Canberra Giants use home final as motivation for ANL play-offs
The Canberra Giants are using the opportunity to play in a home grand final as motivation for the last round of the Australian Netball League season this weekend.
The Giants are guaranteed a place in the ANL finals in Canberra next week, but coach Sharyn Hill says they want to build momentum by winning both games against the Territory Storm on the Sunshine Coast this weekend.
The top four ANL teams will play in Canberra next weekend for a two-game finals series. The winners of the semi-finals will clash in a grand final, which will double as a curtain-raiser for the Super Netball game at the AIS Arena.
It will give the Canberra players a chance to play in front of a near sell-out crowd on home turf before the GWS Giants play against the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Super Netball competition.
"We are going up there with the aim of winning both games and winning them well [this weekend]," Hill said.
"I think it is an ideal weekend to have, they are going to be putting everything out there to try and get a win. We really do want to experiment a little bit with our combinations to fine tune for finals."
"It [would] be a huge advantage for us to be playing at home in the ACT and to have a packed sold out stadium and we have to make the most of it."
GWS coach Julie Fitzgerald commended the Canberra Giants on their season and is looking forward to their round in Canberra.
"We're really looking forward to coming down to Canberra and having it coupled with ANL grand final is fantastic, it should be a great weekend for everyone," Fitzgerald said.
"There are some good players in that team and I'm hoping they get the two wins this weekend and go into finals in Canberra and take the prize. They've played some really nice netball this season."
The Canberra Giants played in capital last weekend in front of a packed crowd, splitting their two-game series against the second-placed Tasmanian Magpies.
Hill said it gave them plenty to work on before their games against the Storm and the looming finals series.
"To split the weekend with one win each, gives us enormous confidence that we can beat Tassie," Hill said.
"It was only two goals difference the whole way through the game, the lead swung several times.
"We now know what we have to do that gives a little bit of homework to do and a little bit more practice to do but heading into finals I think it is anyone’s game."
Meanwhile, the Canberra State League competition will continue on Friday night when the teams celebrate an umpire appreciation round.
Three games will start at 6pm on Friday at Lyneham netball courts with top of the table Arawang taking on South Canberra.
A cross border battle between Queanbeyan and Tuggeranong and finally Belconnen will meet Canberra in round seven of the league.
CANBERRA STATE LEAGUE ROUND SEVEN
Friday: Arawang v South Canberra, Queanbeyan v Tuggeranong, Belconnen v Canberra. All games at Lyneham at 6pm.
AUSTRALIAN NETBALL LEAGUE ROUND SEVEN
Saturday: Canberra Giants v Territory Storm at USC Stadium, 5:30pm.
Sunday: Canberra Giants v Territory Storm at USC Stadium, 11am.