By Alexander Dabb
They say to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best, and while the Adelaide Thunderbirds gave it a good shake, they proved no match for the reigning premier in Round 6.
In a huge top of the table clash at John Cain Arena on Saturday night, it was the Melbourne Vixens that came out on top, prevailing 56-50 to remain the only undefeated side through six rounds in 2026.
It wasn't one-way traffic at all, though, and the Vixens found that out early, as the Thunderbirds’ defensive end - which has been a nightmare proposition for opponents all season - came up trumps on the first possession of the game, with Shamera Sterling-Humphrey winning the ball back for the visitors.
The tone was set, and a 2-0 start early for the visitors was quickly countered by the Vixens, who scored four straight of their own in what was a frenetic start to the contest, however the Thunderbirds were soon level again and both sides settled into a rhythm, going goal for goal for much of the term.
But Sterling-Humphrey and Matilda Garrett continued to pester Vixens duo Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin inside the circle, Sterling-Humphrey winning two intercepts and two deflections amid a 32.5 net point term, as slowly but surely the visitors pulled away.
Elmerè van der Berg was on fire, shooting 11 of her side’s 14 for the term, as the Thunderbirds claimed a 14-11 lead by the first break.
The intensity went up a notch in the second term, as both sides sweated on any hesitation with ball movement, leading to a scrappy opening passage.
But it was the Vixens that took advantage, finding the first turnover which they converted through Austin, who scored again off the centre pass to move the home side back within a goal just minutes into the second quarter.
Kiera Austin was brilliant in her 100th Suncorp Super Netball outing.
The Thunderbirds seemed undeniable at stages, though, and immediately answered back, with van der Berg capitalising on the strong work from Kate Heffernan and Sterling-Humphrey down the court, firing the visitors back out to a game-high four-goal lead with the first possession post a Vixens tactical time out.
Austin had started the term in good touch for the Vixens, though, and looked to end it that way too, sinking the first Suncorp Super Shot of the game as the contest entered the final five minutes of the first half to get her side back within two goals.
While the Thunderbirds pulled away again, Austin answered the Vixens’ call, scoring again from range on the stroke of half time to ensure the home side won the term by a goal, and entered the half time break trailing 24-26.
It was a rollercoaster start to the third term, as the Vixens immediately cut the lead back to a goal before the Thunderbirds cruised back out to lead by four goals again on the cusp of the Power Five.
But the third quarter was punctuated by some brilliant long range shooting from the Vixens, namely Austin in her 100th Suncorp Super Netball game, who nailed two from range late to draw the home side back within two goals, before Garbin drew them level at 40-40 with a two-pointer of her own, nearly blowing the roof off John Cain Arena.
The Thunderbirds went into the final break ahead at 42-40, though, with van der Berg scoring the final two of the third term and setting up a cracking fourth term, a quarter neither of the two sides had lost yet this season.
In the end it was a somewhat anticlimactic finish, not for the home crowd, though, as the Vixens stormed home with a blitz that had to be seen to be believed.
A 16-8 final quarter saw the home side obliterate the Thunderbirds with insane pressure, cruising to a sixth-straight victory to start the season and remain the only undefeated side in 2026.
Hannah Mundy controlled the midcourt with aplomb.
The Vixens are still yet to lose a fourth quarter this season, with their ability to finish with a flurry “uncanny”, according to coach Di Honey.
“They’ve done it the last six games, really,” she said.
“They tend to just get it together in the last quarter and everything just flows, it’s an uncanny thing.
“They just get this calmness about them, but it’s good to see that obviously they can do that, so I hope it continues.”
Kate Eddy was superb in the win for the Vixens, playing a variety of positions in an effort to curb the influence of Thunderbirds superstar Georgie Horjus, while Hannah Mundy (88) net points) was dynamic, and Austin too was excellent in her milestone match, racking up 84.5 net points while converting on 26 of 29 attempts and going four from four from range.
“Gosh, it’s been crazy,” Austin said of reaching 100 matches.
“I think there’s been a lot of highs and a lot of lows that have come with it, but today’s game is kind of exactly the reason that you love playing the sport.
“I knew it would be a really tough game, so to see the way the girls got around each other, and I didn’t realise it was a 16-8 last quarter, so to have that sort of pressure put on them is really encouraging, and there’s still heaps to learn which is awesome.
“Obviously I’m super proud to play 100 games, and hopefully a couple more after that.”
The tests don’t stop there for the Vixens, though, who head west next week to take on the West Coast Fever in a huge grand final rematch on Sunday evening, while the Thunderbirds will look to regroup when they face the Sunshine Coast Lightning at home on Saturday night.
