Super Netball grand final: Adelaide Thunderbirds win Super Netball grand final over Sydney Swifts
The Adelaide Thunderbirds have won a thrilling Super Netball grand final in extra time in front of a sold out crowd, with the victory breaking a 10-year title drought.
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Who would have thought the sequel would be even better than the original.
The nerveless Adelaide Thunderbirds have broken a decade-long drought, revelling in the pressure-cooker of their first Super Netball grand final to win an extra-time thriller 60-59.
After an overtime semi-final victory against the Swifts handed them a grand final spot, there was plenty of pressure on the decider to deliver a fitting rematch.
And it did that in spades - the T-Birds pushing out to an eight-goal lead at halftime before the Swifts mounted a magnificent fightback to level the scores at full-time to push the grand final into extra time for the first time in the national league era.
But it was English import Eleanor Cardwell that proved the difference, converting a crucial super shot with just over a minute remaining to give her side a two-goal buffer that proved a match-winner.
Cardwell the biggest signing of the off-season and English Roses goaler was the difference in the end.
Awarded the player of the match, her incredible ability to stand and deliver in the moment handed the Thunderbirds a title that has been a decade in the making.
“It’s unbelieve to win this - you can’t even write it, it’s a dream come true,” Cardwell said.
They’ve really made me fell like family, they’re my sisters and I couldn’t be prouder.
I love everyone one of them.”
Cardwell said effort was the difference.
“I actually can’t believe that,” Cardwell told Fox Netball after the match.
“We went in so hard and we worked so hard all game and it’s unbelievable, I can’t believe it.”
The Swifts clawed their way back from an eight-goal halftime deficit to force an incredible draw at fulltime after Helen Housby converted a super shot just over a minute from the end of regular time.
And she seemed as though she could be the difference as well, starting the extra period with a super shot conversion.
Ultimately though, it was her Roses teammate Cardwell who came through though, a player teammate Tippah Dwan said “brings that winning feeling”.
GAME WORTHY OF FINAL
The teams went goal for goal in the opening minutes following the script that suggested the match would be a tight thriller.
But when the Thunderbirds won the first turnover of the match, it proved a real momentum changer, the T-Birds quickly establishing a four-goal margin and pushing that out to as many as seven in the first term before the Swifts clawed back to within four at the first break.
The Thunderbirds pushed back immediately in the second term and despite a super shot fightback by Helen Housby and Sophie Fawns the Swifts could not make an impact, with the margin eight at halftime.
Swifts coach Briony Akle was brutally honest with her team, telling them the T-Birds like a side that wanted the win more.
After their ugly first half, it was always going to take the full 60 minutes if the Swifts were going to be able to mount a fightback.
That and whatever else she said at halftime, spurred her group, who fought back to within three goals at the final change and clawed their way back to level the scores at the end.
THORNY ROSES CHALLENGE
The form of England internationals Helen Housby and Eleanor Cardwell could spell trouble for the Diamonds, who are in the same half of the World Cup draw in Cape Town.
The pair have been outstanding all season and Cardwell has credited her Thunderbirds stint for improving her ability in the GS bib.
She and Housby were mortal enemies on Saturday night but when they come together, they will form arguably the most in-form shooting combination in the world in South Africa. With the Roses in Australia’s side of the draw in Cape Town, the Diamonds will need to be on song in the quarter-finals against an England side that believes this is one of their final chances to capitalise on a once-in-a-generation group.
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS
Hannah Petty has largely played a bench role this season after battling injury for much of the year but the decision to start the captain in the grand final was an inspired choice from Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst. Petty played out of her skin in the opening term but more than that, she led by example for the Thunderbirds’ local young guns, showing them that winning the grand final was not just up to their star imports but the band of young South Australians that coach Tania Obst has put her faith in for several years to lead the club back from the finals wilderness.
Petty’s “follow me” antics led the way for the likes of fellow South Australian products Georgie Horjus, Tayla Williams, Lucy Austin and Maisie Nankivell - and Aussie talents Tippah Dwan and Matilda Garrett - to revel in the grand final occasion rather than wilt under the pressure.
TRADITION SEALED
The decision to sell the grand final to the West Australian Government last year was met with derision from players and fans - mainly because of the lack of consultation and late notification. The pain was eased last season when West Coast Fever won the major semi-final, a result that would ordinarily have delivered the match to Perth and ensured both an easing of tension and a full house at RAC Arena.
The decision to hold this year’s final at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena was announced last year, meaning players and fans had certainty from the start of the year - but Netball Australia was privately nervous about crowd numbers when the Vixens fell out of the finals early.
They need not have worried though, with Thunderbirds and Swifts fans travelling to make up 49 per cent of the crowd and 750 flocking to a grand final lunch, sealing a new tradition for the sport.
The South Australian Government has already stepped up to lure the grand final to Adelaide next year.
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Originally published as Super Netball grand final: Adelaide Thunderbirds win Super Netball grand final over Sydney Swifts
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