NS Scoreboard: SSN 2024 Grand Final

Writers: Jenny Sinclair, Katrina Nissen, Ian Harkin, Jaimie Keay

Photographer: Hannah Howard

Sunshine Girls celebrate their Thunderbirds win. Image Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media

Nine of the ten Thunderbirds celebrate. Image Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media

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Result

Adelaide Thunderbirds 59 def Melbourne Vixens 57

Quarter by Quarter

Q1: Vixens 16-13

Q2: Thunderbirds 15-12

Q3: Thunderbirds 14-13

Q4: Thunderbirds 17-16

Thunderbirds:

Romelda Aiken-George 42/51 (82%)

Lauren Frew 10/10 (100%)

Georgie Horjus 7/8 (88%)

Total: 59/69 (86%)

Vixens:

Kiera Austin 28/31 (90%)

Sophie Garbin 22/25 (88%)

Total: 50/56 (89%)

Super shots:

Thunderbirds 0/0

Vixens 7/8 (Austin 7/7)

MVP

Romelda Aiken-George

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Milestones

Romelda Aiken-George played in her 20th finals match and collected Player of the Match while doing it! She’s also the most decorated  athlete in Australia’s national league, having played in seven grand finals and claimed four titles.

Laura Scherian is now the most successful SSN athlete having played in four grand finals and claiming the title three times.

In her 17th season, Romelda Aiken-George is as consistent as ever and was a worthy MVP. Image Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media

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LET’S TALK ABOUT:

News of the Week

With the 2024 Super Netball grand final locked in a year ago, Adelaide has been rocking in the lead up to the big game. From photo montages at the airport to Rundle Mall appearances, the South Australian government have gone all out for the season definer. While the original decision to sell off the grand final was controversial, the league’s ability to build a massive atmosphere around the match has been a winner for the sport.

A massive crowd turned up at the Grand Final lunchto listen to a range of guest speakers, including the two coaches, Fox Netball commentators, and Liz Ellis AO in her first official appearance as Chair of Netball Australia. The Queen was fabulous, funny and positive about netball’s push to remain a premier sport in Australia. Along with huge growth in crowds, memberships and television audiences, Ellis revealed that netball is also the biggest growth sport for men and boys in our country. Premier Peter Malinauskas spoke about the state’s investment in the Mile End netball facility.

Liz Ellis took to the court again – this time as Chair of Netball Australia. Image Hannah Howard/On the Ball Media

Despite finalizing the amalgamation of Suncorp into ANZ Bank, Suncorp confirmed they will be continuing their sponsorship of Super Netball in 2025. Suncorp donated $100 for every super shot scored during the season, adding up to over $70,000. We’re sure Thunderbirds won’t be worried in the slightest that their team contributed by far the least amount to that this year.

The Grand Final crowd was 9,649 in a packed Adelaide Entertainment Centre. That means the Suncorp Super Netball season finishes with an overall attendance of 366,222, reclaiming the competition’s position as the most attended women’s sporting league in Australia.

After trailing for much of the first half, the Thunderbirds gradually took control early in the final quarter. They seemed headed for a comfortable victory, before a late surge from Vixens fell just short with time running out. But does netball need to look at a standard rule regarding calling time off, particularly towards the end of quarters? The Vixens lost precious seconds in the dying stages of the Grand Final as time was not called when perhaps it should have been. This seems to be one area of inconsistency in netball officiating.

The official free agency signing period starts on Monday 5 August and finishes on Friday 23 August. While there are limited players off contract, some fascinating stories are bound to unfold, particularly where Donnell Wallam will end up, which internationals might join Super Netball, and who the Swifts and Thunderbirds will sign in their goal shooting positions.

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The game in brief

Steely determination from the Vixens, and a nervous start from the Thunderbirds, saw the away team jump out to an early six point lead. Tania Obst was quick to call a time out to settle her line. With Kiera Austin looking dangerous early on, Obst moved her players around like chess pieces – sending Latty Wilson to goal defence, bringing Hannah Petty on early to centre as a calming influence who could also sight and release to the circle, and moving Tayla Williams to wing defence against Hannah Mundy.

The changes were effective, and while the Vixens kept their short, sharp passing game up, the Thunderbirds slowly clawed back the lead despite some rocky moments under the post. With gains hard to come by, the Thunderbirds looking to have an untouchable six point lead late in the match. However a hot two point hand by Austin, and a late intercept by Kate Moloney, kept the Vixens in the race until the dying seconds of the match.

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