Magic go down fighting
A valiant Kia Magic lost their opportunity for a spot in the Grand Final when losing an absorbing preliminary final 54-50 to the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane on Monday.
Seemingly down and out on several occasions, Magic proved their growing belief in a noteworthy season with a never-say-die attitude. In the contest until the final few minutes, a disappointed Magic could afford to look back on a season where they more than exceeded expectations.
Against the Firebirds, who will face the Melbourne Vixens in Sunday’s Grand Final, it was a story of missed opportunities for Magic. The visitors got their hand on enough turnover ball but they didn’t always treasure it.
They could not quite bridge the gap, the Firebirds, keeping their unbeaten Finals Series at home intact, with a relentless outing. The finishing of shooters Romelda Aiken and Amy Wild proved crucial down the home straight while the pressure told on Magic’s shooting duo.
However, when the dust has settled, Magic can look back on a successful season. With nine new faces ushered in this year and a new coaching staff in Julie Fitzgerald and Margaret Forsyth, there is plenty to admire about where they have come from and the future growth.
The teenaged Samantha Sinclair was again Magic’s preferred option at wing defence in a settled line-up while Firebirds also stuck with their tried and true, the gritty Clare McMeniman lining up at goal defence.
As expected from a match of this nature, there was a ton of pressure exerted from the outset, a tight arm wrestle ensuring through a combative first quarter.
Magic’s attack line started strongly, Grace Rasmussen showing an early release to get the ball to shooters Jo Harten and Ellen Halpenny while the defensive duo of Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin did an impressive job against danger shooter Aiken.
Firebirds showed their ability to score quickly, Magic finding the speed of Verity Simmons hard to contain as the teams went goal-for-goal. There was nothing to separate them early on, both teams posting the same number of attempts at goal and both a little low in their accuracy returns as the home team went to the first break with a narrow 14-13 lead.
Firebirds raised the intensity a notch or two on the resumption, captain Laura Geitz, the darling of the home crowd, picking up some defensive turnovers while goal attack Wild came into her own.
There was more impetus on attack from the home team, the long bomb to the 1.96m Aiken working a treat as Magic struggled to combat the aerial game. Stretching out to a four-goal margin, the Firebirds looked set to take off but could not capitalise on all their turnover opportunities.
It was a similar story for Magic but they did well to limit the damage and stay in the contest, the home team taking a 29-26 lead at the main break.
The Magic defenders continued to provide extra opportunities through the exploits of Kopua and de Bruin but the visitors struggled to breach the oppressive one-on-one marking on attack.
Drawing to within one, Magic were rattled on attack, a lack of movement and poor execution opening the door for the Firebirds. A five-goal unanswered scoring streak put the Firebirds into a position of control as the Magic began to unravel, the home team pushing out to a seven-goal lead.
Jamie-Lee Price replaced Sinclair with five minutes of the stanza remaining, the Magic showing their fighting spirit with a determined fight-back. Finishing the stanza with a three goal burst ensured the Magic were far from done and well in the contest when trailing 40-37 at the last break.
