The Adelaide Thunderbirds have cemented themselves in Super Netball’s top two with an historic 20-goal demolition of third-placed West Coast Fever in Perth on Friday night.

Accused of having a “pity party” by Fever leader Fran Williams, the home side were totally outclassed from the opening whistle as Adelaide celebrated star Shamera Sterling-Humphrey’s 100th game in style.

The 65-45 loss is the Fever’s worst defeat at home since 2019 and their worst-ever loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Super Netball.

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But the victory did come at a cost with midcourter Tayla Williams failing to return after a first quarter tumble.

Both sides were guilty of early turnovers as a spot in the top two went on the line on Friday night.

Matilda Garrett was a physical presence in defence, staying on the body of Fever’s Sasha Glasgow, but it was a collision down the other end between Williams and Jess Anstiss that saw the Tbirds midcourter limp off.

Tayla Williams played no further part after a first quarter collision.Source: FOX SPORTS

Williams, in her first start for 2026, headed straight into the rooms in worrying scenes.

But with Georgie Horjus back to WA and Lauren Frew coming on in GA as a result of Williams’ injury blow, it was Adelaide who rallied with six of the next eight goals.

Romelda Aiken-George, in her Super Netball record-equalling 254th game, then chose the perfect time to sink her first supershot for the year but at quarter time it was still the Tbirds with a 16-13 lead.

As Williams returned to the bench with her left knee heavily strapped, Adelaide pushed on early in the second term.

Fever – the least penalised side in the league – racked up their 21st penalty compared to Adelaide’s nine in worrying signs for Dan Ryan’s side.

But as Garrett’s continued pressure on Glasgow rolled on, the England international was benched as Adelaide’s lead grew to eight.

Kate Heffernan comes through for the ball.Source: Getty Images

The time out came from the Fever late in the second term – and with it came an absolute spray from leader Fran Williams.

“Stop feeling sorry for ourselves, stop having a pity party and let’s sort it out,” she said.

But just as Adelaide did in their earlier 2026 clash, the Thunderbirds played near perfect netball with only three turnovers for the entire first half. And that helped the side to a 30-20 half time advantage.

Ryan was left lamenting his “tentative” attack end that went at just 36 per cent centre pass conversion for that “awful” second term.

And as a result Ruth Aryang and Alice Teague-Neeld – in her first match in a month – came on for the third term in wing defence and wing attack respectively.

But they did little to halt Adelaide’s momentum.

When Aiken-George hit her second supershot, she sparked the crowd. But Frew’s immediate intercept silenced the green army with the margin out at 14.

“The West Coast Fever have been given an absolute lesson here,” Fox Netball’s Sue Gaudion said.

“This is third playing second on the ladder and you wouldn’t know it!”

By the final change, the margin had blown out to 16 goals as the Fever were staring down their worst-ever defeat to Adelaide.

The match became a party for the Thunderbirds in the final term as coach Tania Obst rolled the changes.

Adelaide have now sent a statement to the rest of the competition as they move into outright second.