The reigning premiers aren’t resting on their laurels in season 2024, instead they are ‘hunting for more’

The Thunderbirds are out to prove they were not a one season wonder and have had a busy off-season in order to show that. EMMA GREENWOOD chats with skipper Hannah Petty to see how they are shaping up.

Adelaide Thunderbirds are determined to show they were no one trick pony last season and refuse to set their goals below a premiership defence in 2024.

The TBirds broke through to win a maiden premiership with a mix of homegrown talent and international stars but they head into this season without Eleanor Cardwell and Maisie Nankivell, who followed former assistant coach Tracey Neville to new outfit Melbourne Mavericks, while Diamonds camp invitee Tippah Dwan returned to Queensland to link with the Firebirds.

The departures had plenty thinking Adelaide would be a spent force this season but the confidence gained from their title-winning exploits, along with some savvy recruiting have them poised to not only compete, but win again.

Thunderbirds captain Hannah Petty said “hunting for more” was the motto her team was living by after adding experienced internationals Romelda Aiken-George and Laura Scherian to their line-up.

Romelda Aiken-George is a big recruitment. Picture: Getty Images

Crucially, Petty said, both players were back-to-back premiership winners and knew what it took to win a title and then get back to work to achieve success again.

“They’re some great netballers and feared netballers,” Petty said of the pair.

“And they’ve got that experience, which is really helpful coming into another year.

“They’ve both (won) back-to-back premierships as well, so that’s really exciting to have in the group and their knowledge around that.”

The Thunderbirds had never made the Super Netball finals before last season despite pushing for a top four spot on several occasions.

Despite their relative lack of experience though, they pushed right through, winning two clutch overtime games against the NSW Swifts to win the major semi and then grand final.

Hannah Petty wants another premiership. Picture: Getty Images

“We hadn’t had finals experience,” Petty said. “We went all the way through last year and this year obviously we’re looking to do the same thing.

“But we also know the importance of taking it round by round and working our different combinations.

“I think that’s been our great strength is having so many versatile players that can play different roles.

“All we ask each other to do is go out and play your role.” on that day, whatever that looks like.”

What sounds like a great sporting cliche is a real truism for the Thunderbirds.

In Shamera Sterling, Latanya Wilson and Matilda Garrett - all internationals - they have arguably the best defensive club combination in world netball, while Petty can play at wing defence as well as centre, her toughness and competitive edge not an ounce less than AFL premiership-winning brother Harrison.

How will Lucy Austin and the Thunderbirds fare this season? Picture: Getty Images

Scherian adds starch to a midcourt that has rising stars in Georgie Horjus and Tayla Williams, while the recruitment of Aiken-George, a gun scorer in her own right, to help mentor the versatile Lucy Austin and pathway graduate Lauren Frew is another shrewd move.

Above all though, the Thunderbirds now have belief.

That was on display at the Team Girls Cup last month, where they showed they would be no pushovers regardless of who they put on court.

“It gave us heaps of belief,” Petty said of the premiership win.

“Halfway through the season (last year) is when it really clicked for us. I think it was that one-goal win against (2022 premiers) the Fever where it really grew.

“And we’ve tried to hang on to that coming into the new year.

“I think also having the grand final in Adelaide (this July) adds another element to it but as a group, we’re just try to look at what we can control and go from there.”