Sam Poolman realises playing in the Super Netball grand final in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon is a privilege not to be taken for granted.
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The Giants circle defender knows finals can be few and far between but is also well aware that sport is on hold in NSW due to a statewide lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus.
With that in mind, the Newcastle 30-year-old intends to soak up every moment of the Giants-Swifts match-up for the many netball players back in NSW that cannot play.
"I received a really nice message through the week from one of the country towns near Wagga that I go to and their words really sunk in for me," Poolman told the Newcastle Herald during the week.
"They said, 'We wish that we could be out on our court on Saturday, so the only thing we're holding on to is watching you get to do that'.
"That just really sunk in for me. I know we will enjoy it, but you've got to make sure that you stop and enjoy it because there's so many people that would want to be in a grand final on a Saturday at their local court and can't be.
"So, for us to be able to play netball and play a grand final and share that enjoyment through our TV screens, we need to hang on to that and recognise that it is a special week."
Poolman, who reached 100 elite level netball appearances this season, will be playing in her third top-tier grand final.
She was part of Adelaide's victorious team in the 2013 trans-Tasman league and in Giants' losing grand final side of 2017.
Poolman is one of three foundation Giants players set to take the court against the Swifts in the all-NSW championship decider.
The two sides could barely be separated at season's end with both on 36 points. The Giants secured the minor premiership with a superior goal percentage.
This Super Netball season has been the most testing Poolman has ever played. It has involved panicked, last-minute pack-ups, weeks of quarantine and hub life for the past 10 weeks on the Gold Coast.
"It has been really challenging times for us and it's amazing that Super Netball has been able to continue," Poolman said.
"To go through all of that, still play good netball, become minor premiers and then get to the grand final is a reflection of your consistency and your ability over the whole year. Anything can happen in finals, whereas minor premiers to me means that you've been the best team all year."
The sides took one game each in two regular-season exchanges but Swifts booked direct passage to the grand final with a 62-61 victory over the Giants in the major semi-final two weeks ago. The win was set up with a dominant first quarter.
"Swifts dominated that first quarter and got a couple of two-point shots on the board early which can change the tempo of the game and give them a lot of confidence," Poolman said.
"We made sure Fever didn't have the opportunity to do that and, hopefully, if we can start well and limit their super shots early, that should set us up a bit better across the 60 minutes than what we did in that semi-final."
The two NSW teams often match up in pre-season and know each other's game inside and out.
"In a derby, everything is on the line and there's just that added grit and spark to the game," Poolman said.
"Then add a grand final and all of the pressures that go on to that, and I think it sets up for an incredible match.
"Both teams are capable of beating each other and are capable of some really great netball. So, whoever can step up and deliver to their own ability will be the team that can walk away. It will probably go down to the last couple of minutes in the game."
The grand final start time is 2.30pm.
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