Shamera Sterling and the Thunderbirds’ Super Netball grand final redemption

Shamera Sterling prophetic pre-season predictions came true on an emotional night for the star Thunderbird as her team secured a grand final spot.

One of the enduring images for the Thunderbirds last year was Shamera Sterling sobbing inconsolably on the sidelines after Adelaide was knocked out of finals contention.

Sterling, in her fifth year with the club, was close to the best player in the competition but couldn’t quite get the Thunderbirds across the line.

The Jamaican defender crumpled to the floor again on Saturday night – but this time, it was tears of joy and disbelief that were rolling down her cheeks as the T-Birds became the first team to seal a place in the 2023 grand final.

“To be that close to making a top four spot and then just letting it slide like that I was very devastated,” Sterling said in the pre-season of last year’s result.

Shamera Sterling of the Thunderbirds (R) competes with Romelda Aiken-George of the Swifts. Picture: Getty Images

“Hopefully, this year we can maintain good playing competitiveness and some consistency.”

The defensive pressure of Sterling and Latanya Wilson and conversion rate of new recruit Eleanor Cardwell has been no surprise.

But Sterling predicted in the pre-season one of the players that was likely to be a big improver and could really add to the mix.

“I’m playing with players who have a lot of talent and who are ready to display that for this year,” Sterling said.

“Lucy (Austin) coming into the team is very key for us because Lucy is a person who is always wanting to learn, always great at taking feedback and then adding Eleanor to the mix with Lucy, just puts the icing on the cake.

Shamera Sterling (L) was left in tears after the Thunderbirds were knocked out of finals contention in 2022. Picture: Getty Images

“We have four shooters (with Tippah Dwan and Georgie Horjus) who can shoot long-range shots and that’s very good because that’s what we struggled with in the past.”

It was a prophetic statement, with 21-year-old Austin having a massive impact when injected off the bench.

The 190cm goaler made her name as a holding shooter, mainly given her height and strength under the post.

But she has been outstanding from range and against the NSW Swifts on Saturday night, sank five-of-six from the super shot zone among her 18 goals, with her efforts in the final quarter almost single-handedly keeping the T-Birds in the contest.

She also keeps an incredibly cool head for a young gun. After opting for a matchwinning super shot attempt in the dying seconds of regular time, rather than the safer one-point option that would have sent the match to extra time, Austin kept her cool to slot the game-equalling goal after Tayla Williams won a turnover.

The Swifts had only themselves to blame after the loss. Picture: Getty Images

SWIFTS ‘UNSWIFTLIKE’

It was a thrilling finish that few fans – apart from the thousands of Swifts faithful at Qudos Bank Arena – would have complained about.

But it’s a game the usually ultra-composed Swifts would be filthy about conceding given some of the basic errors they made, especially down the stretch.

The Swifts sealed the minor premiership on the back of several gritty efforts but several uncharacteristic mistakes – partly due to the pressure of the Thunderbirds.

Winning the minor premiership gives them another chance in the finals but after losing their final round match – to break a nine-match winning streak – they’ll have to put the past fortnight out of their heads quickly if they are to rebound and tale their place in the decider.

The #Adelaide T’birds are through to the Super Netball GRAND FINAL with a crazy come from behind win in Sydney 💪 #7NEWShttps://t.co/uQNiTQqeVjpic.twitter.com/fDjP2PsY3C

— John Casey (@JohnCasey2880) June 24, 2023

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Super Netball may have lost a team after the 2023 season but there have definitely been positives for the competition as well.

The Collingwood Magpies, whose management decided not to renew their licence for 2024, struggled to attract big crowds and members, one of the reasons cited for their downfall.

But elsewhere, interest has been enormous.

Numbers released by the league show home and away season attendance is up 25 per cent for 2023, to 266,197 fans, up from 213,428 in 2022.

And the numbers continued to impress in the opening week of the finals, with an incredible 18,905 fans attending the two semi-final match-ups – a new Super Netball record.

With 9014 fans at the Thunderbirds-Swifts match at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and 9891 at Perth’s RAC Arena, the semi-final attendance record was smashed by more than 7500 fans.

Another massive crowd is expected this weekend when the Swifts and Fever meet in the preliminary final at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

Courtney Bruce (L) was outstanding for the Fever in their win over the Melbourne Vixens. Picture: Getty Images

FEVER DEFENCE MARCHES ON

Fever coach Dan Ryan has lauded his captain Courtney Bruce as “critically important” for his team.

Bruce was outstanding in the Fever’s 64-57 knockout final win over the Melbourne Vixens in Perth on Sunday, in which the defender finished with 15 deflections and seven gains in an match-turning performance.

With just two points separating the teams in the final term, Bruce won the critical moments as the Vixens attempted to push their chances.

“(She’s) critically important. She’s our leader from the back, such a big presence in our environment,” Ryan said.

“And I thought in really important moments today, Courtney Bruce was an absolute beast.

“That big deflection and pick-up that got the team flying down the other end of the court, some massive rebounds, I thought she was awesome.”

The ultra-competitive Bruce was always going to test the Vixens shooters but Ryan said it was her impact on her own teammates that was just as important.

“The confidence she puts in others (is amazing). Sunday (Aryang’s) big intercept at the end, that’s just stuff you dream of.”