NS PREVIEW: 2024 SSN Grand Final

By Ian Harkin

Cover photo by Aleisha Vicars

GRAND FINAL

ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS v MELBOURNE VIXENS

Adelaide Entertainment CentreSaturday, August 37pm AEST (6:30pm local time)(WA 5pm, JAM 4am, UK 10am, RSA 11am, NZ 9pm)

Here we are. The big one. For the third straight year, we have a sell out for the Grand Final. The decision of the South Australian government in backing this game has been rewarded, with Thunderbirds here and looking to go back-to-back. If Grand Finals were decided purely on the team in the best form coming in, then they would already be winners, having crushed the Vixens by 25 goals in the Major Semi Final. But we all know that it doesn’t work that way.

Vixens by virtue of finishing top two earned a second chance, and after their win over Fever last week, they get another shot at Thunderbirds in the decider. They will obviously need to improve greatly to challenge the champions, but they are certainly capable of doing it.

There will be great players all over the court, and great stories to go with them. Will Kate Moloney lead the Vixens to an upset win. Will Romelda Aiken-George earn another title? Can Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin put it all together, or will Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson dominate proceedings once again?

POSSIBLE LINE UPS

The Thunderbirds starting line up has been unchanged for several rounds, and it would be a big surprise if there was a change now. The only question mark is regarding the Vixens defence. They could possibly start Rudi Ellis, but Mannix played well last week and has far greater experience in big games.

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall, in Super Netball and the ANZ Championship that preceded it, Vixens lead the head to head against Thunderbirds 25-13. In Super Netball, Vixens lead 11-6. However, in the past 11 meetings from 2020 onwards, it’s 6-5 in Thunderbirds’ favour. These teams have met just twice at this venue and it is 1-1. 

In SSN clashes between these teams, Thunderbirds’ highest score is 73 from the round 12 match this year. That’s also their highest score ever in Super Netball. In the major semi final, Thunderbirds restricted Vixens to a score of 43. That is Vixens’ equal lowest ever score in Super Netball. Vixens’ highest score against Thunderbirds in SSN is 75, while they restricted Thunderbirds to just 39 last season.   

Happy for the win – Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin in Round 2. Image Shaun Sharp/Moments By Shaun

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Thunderbirds started quite well, but after a horror game against the Firebirds in Round 8, they have really lifted in form and gone on a seven game winning streak. Vixens led the competition for much of the year, winning 10 of their first 11 games, but they’ve hit a form slump, losing three of their past five, two of those losses being heavy defeats to their Grand Final opponents.

PREVIOUS CLASHES

Round 2: Vixens 54 def Thunderbirds 53 (John Cain Arena)In a real nailbiter, MVP Kate Moloney led the way for Vixens, while Kiera Austin came alive in the last quarter and got the team home, scoring the winning goal with just four seconds to go. That was despite fine games from Georgie Horjus and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey.

Round 12: Thunderbirds 73 def Vixens 58 (Adelaide Entertainment Centre)MVP Sterling-Humphrey led the Thunderbirds defence in restricting the Vixens, while their in-form attackers capitalised at the other end, producing their highest ever score. Horjus combined beautifully with Romelda Aiken-George.

Major Semi-Final: Thunderbirds 68 def Vixens 43 (Adelaide 36ers Arena)This was one way traffic as Thunderbirds consigned Vixens to their biggest ever defeat and their equal lowest SSN score. Sterling-Humphrey dominated once again and rookie Lauren Frew continued a fine first season and was named MVP. 

Semi Final MVP Lauren Frew celebrates with Lucy Austin. Image: Hannah Howard | On The Ball Media

WHY THEY CAN WIN

Thunderbirds:

This will be the Thunderbirds’ third straight home game. In Adelaide this season, they are unbeaten in eight matches with an average winning margin of just over 18 goals. They haven’t had to travel in four weeks, so the comforts of home and a packed out Adelaide Entertainment Centre are all in their favour.
The Thunderbirds’ defence is on fire. And they have been especially damaging against the Vixens. In both the round 12 match and also the major semi final, Thunderbirds finished with three times as many possession gains as the Vixens. Over the course of the three clashes this year, Thunderbirds have had a whopping 63 gains to Vixens’ 24. 
Shamera Sterling-Humphrey in particular, has been simply outstanding. In all three matches, she has had more gains than the entire Vixens team. She has had 34 gains in the three games, and if she continues on with that form, it’s hard to see it not resulting in a Thunderbirds win.
While Thunderbirds are known for their defence, the big difference this year is in attack. In past seasons, the team has been guilty of squandering opportunities. That improved in 2023, and it’s improved even further this year. Their average score has gone from 56.5 to 61.1 and that’s despite averaging 3 less super shots per game. Two of the reasons behind the improvement are Georgie Horjus and Lauren Frew. Horjus has always been talented, but she is now playing with great consistency. Meanwhile, Frew is having an outstanding rookie season.
Coach Tania Obst has given this team an almost perfect preparation so far. Her obvious plan of rest and rotation has reaped rewards, with a team that is fit and firing, and playing its best netball right at the most important time of the season. Frew is a perfect example. She is still yet to play a full game, despite how well she has gone so far. Obst has stuck firmly to her plans of regularly getting all 10 players out on court, leading to a team with numerous options. 

Vixens:

Last week’s win will have given the Vixens great confidence. Although the win was ultimately a narrow one, the team put in a great performance to put themselves in a position of being up by 12 on West Coast Fever with 3 minutes to go. Some of the netball to that point was the Vixens at their very best. 
The performance of the shooters in particular will have given the team a boost. A rejuvenated Sophie Garbin was back to her best and the connection between herself and Kiera Austin was as good as it has been this season. Austin is a vital member of the line up. Whenever she plays well, as she did last week, it almost always results in a strong Vixens showing. In round 2, it was Austin in the last quarter that proved the winning difference. 
One area where Vixens could have a real advantage is in super shots, and all three of their shooters are capable of landing them. In 2024, Vixens are averaging 6.2 super shots per game, at 55% accuracy. That’s compared to Thunderbirds’ 2.3 per game at 49.3%.
Kate Eddy is a very underrated player, and an important member of the Vixens. Having missed much of the season through injury, she has been eased back into things and the Preliminary Final was her first full game since round 4. She was a part of the Vixens team which defeated Thunderbirds in round 2, and her defensive work gives the team added strength and versatility. If Vixens are to win, it’s likely Eddy will have played a big part.
Captain Kate Moloney is having a fantastic season, leading by example. Just like Eddy, she goes about her work with a minimum of fuss, but she has been tremendous this season while playing in combination with two less experienced wing attacks. If she and Hannah Mundy can overcome the relentless pressure of the Thunderbirds defence, they will go a long way



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