Mission Improbable: derby key to Giants' finals hopes
After managing a sole win in the opening two months of the Super Netball season, the Giants have reignited finals hopes that had seemingly been extinguished.
Julie Fitzgerald's crew head into Sunday's derby against the NSW Swifts at Ken Rosewall Arena aiming to extend a two-game winning streak.
With just four rounds left this season, there is scant time for the sixth-placed Giants (12 points) to leapfrog third-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning (24) or the fourth-placed Melbourne Vixens (24).
Go-to goal attack Sophie Dwyer accepts the road to finals would be tough, but not impossible.
"Mathematically, it's not out of the equation," she told AAP.
"It will be hard for us. We left it pretty late in the season to be in good form, and it will depend on other results as well."
A round-10 win over the Lightning marked the first time the Giants had scored back-to-back wins in two years.
The match reminded Dwyer of the 2021 season, when her team were crowned minor premiers.
"I'm not usually one to smile, and I was smiling and having so much fun," she said.
"We're playing with freedom, and I think our attacking unit does work the best when we are playing like that.
"There's a lot of belief and confidence in the group at the moment ... definitely a very special one for us."
The 23-year-old's breakout season came in 2021, after an injury to teammate Kiera Austin presented her with an early opportunity to excel.
Dwyer has paired perfectly under the ring with veteran shooter Jo Harten, tallying 181 goals this season.
"We've been playing for a few years now together, and it felt like back to 2021 Sophie and Jo which is really exciting," Dwyer said.
"Jo's been in some of her career-best form, and at her age, it's just amazing."
The experience of Kiwi great Casey Kopua, who returned from retirement in 2025 to replace injured Giants defender Jodi-Ann Ward, has also boosted the Giants.
Rival goal attack Helen Housby, a staple English Rose and Swifts centurion, described Kopua's recruitment as "huge" for the Giants.
"She can use her body well. She's strong, but I also think the way that she's leading the defence is probably something they were desperate for," Housby told AAP.
The Swifts' top ladder position is on the line after Briony Akle's side copped back-to-back losses, against the Vixens and West Coast Fever.
The results were out of character for the previously undefeated side, but Housby wasn't focused on the ladder.
"The top of the ladder, it's not ours," she said.
"It could be anyone's at any point in the season, and it's not ours to defend.
"We want a premiership and that can happen in a lot of different ways."
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Julie Fitzgerald's crew head into Sunday's derby against the NSW Swifts at Ken Rosewall Arena aiming to extend a two-game winning streak. With just four rounds left this season, there is scant time for the sixth-placed Giants (12 points) to leapfrog third-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning (24) or the fourth-placed Melbourne Vixens (24). Go-to goal attack Sophie Dwyer accepts the road to finals would be tough, but not impossible. "Mathematically, it's not out of the equation," she told AAP. "It will be hard for us. We left it pretty late in the season to be in good form, and it will depend on other results as well." A round-10 win over the Lightning marked the first time the Giants had scored back-to-back wins in two years. The match reminded Dwyer of the 2021 season, when her team were crowned minor premiers. "I'm not usually one to smile, and I was smiling and having so much fun," she said. 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With just four rounds left this season, there is scant time for the sixth-placed Giants (12 points) to leapfrog third-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning (24) or the fourth-placed Melbourne Vixens (24). Go-to goal attack Sophie Dwyer accepts the road to finals would be tough, but not impossible. "Mathematically, it's not out of the equation," she told AAP. "It will be hard for us. We left it pretty late in the season to be in good form, and it will depend on other results as well." A round-10 win over the Lightning marked the first time the Giants had scored back-to-back wins in two years. The match reminded Dwyer of the 2021 season, when her team were crowned minor premiers. "I'm not usually one to smile, and I was smiling and having so much fun," she said. "We're playing with freedom, and I think our attacking unit does work the best when we are playing like that. "There's a lot of belief and confidence in the group at the moment ... definitely a very special one for us." The 23-year-old's breakout season came in 2021, after an injury to teammate Kiera Austin presented her with an early opportunity to excel. Dwyer has paired perfectly under the ring with veteran shooter Jo Harten, tallying 181 goals this season. "We've been playing for a few years now together, and it felt like back to 2021 Sophie and Jo which is really exciting," Dwyer said. "Jo's been in some of her career-best form, and at her age, it's just amazing." The experience of Kiwi great Casey Kopua, who returned from retirement in 2025 to replace injured Giants defender Jodi-Ann Ward, has also boosted the Giants. Rival goal attack Helen Housby, a staple English Rose and Swifts centurion, described Kopua's recruitment as "huge" for the Giants. "She can use her body well. She's strong, but I also think the way that she's leading the defence is probably something they were desperate for," Housby told AAP. The Swifts' top ladder position is on the line after Briony Akle's side copped back-to-back losses, against the Vixens and West Coast Fever. The results were out of character for the previously undefeated side, but Housby wasn't focused on the ladder. "The top of the ladder, it's not ours," she said. "It could be anyone's at any point in the season, and it's not ours to defend. "We want a premiership and that can happen in a lot of different ways."
