to get selected and “favorites” I had to read it twice to make sure she wasn’t talking about herself. IMO LA doesn’t sound very professional or supportive, SM hasn’t selected a squad yet and she already undermining her.

[Ian Harkin]

#1310905

Bassett should never have been made Australian captain. I said it at the time and I’ve always said it. Her form dropped off slightly from that point on. But when her form really suffered was when she had that arm injury at the beginning of last year. She’s never really recaptured her old form after that, and going to a club where the other star shooter isn’t really a GA, that didn’t help.

[JR]

#1310907

Giants have won 3 games and drawn once. I thought two of those wins were when Bassett was on the court for the whole time.

I wondered why Bassett left Lightning after the first two seasons; especially given how successful they’d been. Going to the Giants, albeit injured initially, doesn’t seem to have been a great decision, especially this year with Austin performing so well.

Re the captaincy of the Diamonds; didn’t the players choose to keep her in the role at one point?

I’m not really a fan, but I think what’s happening to her is sad. I was glad she was so upbeat about sitting on the bench when asked about it. If she was faking it, she’s a mighty fine actor.

[museboy]

#1310908

I think it’s disingenuous for Alexander to criticise the Giants coach publicly, especially if Alexander is having side conversations with Bassett as well.

This raises a good question as to how Marinkovich will handle a situation like this, as she can’t pipe up like Alexander has. She needs a strong assistant coach to facilitate between SSN and the Diamonds programme – being hands off during the season will be a detriment to the Diamonds.

[Mel Q]

#1310909

I agree JR. Bassett was clearly challenged and trained well under Noeline T. She played with a generous GA, and amazing C and WA who knew how to feed her perfect balls. And she was dynamic under the post. As she is when she plays with Tippet. That duo is unstoppable. Since moving to Giants she’s struggled to play with Harten. Actually, she hasn’t struggled, Julie F hasn’t been able to train them to play well together. If CBass isn’t playing well at Giants it isn’t to do with her form and fitness. It’s the coaching. There doesn’t seem to be a plan when they take to the court. And now they play rubbish, then throw it to Harten to score some supershots to catch up. That isn’t a game plan. I hope Bassett moves to another team with a generous GA and passionate coach who can utilise her and challenge her. It’s heartbreaking to have one of this country’s greatest sportswomen sitting on the bike. Maybe she could go to (can’t believe I’m saying this) Magpies next year – team up with Medhurst again! :)

[museboy]

#1310910

I think Bassett leaving Lightning was always on the cards once Taurua was named SF coach.

[Yoon]

#1310913

At the time of the move I recall Cbass saying in interviews that she wanted to move to Sydney because it would give her greater opportunities to explore and develop her post-netball career options – from memory think it was journalism or other sports media role of some sort. So the switch to Giants may not actually have been netball related, although can’t imagine she was expecting her Diamonds future to be questioned so quickly after making it…

[fayth]

#1310925

I wonder how many kilometres Cbass has cycled this season?

[mcleod]

#1310932

So the con Cup still has planned to be played.

[Author]

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