‘She has no idea what’s going on’: Aiken-George’s two-year-old daughter along for the premiership ride

Adelaide’s star shooter Romelda Aiken-George says this year’s premiership is extra sweet after navigating life as a key T-bird and mum, with two-year-old Gigi unknowingly along for the ride.

Star goaler Romelda Aiken-George joked her young daughter Gianna had no idea what was going on as the celebrations kicked off following the Adelaide Thunderbirds’ Super Netball premiership win.

But when she is old enough to understand, the almost two-year-old will no doubt be filled with pride over what her famous netball mum just achieved on court.

Some 17 years after making her national league debut for the Queensland Firebirds, the Jamaican goal shooter continued her evergreen form to add another premiership to her already impressive netball resume.

At the age of 35, Aiken-George helped steer the Thunderbirds to back-to-back titles in an MVP performance at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday night against the Melbourne Vixens in her first season with the team.

The Thunderbirds went back-to-back. Picture: Getty Images

She got the chance to celebrate with her daughter after the victory, which she described as one of the most special of her career.

“I feel like this one is super extra special because for me there was a lot of sacrifice,” Aiken-George said.

“I’ve been on the go since Gigi (Gianna) … this one is so extra special because I feel like I’m doing it more, not for myself but for my family and this group is just so amazing.

“She (Gianna) has no idea what’s going on.

“But I think it is just extra special that this time I’m not just doing it for me, I’m doing it with a group of people who are buying into the same goal and each week we step out on court, the way we analyse the game is so different to any team I’ve been a part of.

“I think by doing that we pick up on little things that I don’t think other teams pick up on.

“We’ve got something special over here.”

Romelda Aiken-George was awarded best on court in the grand final. Picture: Getty Images

While her accuracy was a little shaky at times, Aiken-George was a dominant target under the post for the Thunderbirds, top scoring in the 59-57 win with 42 goals from 51 attempts.

The Thunderbirds’ second straight Super Netball crown added to Aiken-George’s three titles with the Queensland Firebirds in the former ANZ Championship.

The premiership performance came less than two years after welcoming her daughter, but Aiken-George played down her achievement as a mum.

“This is just a little sprinkle on everything that I have done,” she said.

“I feel like everyone has played a part in me being back out on court. I love the game and I am still trying to find ways that I can make myself better.

“I’m just one of many women who has had a child and went back into sport, yearning for success … I just love the sport and as long as I have support with my baby girl Gigi and my husband, who has sacrificed so much for us, I am happy.”

Aiken-George arrived at the Thunderbirds from the New South Wales Swifts where she was a replacement for the injured Sam Wallace-Joseph last year.

Did you think Aiken-George was the best player in the grand final? Picture: Getty Images

She moved onto the Thunderbirds following Wallace-Joseph’s return, but was full of praise for how she had been embraced in Adelaide.

“At the end of last season, I knew my role in the Swifts environment and it was a training partner and the conversation we had at the time was, ‘We are going to give Sam back her position’, which I think was fair,” Aiken-George said.

“I think for me I knew I had so much more to give …. (coach) Tania (Obst) made it clear that you are just coming to play your role, not filling in for anyone, you’re just coming to do your thing.

“Then I came here and this group has embraced me and my family so well. They say it takes a village to raise a child - I feel like I am still one - but I think the moment I stepped into this environment everyone was …. ready to help which made it easy at times.

Aitken-George has loved her first season in Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

“I feel like this environment that I’m in, everyone has a hand in what I do, making sure I rock up to training in the best mental headspace.

“In today’s game Tania said something to me and after I went back out on court, I felt my shoulders were as big as a backboard, I felt like a superwoman just going out there.

“I felt like everyone played their part in helping me to play the game that I love.”

After the loss of goalers Eleanor Cardwell and Tippah Dwan at the end of last season, Aiken-George spearheaded a new look attack at the Thunderbirds this year.

Obst said Aiken-George’s role in their premiership run this year could not be understated.

“Last year feels like so long ago and there was obviously so much happening between the seasons,” Obst said.

“When we did come together and we started to play, I knew that we were going to be a good team and still be able to contend and a lot of that had to do with Romelda, knowing that she is very difficult to play against.”

Originally published as ‘She has no idea what’s going on’: Aiken-George’s two-year-old daughter along for the premiership ride