SSN Grand Finalists: The story so far

By Matt Fotia 

After 16 rounds, and countless training sessions, just two teams remain in the race for the 2024 premiership. 

The Adelaide Thunderbirds are favoured to take out a second consecutive crown in front of their home crowd, while the Melbourne Vixens found their best netball just in time for the big show. 

It’s been a long journey to decider.  

Here’s a closer look at how each side got there, and how they can take out the SSN’s ultimate prize. 

OFF-SEASON CHANGES 

The Thunderbirds weren’t immune to list change but despite losing both of their starting shooters in the signing window they have found cohesion with the newcomers. 

During the offseason Grand Final MVP Eleanor Cardwell left for the Melbourne Mavericks, along with mid courter Maisie Nankivell and assistant coach Tracey Neville, while Tippah Dwan returned to the Queensland Firebirds. 

Training partner, and Adelaide local, Lauren Frew was upgraded to the contracted ten and over 300 games of national league experience joined the club when Laura Scherian and Romelda Aiken-George signed on the dotted line. 

The Vixens also bid farewell to a big name, with long-time leader Liz Watson heading to the Sunshine Coast. Olivia Lewis crossed to the Mavericks and Rahni Samason headed across the ditch. 

Diamonds shooter Sophie Garbin stayed in Victoria, young star Zara Walters was an inspired signing and circle defender Rudi Ellis joined from the Fever.  

Mwai Kumwenda later withdrew from the season due to pregnancy and was replaced by Lily Graham. 

While both sides have experienced a host of personnel changes in 2024, they’ve proven they have the right systems in place to go all the way... no matter who is on the court. 

BITE SIZED SEASON 

The story of the Thunderbirds season was their all-conquering run home, where they won six straight games to clinch the minor premiership on percentage ahead of the Vixens and Fever. 

They suffered a pair of one goal defeats to the Vixens (round 2) and Fever (round 6) and strangely struggled against the Queensland Firebirds, defeating the lowly ranked outfit by one goal in round one and losing by 10 in round eight, before going on that undeniable run home. 

The Vixens were irresistible to start the season, with back-to-back double figure wins in rounds three and four, before losing at home to the Sunshine Coast. This became an outlier a week later when they knocked over the Fever in the West by nine goals. 

Four more wins, including a two-goal victory against the Lightning, had the Vixens were odds on for the minor premiership, but a 15-goal loss to the Thunderbirds put them in a tailspin. 

The Vixens dropped their last home game against the Fever by a goal but did just enough against the Firebirds to earn the double chance.

STATS DON’T LIE 

The Vixens are a ruthless home and away machine, having missed the finals just three times under the reign of Simone McKinnis, and the key to their success is an all-round game. 

They’re strong on every line and don’t have one particular statistical area where they exceed the rest of the competition. 

They do have a couple of things over the Thunderbirds. 

They’re more efficient at turning gains into goals, with a goal to gain rate of 66.3% compared to Adelaide’s 63.2%. It must be said the Thunderbirds get more gains than any other side in the competition though. 

The Vixens utilise the super shot much more than the Thunderbirds, having netted 99 this season, almost triple the Thunderbirds 35. Both Garbin and Austin are deadly from long range and could cause the hosts grief in a tight one. 

Adelaide, on the other hand, are a statisticians dream. 

Ranked number one for intercepts (133), deflections (299) and pick ups (171), the Thunderbirds are a defensive wonder, conceding more than 60 goals just twice this season, in round one against the Firebirds and round 14 against the Lightning. 

THE FORM GUIDE 

Saturday will be the fourth time the two sides have gone head-to-head this season, with the Thunderbirds getting the better of the Vixens on the previous two occasions. 

The Vixens strength in the super shot was the deciding factor in round two, when Kiera Austin (6) and Garbin (2) combined for eight super shots from 15 attempts, with the Thunderbirds unable to make a two-point shot. 

The Thunderbirds sent a message to the competition when they met again in round 12, smashing the Vixens by 15 goals in a comprehensive performance.  

Latanya Wilson starred with nine deflections and four gains, and the Thunderbirds collected 18 gains to the Vixens six. 

It was a case of déjà vu in the Major Semi Final, as the Thunderbirds almost doubled the dosage, winning 68-43.  

Incredibly the Vixens finished the game with just 101 Nissan net points between them. 

The Thunderbirds had 24 gains and limited the Vixens to just 61 feeds for the match. 

WHO HOLDS THE KEY 

Plenty has been said about the Thunderbirds defence, especially the super star Jamaican pairing of Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latayna Wilson, but it’s their defensive colleague Matilda Garrett who holds the key for the reigning champions. 

Garrett, who plays a more touch-tight, old fashioned style of defence, will likely line up on Vixens ace Kiera Austin.  

If Garrett can quash the influence of Austin and disrupt her connection with Sophie Garbin, her Jamaican teammates will do the rest. 

If the Vixens are to win, they’ll need to be at their attacking best, and Hannah Mundy will be in the driver’s seat. 

Mundy, at her best, is one of the best feeders in the game and can put any defence in a spin with her boundless energy and creative flair. 

She’s struggled against the Thunderbirds so far this year, well down on her average output in three key areas; feeds (21.5 v Thunderbirds), assists (11.5) and centre pass receives (9.5). 

If she’s brings her ‘a-game’ on Saturday night she’ll cause the Thunderbirds defence plenty of headaches and will lighten the load on Austin in goal attack, skipper Kate Moloney in centre, and could led the Vixens to their fourth national league title.