Sharni has been a fan favourite across her entire career and will be sorely missed on the netball courts around Australia and the world.
She addressed her ‘Sharni Army’ on social media to thank them for all their support.
“It has been a massive 14-year career for me and one that I would not have had without the support of every single one of you,” she said.
“Without my teammates, my coach, there’s all the support staff over the years – but especially the supporters.
“The noise that you have given me when I walked out on that court has given me so much energy and netball as a sport has helped shape me into the person that I am today.
“I am going to miss you all very, very much but know that our journey is not over and I can’t wait to continue my journey with you off the netball court.”
Firebirds golden run home
Are the Queensland Firebirds locked in for a final’s position after the weekend, and could they snatch a major semi-final place? They became the first team to beat West Coast Fever in Perth this season, keeping their perfect Suncorp Super Netball record against the Perth-based club intact after two seasons. The Firebirds play their last two regular season games at home, against both bottom-placed sides in the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Magpies Netball. While nothing is certain in this league, the Firebirds success at home has them poised to claim a heap of competition points – with a top-two finish not being out of the equation.
The Vixens final’s position under threat
Going into the weekend, the Melbourne Vixens were the in-form club looking likely to challenge West Coast Fever at the top of the rebel ladder. They were on a run of five straight wins, which started with a 14 goal pummeling over Fever back in Round 7 – but it all came crashing down on Sunday afternoon when Giants Netball came to town. In front of a rampant 6,719 Melbourne crowd, the Giants rode the storm and absorbed the pressure to beat the Vixens by two goals – taking seven premiership points in the process. With Sunshine Coast Lightning smashing the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the Firebirds turning over West Coast Fever, the Vixens are now just one point above the Firebirds and Lightning in fourth and fifth position. To add injury to insult, they have by far the trickiest run home – they travel to Perth to play Fever this weekend and then have to entertain Sunshine Coast Lightning in the final game of the season.
Firebirds unearths a star
The Queensland Firebirds have unveiled a potential star of the future in Kim Jenner this season, as the young product from Townsville had her best Suncorp Super Netball match to date against Fever. The 20-year-old defender is taking her opportunity to learn under netball legend Laura Geitz and is already emerging as one of the best up-and-coming players in the league. She was all over the court and in the face of the Fever players and looks set to have a bright future in the game.
Another Queenslander to watch
Sunshine Coast Lightning were clinical in dispatching the Adelaide Thunderbirds on Sunday. While the quest to improve their percentage would have been weighing on Noeline Taurua, the Lightning coach took the opportunity to give Cara Koenen some experience in the final quarter of the game. Koenen deputised for Steph Wood in the early rounds when Lightning got off to a shocking start but got some more much-needed court time here and scored 14/17 at goal shooter. Cara grew up on Magnetic Island off the coast of Townsville in North Queensland and is currently studying forensic science, criminology and criminal justice. She has shown considerable promise in the Australian Netball League and at national carnivals and could be the next home-grown shooter to watch.
Congested ladder means final positions up for grabs
We could have a new competition leader at the end of Round 13, with plenty of high octane netball to come. West Coast Fever have sat at the top of the ladder all season but face a Vixens side that have won five out of six matches. Giants play the Magpies this week, while the Firebirds host the Adelaide Thunderbirds, matches which will shape the rebel ladder at the end of the round. And don’t forget Lightning, who square off against the Swifts and are only out of the top four by two percentage points.
