T’birds hold nerve to break title drought
TEN years after their last title, the Adelaide Thunderbirds are once again Queens of Australian netball after downing the NSW Swifts 60-59 to win the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball title. In a match very fitting of the occasion, the Thunderbirds held their nerves in extra time to win the trophy, thanks in large part to the efforts of Player of the Match Eleanor Cardwell.
It went goal for goal early in the first quarter, but the Swifts defenders in particular were alert early and certainly not making it straightforward for the Thunderbirds’ shooters at times. However, it was the Thunderbirds who were the first to break an opposition centre pass, and consolidated off the next centre pass, which saw them go on a five goal unanswered run before the Swifts pulled one back.
One Shamera Sterling deflection really seemed to be a confidence booster for the Thunderbirds as their full court defence really lifted after that. Just as the Thunderbirds were starting to take a foothold on the game, Helen Housby found her range from Super Shot territory which sparked a Swift resurgence.
The margin was as much as seven goals at one point, but ultimately the margin at quarter time was four in the Thunderbirds’ favour.
The Thunderbirds also started the second quarter strongly, scoring the first three goals of the term to extend their lead even further.
While at times it felt more even than the scoreboard may have suggested, the Thunderbirds’ defenders really were picking up a lot more turnovers and gained ball than the Swifts’ defenders were. The Thunderbirds’ shooters had also figured out a way to navigate passed the Swifts’ defenders which was an issue that had been causing them so much trouble early in the first term.
The Swifts kept tinkering with their on court line up in the hope of changing their fortunes, but they could not find the magic formula.
As the quarter progressed into Power Five, although Housby and Sophie Fawns were finding their range from Super Shot territory, the Swifts were having a lot of trouble getting the ball to them at all thanks to a super strong Thunderbirds’ defence.
In the end the Thunderbirds led by eight goals at half-time and were looking in control at the main break.
The third quarter was evenly poised for a lot of the quarter. The margin did not deviate very far for the benefit of either team early on as things went goal for goal for much of the front half of the quarter.
However as the quarter progressed the Swifts finally started to find their flow and momentum, and as such took a significant chunk out of the margin.
By the time the three quarter time siren went, the margin was still in the Thunderbirds’ favour, but it had been drastically reduced to a mere three goals and momentum was definitely with the Swifts.
It remained tight to start the final term, but the Swifts continued from where they finished in the third term, and managed to level proceedings inside the opening five minutes of the final quarter.
They then took the lead and it felt like they were building and peaking at the exact right moment in the match. But, their lead was not big yet so could not afford to rest on their laurels.
As such the Thunderbirds levelled back up in the shadows of the Power Five and an intense finish was brewing.
A Cardwell Super Shot sparked a mini-resurgence from the Thunderbirds, but the Swifts were not going to quit until the final siren. Just as the Thunderbirds looked like they were starting to try and kill some time, the Swifts pounced on a turnover and levelled proceedings.
In an intense final minute, the scores remained tied and the match was off to extra time.
Extra time started off in spectacular fashion with a signature Housby Super Shot, before Cardwell responded with one of her own. It remained tight for the rest of extra time, but the Thunderbirds managed to get three goals ahead and not even a last second Swifts’ Super Shot was enough, as the Thunderbirds held on.
The Thunderbirds’ usual suspects really did star. Sterling finished with seven gains, three intercepts and three rebounds, Georgie Horjus was a workhorse through midcourt, while in attack Cardwell only missed three shots all game and her level head and clutch shooting in extra time helped get her side over the line.
Meanwhile for the Swifts Paige Hadley (35 feeds, 17 assists), Housby (8 Super Shots) and Maddy Turner (four gains, four deflections) all gave their all.
ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS 16 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 6 (60)
NSW SWIFTS 12 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 5 (59)
STARTING SEVENS
Adelaide Thunderbirds
GS: Eleanor Cardwell
GA: Tippah Dwan
WA: Georgie Horjus
C: Hannah Petty
WD: Latanya Wilson
GD: Matilda Garrett
GK: Shamera Sterling
NSW Swifts
GS: Romelda Aiken-George
GA: Helen Housby
WA: Paige Hadley
C: Maddy Proud
WD: Tayla Fraser
GD: Maddy Turner
GK: Sarah Klau
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