T'birds lock in finals spot, end Lightning's season
After trailing at quarter-time in Saturday night's winner-takes-all mini-elimination final at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the Thunderbirds kept their dream of a historic championship three-peat alive with a commanding 19-10 second period.
Defenders Matilda Garrett and Latanya Wilson combined for 14 deflections and five intercepts, while shooter Romelda Aiken-George paired 43 goals with eight rebounds.
"Just absolute relief," Garrett said post-match.
"I think everyone on our team was extremely nervous.
"We've had belief all along that we can make the finals.
"I'm just so proud that we're actually going to be there."
It hasn't been all smooth sailing for Adelaide (8-6) in 2025, rocked after three rounds by the departure of Jamaican superstar Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, the world's best defender, through pregnancy.
But they have hit form at the right time, winning four of their last five to set up a minor semi-final date with the Melbourne Vixens next weekend.
If the Vixens upset the top-ranked West Coast Fever in Perth on Sunday, that semi-final will be held in Melbourne.
If the Fever get up, Adelaide will host the Vixens.
The Thunderbirds had some issues early, a lopsided 20-7 penalty count and a flurry of late goals from Cara Koenen giving the Lightning a 15-13 quarter-time cushion.
Adelaide turned the tables emphatically in the second term.
Aiken-George buried 15 goals, captain Hannah Petty subdued Liz Watson in the centre, and Sunshine Coast coughed up seven turnovers while chalking up an identical 20-7 penalty count to see the Thunderbirds motor ahead 32-25 at halftime.
Tayla Williams, unused in the first half, subbed on for Petty midway through the third stanza and had an influence through the middle as the home side stayed in the driver's seat.
The gap blew out to 11 midway through the fourth before the Lightning went on a two-point binge, eroding the deficit significantly but not enough to save their season.
"Disappointed, of course," Sunshine Coast skipper Steph Fretwell said.
"We started off the game really well, then the second quarter is when the game was won (by Adelaide)."
The two-time reigning champion Adelaide Thunderbirds have booked their place in the Super Netball finals after finishing the minor round with a hard-fought 59-55 victory over the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
After trailing at quarter-time in Saturday night's winner-takes-all mini-elimination final at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the Thunderbirds kept their dream of a historic championship three-peat alive with a commanding 19-10 second period.
Defenders Matilda Garrett and Latanya Wilson combined for 14 deflections and five intercepts, while shooter Romelda Aiken-George paired 43 goals with eight rebounds.
"Just absolute relief," Garrett said post-match.
"I think everyone on our team was extremely nervous.
"We've had belief all along that we can make the finals.
"I'm just so proud that we're actually going to be there."
It hasn't been all smooth sailing for Adelaide (8-6) in 2025, rocked after three rounds by the departure of Jamaican superstar Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, the world's best defender, through pregnancy.
But they have hit form at the right time, winning four of their last five to set up a minor semi-final date with the Melbourne Vixens next weekend.
If the Vixens upset the top-ranked West Coast Fever in Perth on Sunday, that semi-final will be held in Melbourne.
If the Fever get up, Adelaide will host the Vixens.
The Thunderbirds had some issues early, a lopsided 20-7 penalty count and a flurry of late goals from Cara Koenen giving the Lightning a 15-13 quarter-time cushion.
Adelaide turned the tables emphatically in the second term.
Aiken-George buried 15 goals, captain Hannah Petty subdued Liz Watson in the centre, and Sunshine Coast coughed up seven turnovers while chalking up an identical 20-7 penalty count to see the Thunderbirds motor ahead 32-25 at halftime.
Tayla Williams, unused in the first half, subbed on for Petty midway through the third stanza and had an influence through the middle as the home side stayed in the driver's seat.
The gap blew out to 11 midway through the fourth before the Lightning went on a two-point binge, eroding the deficit significantly but not enough to save their season.
"Disappointed, of course," Sunshine Coast skipper Steph Fretwell said.
"We started off the game really well, then the second quarter is when the game was won (by Adelaide)."
The two-time reigning champion Adelaide Thunderbirds have booked their place in the Super Netball finals after finishing the minor round with a hard-fought 59-55 victory over the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
After trailing at quarter-time in Saturday night's winner-takes-all mini-elimination final at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the Thunderbirds kept their dream of a historic championship three-peat alive with a commanding 19-10 second period.
Defenders Matilda Garrett and Latanya Wilson combined for 14 deflections and five intercepts, while shooter Romelda Aiken-George paired 43 goals with eight rebounds.
"Just absolute relief," Garrett said post-match.
"I think everyone on our team was extremely nervous.
"We've had belief all along that we can make the finals.
"I'm just so proud that we're actually going to be there."
It hasn't been all smooth sailing for Adelaide (8-6) in 2025, rocked after three rounds by the departure of Jamaican superstar Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, the world's best defender, through pregnancy.
But they have hit form at the right time, winning four of their last five to set up a minor semi-final date with the Melbourne Vixens next weekend.
If the Vixens upset the top-ranked West Coast Fever in Perth on Sunday, that semi-final will be held in Melbourne.
If the Fever get up, Adelaide will host the Vixens.
The Thunderbirds had some issues early, a lopsided 20-7 penalty count and a flurry of late goals from Cara Koenen giving the Lightning a 15-13 quarter-time cushion.
Adelaide turned the tables emphatically in the second term.
Aiken-George buried 15 goals, captain Hannah Petty subdued Liz Watson in the centre, and Sunshine Coast coughed up seven turnovers while chalking up an identical 20-7 penalty count to see the Thunderbirds motor ahead 32-25 at halftime.
Tayla Williams, unused in the first half, subbed on for Petty midway through the third stanza and had an influence through the middle as the home side stayed in the driver's seat.
The gap blew out to 11 midway through the fourth before the Lightning went on a two-point binge, eroding the deficit significantly but not enough to save their season.
"Disappointed, of course," Sunshine Coast skipper Steph Fretwell said.
"We started off the game really well, then the second quarter is when the game was won (by Adelaide)."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Super Netball 2025: West Coast Fever shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard says she's ready to step up in finals
She's the undisputed queen of Super Netball, and now, West Coast superstar Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard has fired out a warning to those standing in the way of a premiership: She's ready to step up in finals. Fowler-Nembhard has defied the personal tragedy of losing her unborn baby at the start of this year to inspire Fever to record 12 consecutive victories and on the brink of a historic second premiership. The minor premiers will look to book their spot in a fourth grand final in eight seasons when they host the NSW Swifts at RAC Arena on Sunday. And Fowler-Nembhard looms as the biggest weapon in their stacked arsenal having scored a league-high 724 goals and in contention for an unprecedented sixth league most valuable player award despite missing the first two games of the season. In a concerning sign for the other three teams still left in contention, the 35-year-old declared she was fresh and ready to take her game to another level in the finals. 'I have to find another gear. Every week I get out there, I have some amazing defenders that I'm coming up against,' Fowler-Nembhard said. 'I feel really good, I feel really fresh. I try to make sure the body is ticking over as it should during the week before I get to the weekend. 'I am looking forward to it (finals). It's going to be exciting. I love the fact we're playing here firstly; I am going to have to step into that moment and embrace it. And be as competitive as I can.' Renowned as the ultimate competitor, Fowler-Nembhard has seemingly found a lot of joy in this season, often being seen smiling on court. And her happiness is reflected in her form, with the Jamaican averaging 60 goals from her 12 game 'I just love playing netball, so if it's showing that I am enjoying it, I definitely am,' Fowler-Nembhard said. 'All my teammates are a good bunch of girls, and I'm blessed to be amongst such amazing athletes and amazing individuals. 'It means a lot to me. I love winning with this club in general and having got that record with them is just a really good thing.' While Fowler-Nembhard is the most dangerous player in Fever's goalcircle, the form of countrywoman Shanice Beckford has added another dimension. The goal attack has hit her straps in the back half of the season and it's forcing teams to abandon the double-team of Fowler-Nembhard which is not going unrecognised by coach Dan Ryan. 'Shanice is playing her role beautifully for us,' he said. 'She's opening up games and she played a couple of 60-minute ones where she's been locked in for the entirety. 'She's a real weapon, there is no one else in the league that plays goal attack like her and I love seeing her grow game upon game.'
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Fresh' Fever star warns she's ready to up ante in finals
She's the undisputed queen of Super Netball, and now, West Coast superstar Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard has fired out a warning to those standing in the way of a premiership: She's ready to step up in finals. Fowler-Nembhard has defied the personal tragedy of losing her unborn baby at the start of this year to inspire Fever to record 12 consecutive victories and on the brink of a historic second premiership. The minor premiers will look to book their spot in a fourth grand final in eight seasons when they host the NSW Swifts at RAC Arena on Sunday. And Fowler-Nembhard looms as the biggest weapon in their stacked arsenal having scored a league-high 724 goals and in contention for an unprecedented sixth league most valuable player award despite missing the first two games of the season. In a concerning sign for the other three teams still left in contention, the 35-year-old declared she was fresh and ready to take her game to another level in the finals. 'I have to find another gear. Every week I get out there, I have some amazing defenders that I'm coming up against,' Fowler-Nembhard said. 'I feel really good, I feel really fresh. I try to make sure the body is ticking over as it should during the week before I get to the weekend. 'I am looking forward to it (finals). It's going to be exciting. I love the fact we're playing here firstly; I am going to have to step into that moment and embrace it. And be as competitive as I can.' Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard in action against the Vixens. Credit: Paul Kane / Getty Images Renowned as the ultimate competitor, Fowler-Nembhard has seemingly found a lot of joy in this season, often being seen smiling on court. And her happiness is reflected in her form, with the Jamaican averaging 60 goals from her 12 game 'I just love playing netball, so if it's showing that I am enjoying it, I definitely am,' Fowler-Nembhard said. 'All my teammates are a good bunch of girls, and I'm blessed to be amongst such amazing athletes and amazing individuals. 'It means a lot to me. I love winning with this club in general and having got that record with them is just a really good thing.' While Fowler-Nembhard is the most dangerous player in Fever's goalcircle, the form of countrywoman Shanice Beckford has added another dimension. The goal attack has hit her straps in the back half of the season and it's forcing teams to abandon the double-team of Fowler-Nembhard which is not going unrecognised by coach Dan Ryan. 'Shanice is playing her role beautifully for us,' he said. 'She's opening up games and she played a couple of 60-minute ones where she's been locked in for the entirety. 'She's a real weapon, there is no one else in the league that plays goal attack like her and I love seeing her grow game upon game.'
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
Port Adelaide wants government action after Jase Burgoyne and St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera racially abused
Port Adelaide has called for the federal government to demand 'accountability' from social media companies as two AFL clubs and the players association condemned more racial attacks. It comes as Victoria Police arrested and charged man for a racial attack on NBL star Montrezl Harrell in what was lauded as a landmark moment in Australian sport. Port's Jase Burgoyne and St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera both called out the racial abuse they copped across last weekend. After going down to Sydney by five points on Sunday, Wanganeen-Milera was targeted by an anonymous account with a vile attack, including the words 'bro u f--king n----r'.' Burgoyne, a close friend of Wanganeen-Milera, then revealed even more horrific language used to attack him on his Instagram account, including 'tell your cousins to get jobs', 'welcome to country you f--king loser' and a vile reference to his mother. Port released a statement on Monday condemning the attacks and calling for action having referred the matter to the AFL's integrity unit. 'Such abuse is reprehensible and will not, and should not, be tolerated,' the statement said. 'The club has advised the AFL integrity department and we look forward to working closely with the AFL to identify those responsible and sanction appropriately. 'We also encourage people who witness or experience online abuse to report and highlight it to the social media platforms on which it appears. 'Port Adelaide also calls for governments to demand accountability from social media organisations. Platforms need to take accountability and action against these abusers.' AFL boss Andrew Dillon said hiding behind a fake account was 'cowardly' and the league would use its agreement with the eSafety Commissioner to address the issue. 'We have been clear that there is absolutely no place for this behaviour in our sport and in society. Racism is never acceptable and these incidents demonstrate there is so much more work to be done,' he said. 'Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jase Burgoyne are talented footballers and remarkable young men. We acknowledge their courage to call out the hurtful and completely unacceptable remarks and offer our support to both players, their families and our broader Indigenous playing group.' St Kilda chief executive Carl Dilena said the club would work closely with the league to identify the perpetrator of the abusive messages. 'As a club we do not accept racist behaviour of any kind,' Dilena said. 'These comments are abhorrent and have no place in our game or our community. 'Beyond Nasiah's talent on the field, he is a proud Kokatha and Narangga man who deserves to work and live free from this type of abuse. St Kilda Football Club stands firmly with Nasiah, his family and all First Nations people, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. 'We fully support Nasiah and will work closely with the AFL integrity unit to do everything we can to identify the person responsible for these messages.'
