By Stephanie Smarrelli
Glory awaits this weekend.
After 14 rounds of competition and three blockbuster finals matches only one game remains.
The Grand Final.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne Vixens have been the competition’s benchmark all season.
Saturday night they’ll meet with the premiership on the line.
The Vixens burst out of the blocks, opening the season with nine straight wins before suffering their first defeat of the season in Round 10 to the Lightning.
They rebounded the following week against the Swifts but then their form dipped dramatically following a loss to the Thunderbirds in Round 12 which started a run of four consecutive losses that threatened to derail their title defence.
But champions have a habit of rising when it matters most.
The Vixens' commanding Preliminary Final victory against West Coast Fever was a timely reminder of exactly why they're the reigning premiers.
Under do-or-die pressure they rediscovered their trademark composure, went to the next level in defence, and earned the chance to defend their crown.
The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, have been the competition's most consistent side.
Their only loss came against the Vixens in Round 6, and since then, they've gone from strength to strength, claiming the minor premiership before dismantling the Vixens by 14 goals in the Major Semi Final.
The Thunderbirds have only lost to the Vixens this season.
But none of that will matter once the first centre pass is taken on Saturday night.
Grand finals have a way of ignoring what’s expected and rewriting narratives.
Previous meetings become little more than history.
The only thing that counts is which team can absorb the pressure, win the big moments and seize the opportunity.
The key battles will between the goal defences and goal attacks this weekend.
When these teams last met, Latanya Wilson's shift into goal defence transformed the contest.
She shut down Kiera Austin's influence, finished with four gains and combined brilliantly with Shamera Sterling-Humphrey to turn defensive pressure into attacking opportunities.
But fresh off an MVP performance in the Preliminary Final expect Austin to enter the Grand Final determined to make amends and bring nothing but her best.
Widely regarded as the Vixens' barometer, Austin has the ability to lift everyone around her.
When she's turning to shoot with confidence, the Vixens become one of the competition's most dangerous attacking units.
Likewise, the Thunderbirds possess plenty of firepower of their own.
Lauren Frew may sometimes go under the radar, but her work rate and composure are invaluable.
Austin was prolific in the Prelim Final.
She shot at 100 per cent accuracy in the Major Semi Final while creating space for Elmeré van der Berg to thrive inside the circle.
The Vixens rotated both Kate Eddy and Jo Weston onto Frew throughout that clash, but neither combination was able to slow the Thunderbirds' relentless attack.
Georgie Horjus is another player capable of shaping the result.
Whether operating through wing attack or rotating into goal attack, her speed, vision and connection with teammates make her one of the Thunderbirds' most influential playmakers and a player the Vixens must contain.
While the established stars are expected to lead the way for the Vixens with the likes of Kate Moloney set to dominate, young Vixen Zara Walters announced herself on the finals stage against Fever.
Her pace through the midcourt and composure at circle edge allowed the Vixens to get plenty of the ball in the goal circle last weekend.
But she’ll face a Thunderbirds defence that leads the competition in intercepts and deflections and have their own young gun in defensive midcourter Sophie Casey.
The battle may ultimately come down to possession on the weekend.
The Vixens are at their best when they patiently build through the midcourt and limit turnovers, while the Thunderbirds defenders thrive on chaos.
Every loose pass or rushed decision presents another opportunity for Wilson, Sterling-Humphrey and Matilda Garrett to turn defence into attack.
The tactical battle between coaches Di Honey and Tania Obst could prove just as influential.
Honey's decision to start Rudi Ellis against Romelda Aiken-George in the Preliminary Final paid off, with Ellis producing one of her best performances of the season.
The tactical battle between coaches will be one to watch on Saturday night.
Yet she played just seven minutes against the Thunderbirds in the Major Semi Final.
Whether Honey backs Ellis from the opening centre pass or returns to the Jo Weston and Emily Mannix combination against van der Berg may be one of the night's defining coaching decisions.
As will be how Obst decides to set up her own defensive end.
Both coaches have shown they’re comfortable to make changes throughout the season but how smoothly those changes transition on the court and make an impact could break open the game.
Expect momentum swings, defensive pressure and little room to breathe.
The Thunderbirds enter as favourites after dominating the season, but the Vixens reminded everyone last week why they're reigning premiers.
If the Vixens can protect possession and get Kiera Austin into the contest early they'll give themselves every chance of causing an upset.
But if the Thunderbirds’ defensive pressure takes hold, the minor premiers could complete one of the most dominant seasons in Suncorp Super Netball history.
Tune into the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final live and on demand on Kayo Freebies, Foxtel and BINGE.
