'Not pretty': Netball world stunned by ugly mid-match incident
Netball fans and commentators were left divided over the weekend after Melbourne Vixens shooter Kiera Austin was sent clattering into the goalpost in ugly scenes.
In action against the GWS Giants, Austin was running towards the post to receive a pass from her teammate when she received a bump from defender April Brandley.
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Austin was sent sprawling into the post but thankfully managed to avoid injury.
Brandley was penalised for contact, with debate erupting about whether she intentionally sent Austin flying towards the post.
“Kiera Austin, running the baseline, hit the post, didn’t miss,” Anne Sargeant said in commentary on Fox Netball.
“I don’t know whether she was actually run into it by close marking but certainly did not miss.
"I think she’s still reeling. We’ll stay out of whether there was some ‘gentle assistance’ or not.”
Former Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett wasn’t impressed by Brandley’s actions.
“I actually messaged her (Austin) about it,” Bassett told news.com.au.
“We were texting this morning. I said, ‘April give you a little love tap into the post?’, and she said, ‘Yeah’.
“Look, it’s not something I love to see in netball. I know April really well and I know she’s a quality player so (I was) surprised to see something like that from her.
"But it’s just lucky Kiera wasn’t hurt I guess.
“Coming back from an ACL, I think she’s been absolutely incredible, bit of a slow start to the season but she’s in the team that’s challenging for top position on the ladder at the moment and that’s coming off sitting out a whole season doing rehab.”
Fans were also divided about Brandley's actions.
Netball 👏hasn't 👏been👏non-contact👏for👏more👏than👏a👏decade👏. #SSNMagpiesGiants #MAGvGIA
— Erin Delahunty (@della79) May 18, 2022
Brandley pushed her into it.
— Marie (@nogelatine) May 14, 2022
A more accurate assessment would be ‘pushed on the post’
— Kelz (@kelzster79) May 15, 2022
I had the mistaken belief that netball was a non-contact sport, as it was when playing in an all male competition. Then I played in a mixed competition and it was BRUTAL. Tripped, grabbed, scratched, choked, and punched.
— Marty McKowen 🇦🇺🏴🇮🇪 (@MartinMckowen) May 18, 2022
Did April get a caution for that Austin push into the post? Saw the clip and I swear I can hear the ump say caution but commentators were talking over the top #GIAvVIX
— Emily Greenaway (@EmilyGreenaway7) May 14, 2022
Yikes.. I remember Brandley was super rough on Austin last time they played too
— Amy (@amy_1955709) May 14, 2022
Vixens beat Giants in netball thriller
The Giants trailed by 11 points in the second and third quarters at Ken Rosewall Arena, but sensational two-point shooting from youngster Matisse Letherbarrow kept them in the game.
The 20-year-old, who came on late in the second quarter for captain Jo Harten, showed nerves of steel.
She made eight of her first nine super shots as the Giants surged to a 60-57 lead with just over three minutes remaining.
The Vixens scored the last three points, with Austin levellng the game with her team's only successful two-point attempt.
The teams traded the first six goals of the extra-time period before Melbourne's Mwai Kumwenda completed a super individual effort by scoring the last three of the match to finish with 50 goals from as many attempts.
"The good thing is we have practised extra-time before which the girls have complained about before and I said 'see, that's why we practise these things'," Vixens' coach Simone McKinnis told Fox Sports.
"It was always going to be a really tight, tough game.
"You never feel comfortable ten goals ahead because of their capacity to shoot which you saw there.
"It was all going the Giants way, the shots were going ,the crowd and I'm really impressed and happy with their composure to keep it simple, to not panic and to play it out."
Captain and centre Liz Watson was a huge contributor to the Vixens win, notching 28 goal assists and 46 feeds in an influential effort.
with AAP
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