Thunderbird’s injury scare, Swifts look to continue dynasty in Super Netball Grand Final

The Adelaide Thunderbirds are out to end a 10-year drought, but they suffered a scare when one of their star players went down at training.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds can create history and end a 10-year hoodoo if they win the Super Netball Grand Final on Saturday night.

The Thunderbirds take on the NSW Swifts in the third meeting between the teams in four weeks, and will go in as slight favourites given their enviable form.

Adelaide beat the Swifts in the final round of the season before booking their spot in the Grand Final and getting a week off with a thrilling extra time win in the first week of finals.

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The Swifts pulled off a miracle of their own last weekend against the West Coast Fever and will contest their third grand final in five years.

Both teams have well balanced, star-studded line-ups and while the Swifts are aiming to add a trophy to titles won in 2019 and 2021, the Thunderbirds are chasing their first Super Netball premiership.

The Thunderbirds’ last domestic premiership came 10 years ago in 2013, the same year as their previous finals campaign.

The Swifts won a thriller to book their Grand Final spot. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Star defender’s injury scare

A scare went through the Thunderbirds camp when star defender Shamera Sterling went down in visible pain at training on Tuesday.

The high-flying Jamaican was helped to her feet by teammates, but the Thunderbirds said Sterling had just copped a “stinger” to her ankle and she would be fit to play on Saturday’s season decider.

A scare for Adelaide Thunderbirds star defender Shamera Sterling after being injured at training #netball#Adelaidepic.twitter.com/EcYJaU30Nk

— Matt J. Smith (@MattSmithABC) July 4, 2023

Recruit has TBirds primed for premiership

It’s been a lean decade for the TBirds, but the addition of new recruit Eleanor Cardwell has been described as the “missing piece of the puzzle” for the fallen giants of Australian netball.

The Thunderbirds have the deepest and most versatile team in the league, with captain Hannah Petty happy being on the bench, and back up goal shooter Lucy Austin coming on to win their semi-final against the Swifts.

Diamonds legend and Fox Netball commentator Kim Green believes Cardwell has given the TBirds firepower in the shooting circle and some much-needed feistiness.

“I think Eleanor Cardwell has brought a sense of confidence in their attack that they’ve been yearning for for years,” Green told news.com.au.”

Eleanor Cardwell has made the Thunderbirds a premiership contender. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

“That defence end has been on fire and they’ve brought so much ball back for the Adelaide Thunderbirds, but they just haven’t been able to transition into attack.

“She’s just got confidence in team huddles. She demands excellence from everyone around her. To think this is her debut Super Netball season is just outrageous because she’s playing beyond her years in this comp.

“Normally you go into a fresh team and sit back a little bit and go ‘I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes or I’m the newbie here’. She has not taken a step back, like ‘This is where we’re going, we’re going forward, you’re coming with me’. I love that about her.

“You also see Shamera Sterling taking team huddles and Hannah Petty, who is very cool, calm collected — she’s more the strategy behind the scenes, making sure everyone’s on track.

“Passion’s great but you’ve still got to stick to strategy and she pulls them back into line. I think the leadership — they’ve got a defender, a midcourter and a shooter now — all three of them are leading and going, ‘Hey, this is the expectation and we’re not happy with anything less’. You see it almost every game.”

Shamera Sterling will go head-to-head with countrywoman Romelda Aiken-George. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Stadium drought a concern for TBirds?

The Thunderbirds have been superb all season, but it would be a minor concern that they haven’t won a game at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena, the venue for the grand final.

Netball Australia sold off the hosting rights to John Cain Arena as part of a sponsorship deal with Visit Victoria, and the TBirds will be hoping their poor form in Melbourne isn’t a trend and they can win the match that matters against the Swifts.

On Thursday it was announced the 2024 Super Netball Grand Final would be held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, with Netball Australia selling off the grand final for the third year in a row.