Defence the key in grudge match against reigning champions
ASSISTANT coach Rachael McCully says the Fire must play better as a defensive unit to shut down the reigning champion Sydney Flames at Townsville Stadium tonight.
The Fire are the only unbeaten team after two rounds, but McCully felt they were exposed defensively at times in last Friday’s 76- 65 win over Canberra, trailing for most of the first half. Townsville will need to be on their game against the Flames, with every player in their starting five averaging in double figures, led by Belinda Snell and Alex Wilson ( both 16 per game).
McCully said learning from their mistakes against Canberra and playing a stronger team defence would be crucial to the Fire limiting Sydney’s attacking weapons. “It comes back to what we didn’t do last week. We didn’t play very good team ‘ D’,” she said.
“I thought our individual scouts were really good in the game on Friday night, but if we can play better team ‘ D’ – work together, work off each other, and a bit more communication – I think it’s going to put us in good stead for coming up against an offensive threat team like Sydney.
“They don’t really have one player that scores 20 or 30 points a game. They really have a collective, especially with their starting five.
“They’re averaging over 10 points each so we’re going to have to play that really good team ‘ D’ as well as be accountable individually.”
Tonight’s clash will be a grudge match of sorts after Sydney ended the Fire’s incredible run of four consecutive grand final appearances with a 2- 0 sweep in last season’s semi- finals.
The Flames have kept most of that championship squad intact. Sydney is playing a similar style to last season, which McCully said would make Townsville’s scout a little easier, but by the same token she expected the visitors to be just as tough to beat.
“They’ve lost their driving force in Leilani ( Mitchell), but they’ve picked up Katie- Rae Ebzery, who’s a fantastic offensive weapon in herself,” she said. “I don’t think she’s as potent ( as Mitchell) in that point guard spot in pointing people around the park and making sure they run their right set, but I think she’s more of an offensive threat.”