The best matches of 2023

By Stephanie Smarrelli

The 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season was one fans won’t easily forget. 

It was jam-packed with nail-biting finishes and epic performance that will be etched in netball history. 

None more so than the history making grand final which went down to the wire. 

From the opening match to the big finale, the season delivered nail-biting match after nail-biting match. 

Here we give you a rundown of the best matches of the year. 

Round 14: GIANTS vs Melbourne Vixens 

The GIANTS ended their season with a stunning three-goal win over the finals bound Melbourne Vixens.  

The orange outfit had struggled to close out matches throughout the season but stepped up against the Vixens. 

The Melbourne side held a five-goal lead at halftime before the GIANTS charged. 

The orange outfit capitalised on their opportunities in the final quarter with Jo Harten shooting at 100 per cent accuracy as the Vixens stumbled with four unforced turnovers.  

The GIANTS’ defensive end was impactful and clean with only five penalties to the Vixens’ 21 in the final term.  

As the last Power Five siren went off scores were level, a missed shot off the Vixens was rebounded by Matilda McDonnell and from there the GIANTS were home. 

The side kept their cool, playing the ball around once they were a goal up with Sophie Dwyer slotting a Super Shot on the final whistle to dampen the Vixens lead into finals.  

Round 14: Collingwood Magpies vs West Coast Fever 

Emotions were running high as the Collingwood Magpies defied all odds to defeat the West Coast Fever in their final match. Having lost to the side by 27 goals when they last met, you’d be forgiven for writing off the black and white but the Magpies flexed their might one last time. 

Winning the first quarter by a goal, the Magpies quickly put the memory of their last meeting behind them. 

The Fever won the second quarter but Collingwood dominated the third term to establish a seven-goal lead before the final break. 

The buffer served them well as despite Fever charging in the final quarter, the Magpies were able to stand their ground and weather the storm, winning by three goals.  

Round 9: Sunshine Coast Lightning vs Melbourne Vixens 

Vixen Kiera Austin showed off her shooting prowess in the dying moments of the Melbourne Vixens Round 9 clash with the Sunshine Coast Lightning. 

The Lightning did everything they could to overcome the Vixens with the side scoring 24 goals to the Vixens’ 15 in the final quarter. Both teams shot at 100 per cent accuracy during the term, treating fans to a shoot-out as the scoreline continued to narrow. 

The Vixens gave the ball away seven times through turnovers and almost lost the match but a Kiera Austin Super Shot saved the day as the Lightning fell just short.  

The match, the second in a row Austin was the hero with the Vixens’ Round 8 match against the Fever going down in similar fashion with an Austin Super Shot securing a one-goal victory.  
 

Round 6: West Coast Fever vs Adelaide Thunderbirds  

The Adelaide Thunderbirds succeeded in enemy territory against the West Coast Fever in Round 6.  

The 2022 premiers were undefeated up until meeting the Thunderbirds and they started the match strongly.  

The Thunderbirds lost the first three quarters but remained close enough to pounce in the final term and steal victory by a single goal. 

Shamera Sterling was dominant in defence creating opportunities her teammates were able to capitalise off.  

The visitors scored six of the last ten goals to storm home from behind and send a warning to the rest of the competition that they could defeat any side. 

Grand Final: Adelaide Thunderbirds vs NSW Swifts 

There’s simply no looking past it. The 2023 Grand Final lived up to the hype of the biggest match on the calendar. A tale of two halves with the match forced into extra time.  

The Adelaide Thunderbirds were forced to work hard for the win leading for the first half of the game. At halftime they were in prime position, eight goals up with what many would consider a safe margin, though the NSW Swifts weren’t accepting defeat with a half to go.  

The Swifts confidently clawed their way back sending the match into extra time.  

It was déjà vu for the sides with their semi final a few weeks prior also being plunged into extra time.  

For the Swifts Helen Housby was characteristically cool under pressure slotting the long bombs. Down the other end of the court her England Roses teammate Eleanor Cardwell did the same for the Thunderbirds.  

Sterling was outstanding for the Thunderbirds throughout the match. It was a crucial intercept from her as the clock was winding down that kept the Swifts from a premiership and had the pink army erupting in cheers at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena. 

Re-live the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final day.