Super Netball grand final analysis: Thunderbirds deserved winners over Vixens in thriller
There was a list of reasons as long as Romelda Aiken-George’s wingspan why the Thunderbirds should win the Super Netball grand final, and, REBECCA WILLIAMS writes, the newly-crowned back-to-back champions didn’t disappoint.
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There was a list of reasons as long as Romelda Aiken-George’s wingspan why the Adelaide Thunderbirds should win the Super Netball grand final against the Melbourne Vixens.
On paper, they had everything in their favour.
The easy route to the grand final; an unbeaten record at home and a rowdy sea of various shades of pink behind them at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre greeting every line-ball call with cheers and jeers.
They had beaten up on the Vixens in the major semi-final in Adelaide just two weeks ago and had won their past two matches against Melbourne by a combined total of 40 goals.
If the odds were against the Vixens, then the pressure was on the Thunderbirds, the defending champions and minor premiers, to deliver the pink faithful the Super Netball premiership on their home turf.
And they didn’t disappoint.
The Thunderbirds became just the second Super Netball team since the Sunshine Coast Lightning in 2017 and 2018 to claim back-to-back crowns.
Yet, while their one-goal win over the New South Wales Swifts last season was played at a neutral John Cain Arena, this time they got to enjoy the party at home.
As the clock ticked down to single digits, the roar from the 9,649 fans almost lifted the roof of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
The Thunderbirds were armed with their Jamaican weapons at either end of the court and, alongside their local young guns, they overcame a shaky start to triumph in a 59-57 win.
After joining the Thunderbirds as part of a new-look attack for the 2024 season, 35-year-old Aiken-George was named the grand final MVP after top-scoring with 42 goals from 51 attempts, even if her accuracy was shakier than normal at times.
Aiken-George has been a weapon under the post for the Thunderbirds this year and was again a rock as she pulled in the high balls as the Vixens’ defence threw everything at her.
She formed a new target alongside South Australian Lauren Frew and local young gun Georgie Horjus this season and the fact the Thunderbirds were able to go back-to-back after losing two goalers - Eleanor Cardwell and Tippah Dwan - at the end of last season only made their title defence even more impressive.
At the other end of the court, the Jamaican defensive pair of Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson were disruptive, but didn’t have the same impact against the Vixens goalers as they did in the semi-final two weeks’ ago.
Horjus underlined her credentials as one of the hottest young talents in the competition, finishing as the highest ranked Thunderbird on the court, starting in wing attack before being swung into goal attack in the third quarter.
The Vixens were brave. They came to fight and were right in the match until the end, trailing by just one goal entering the final quarter.
They trailed by five goals when the final power five period started and goal attack Kiera Austin (28/31) threw everything at a late fightback, nailing three super shots in the final minutes.
The Thunderbirds played it safe at the other end, content to sink the single goals to keep the score ticking.
It was enough in the end to get them over the line.
If the Vixens were to banish the demons of their brutal semi-final loss to the Thunderbirds two weeks ago, they need to make a statement early.
They did that from the opening whistle when they pounced on an errant first centre pass from the Thunderbirds, allowing Austin to capitalise with the first score of the match. They backed up with the second and quickly raced to a five-goal lead, forcing the Thunderbirds to call a time-out.
They never gave up the fight, but ultimately their hard road to the grand final fell short.
The Vixens had taken the scenic route to the premiership decider; left bruised after their 25-goal thumping from the Thunderbirds in the major semi-final in Adelaide two weeks ago and just scraped through to the grand final with a one-goal win over the West Coast Fever at home last week.
It was never going to be an easy assignment, but only one team can enjoy the grand final party at the end of the game and they’ll be painting the town pink in Adelaide.
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Originally published as Super Netball grand final analysis: Thunderbirds deserved winners over Vixens in thriller
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