Adelaide Thunderbirds have underscored their Super Netball premiership credentials with a dominant 20-goal win over West Coast Fever in Perth.

While they didn’t contest last year’s final after going back to back in 2023 and 2024, the Thunderbirds have been building this season, with the 65-45 goal victory showcasing their class and squad depth.

With second place on the ladder on the line, there was intense defensive pressure all over court, with no easy passage to goal.

Coach Tania Obst started with Georgie Horjus in goal attack, but quickly switched her out to the wing after Fran Williams came up with two early gains.

Once that change happened, the Thunderbirds looked more composed with their usual line up

Recruit of the season Elmere van der Berg was rock solid under the post, mixing movement and elevation to escape the attention of Fever’s keeper, Kadie-Ann Dehaney.

Fed superbly by the most potent midcourt in the league, the South African topscored with 56/60 in an MVP performance.

At the opposite end of the court, the match up between 100 gamer Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Romelda Aiken-George was feisty from the start, with the two Jamaicans going toe to toe in the circle.

Aiken-George, who tonight equalled the record for the most national league games played, brought the house down when she sank three rare two pointers, but was overall held to just 34 points.

She was overshadowed by Sterling-Humphry who repelled attack after attack, finishing with four gains and 11 deflections.

In the second quarter the Fever made some crucial errors in attack, which the Thunderbirds quickly and smoothly converted at the opposite end. With scoreboard pressure mounting, Fever called two successive time-outs to try and halt momentum, but the Thunderbirds still went into halftime with a 10-point lead.

One of the key differences between the two sides was their ability to attack the centre pass. Looking almost like they were running a training drill at times,

The Thunderbirds converted 85 per cent of their centre passes, while Fever struggled at just 67. Kate Heffernan ran the centre bib superbly, with the New Zealand import doing plenty of damage in both attack and defence.

In the third term, the Fever welcomed back Alice Teague-Neeld from injury at wing attack while also bringing on Ruth Aryang to try and claw back the lead. While the ball was going into the circle more easily, the Thunderbirds gave up just seven errors to the Fever’s 16 across the match, and extended their lead to 16.

Both teams emptied their bench across the game, with the Thunderbirds controlling every quarter to run out a comfortable 20-point win.

CROWNING A NEW QUEEN

In the previous nine seasons of Super Netball, just one Australian has won the league’s MVP — Horjus in 2024. The other seven titles have gone to two Jamaicans — Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard (five times) and Shamera Sterling-Humphry (once), plus England’s Geva Mentor (once). With Fowler-Nembhard absent on maternity leave this season, a new queen will be crowned as the best in the business. Australia’s Jamie-Lee Price appears to be the most likely of the locals, although few would bet against import Sterling-Humphry taking out the prize once again this year.

MID SEASON SLUMP?

Thunderbirds’ shooter Elmere van der Berg burst on the Super Netball scene this year, averaging 55 goals per match across her first three games. Between rounds four and six her output dipped to just 39 goals per game, but like a true champion she’s responded. In the last three games she’s been back to her best, averaging 54 goals per game.

Van der Berg’s form will be key if Thunderbirds want to take out another title this year, while South Africa will also be pinning their Commonwealth Games’ medal hopes on their 24 year old superstar.

JAMAICAN JUGGERNAUT

In Friday night’s match, Romelda Aiken-George equalled the most number of national league netball games played, sharing the record with NSW legend turned commentator Cath Cox. Aiken-George played her first domestic game in Australia back in 2008 for the Queensland Firebirds, and since then has also represented the NSW Swifts and Adelaide Thunderbirds. Now in her 19th season, the Jamaican shooter will potentially round out her career with Fever, and should go on to break Cox’s record in a feat that is unlikely to be repeated.

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