The Victorian Fury are ready to hit the court in the opening round of the Deakin University Australian Netball League this weekend.
Taking on arch rivals the Netball NSW Waratahs, Fury team member Rudi Ellis said the key to winning will be to play their own game.
“We’ve just got to play our own game,” Ellis said.
“NSW play a very different game to Victoria. I think if we stick to our own set plays how we have been training, making sure that we go at our own pace and be calm under pressure, I think we’ll do well.”
The two teams’ last met in Round 3 2017, with the Fury claiming a 72-28 win.
Just four of the current Fury team members played in that match. Tayla Honey and Molly Jovic guided the Fury home through the midcourt, providing a seamless pathway into their shooters.
Meanwhile, 2018 team members Ellis and Mikaela Vaughan took the court for NSW.
Ellis, a former member of the Waratahs’ team, is looking forward to the opening round clash against her former side.
“I’m pretty keen to play against them, being my teammates last year,” Ellis said.
“I want to prove a point, I want to prove how I’ve been going here, so I’m pretty excited to take the court this weekend.”
A rich history of success, the Fury have won seven titles since the competition begun in 2008.
Ellis said there is a bit of pressure to continue the team’s successful history when pulling on the Victorian dress.
“I think we definitely do have an expectation as being Victorian to do well,” Ellis said.
“I think we’ll do well, we’ve got a pretty strong network and we’ve been training hard.”
The Fury and the Waratahs play twice over the weekend, with their first game on Saturday 5 May at the State Netball & Hockey Centre, followed by a rematch on Sunday at Margaret Court Arena following the Melbourne Vixens and NSW Swifts match.
