Rnd 1 preview: It’s showtime

By Stephanie Smarrelli
 

It feels like a lifetime ago since the Adelaide Thunderbirds lifted the Suncorp Super Netball trophy in August last year. 

But we’re now just hours away from the first whistle of the 2025 season being blown. 

Which means it’s now time to delve into how each of the eight clubs are shaping up.   

And naturally, 2025 is going to pick up right where we left off. 

With a three-peat in mind the Thunderbirds will welcome the Vixens back to their fortress. 
 
Playing the Thunderbirds in Adelaide has become a daunting task over the last couple of seasons but if there’s a team who is up to the challenge it’s the Vixens. 

They’ve got a point to prove, and the bonus incentive of this year’s Grand Final being locked in for their hometown’s Rod Laver Arena. 

The Vixens are all in and ready to rumble, the only changes to their lineup have been temporary replacement player Maggie Caris coming in for Emily Mannix who gave birth in January and Lily Graham’s elevation into the contracted 10 now official after a year as a replacement player herself. 

The Thunderbirds haven’t experienced many changes with Laura Scherian’s retirement opening the door for training partner Kayla Graham. But the Thunderbirds will likely be without Grand Final MVP Romelda Aiken-George who is being load managed following a minor knee injury earlier this year. In her place comes temporary replacement player Sanmarie Visser who joins the league from South Africa. 

Visser only made her debut for the SPAR Proteas in January but caught the attention of the Thunderbirds who jumped at the opportunity to bring her defensive prowess into the fold. 

Looking back to last year’s Grand Final for some insights into how this weekend will play out, the Thunderbirds won without slotting a single two-point shot. Their calm composure keeping them in the game even when they found themselves playing catch up early. 

The Vixens on the other hand weren’t afraid to look for the two-point zone and are likely to do so again this weekend. 

And with the likes of Kiera Austin, Sophie Garbin and Lily Graham in the goal circle why wouldn’t you? 

The big challenge for the Vixens will be winning ball back in defence while coming up against arguably the league’s best defensive unit. 

With Mannix out, it’s likely Kate Eddy will swing in to provide some circle defence as we saw glimpses of last year.   

Expect the two sides to go toe-for-toe for most of the match 
 

What else can you expect this weekend? 
 
Did you know Delta Goodrem is performing at the Mavericks game? 

Yes? Good, thought you might’ve missed it. 

While they’ve been pulling out all the stops to make sure you know Delta is coming, there’s another superstar you won’t want to miss on the court. 

Sasha Glasgow. 
 
The sharp shooter is set to make her SSN return against the Lightning on Saturday night having suffered a horrific leg break during last year’s pre-season.  
 
Back on the SSN court for the first time she’ll have a tough task ahead of her with Lightning’s Tara Hinchliffe, Courtney Bruce and Kristiana Manu’a in the defensive mix. 

But if there’s one thing Glasgow is good at, it’s evading a defender to sink a Super Shot. 

And if the teams’ encounters last season are anything to go by, this clash is going to come down to the wire. 

A new season is a fresh start for Sunday’s opening battle between the GIANTS and the Firebirds. 

Both teams sat at the bottom of the ladder last season and will be eager to put the last 12 months behind them, none more so than the Firebirds. 

The Firebirds made changes across the court during the off-season including bringing in Uganda’s Mary Cholhok and England Rose Imogen Allison. The duo will provide the side with extra spark this season and there’s no better test than the GIANTS. 

Reeling from a slow start to their 2024, the GIANTS know how important it is to get wins on the board early and as far as first round match ups go, the Firebirds are a team they should feel confident matching up against. 

Then to close out the round all eyes will be on Perth as the NSW Swifts take on the West Coast Fever. 

Perth’s RAC Arena has become a fortress for Fever over the years with the Green Army’s support never wavering. On the opposite end of that support for the first time in years will be former Fever midcourter Verity Simmons who will step out onto the court in red for the first time. 

Joining her will be New Zealand’s Grace Nweke who made headlines when she jumped across to SSN during last year’s signing period adding her talents to a Swifts shooting circle in desperate need of some stability in the GS bib. 

Both teams looked pretty good throughout the pre-season and only five goals split them at this year’s Suncorp Team Girls Cup but play time is over. 

We’re about to see what teams are really made of, so strap in as season 2025 begins.