By Emily Beaton
When the SSN logo changes from pink to gold, it means one thing. Finals.
Has this been one of the best seasons of SSN ever? Yes.
Have the crowds exploded as a result? Yes.
Is it set to be one of the most entertaining finals series of all time? You better believe it.
It’s a genuine four horse race to the SSN Premiership, every team can win and I’m going to explain why.
From the frontrunners, the Adelaide Thunderbirds, with the best defensive line-up we’ve ever seen, to the clinical Vixens, who ooze class, experience, and competitive edge led by fearless captain Kate Moloney.
The Fever and the unstoppable five-time SSN MVP Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and my dark horse, the Lightning, stacked with Aussie icons who are peaking at perfect time.
It’s anyone’s game.
From coaches tactics to the players to watch and a surprising X-factor, let’s take a deep dive into how your team can take home the ultimate glory.
HOW THE THUNDERBIRDS CAN WIN
Confidence and Clarity
Tania Obst’s calm and clear direction gives each player complete clarity in their role.
As a player, when your focus is clear you can fully commit to executing your position without fear or hesitation. From bench players to superstars, every player knows their role and has full confidence from Obst to get the job done.
No Passengers
Matilda Garrett wears down her player one-on-one, allowing Shamera Sterling to take freak intercepts at goalkeeper.
Georgie Horjus’ relentlessly re-offers, allowing Romelda Aiken-George to be the Thunderbirds best target since fellow-Jamaican Carla Borrego.
It’s a team without passengers. If they’re getting beaten, they have the versatility to make quality changes and take down their opposition.
Connected
The Thunderbirds are the most connected team I’ve seen this year.
Every attacker defends, and every defender attacks. It’s simple, but when executed it’s unstoppable.
They’re ranked number one in the competition for pickups (162) which highlights their hunger for the ball and willingness to back each other up.
The Thunderbirds will win because of their suffocating defence, old-school one-point attacking game, and the fact they have the most complete ten in the league.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Shamera Sterling Humphrey
She’s the best defender in the world. She’s the highest ranked player for every defensive stat. To steal Bruce McAvaney’s tagline: she’s special.
Latanya Wilson
Challenges Sterling-Humphrey for the title of best defender. One of the most athletic players in the world, her ability to get ball back in defence and bring the ball down in attack is huge for the Thunderbirds.
Georgie Horjus
One of the smartest players in the league. She sets up the attack line and plays with maturity and poise beyond her years and her ability to swing from WA to GA is like holding an ace.
Romelda Aiken-George
She’s in vintage form. Watch the way she rips in passes and dominates every defender. In the back half of the season, she’s been unstoppable.
Romelda Aiken-George is still one of the most dangerous players in the competition.X-FACTOR
Unbeaten at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in 2024, the Pink Army have built a fortress. The Grand Final is already locked in at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, so good luck to any team that comes up against the sea of pink.
HOW THE VIXENS CAN WIN
Classic Victorian Play
When I think of Victorian netball, three things come to mind: silky skills, fast play, and a relentless tenacity to win.
Under the tutelage of Simon McKinnis, the Vixens have this in spades. Their attack line is smooth, the mid court re-offer and front-cut better than any other team. They value the ball, choosing short sharp, high-percentage passes over risky long bombs.
And they never stop moving. I think it’s drilled into them since birth: Re-offer or die.
A Circle of Diamonds
Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin have been so impressive all season.
Garbin can play as a strong holding target or swap into an agile moving target. Kiera Austin’s super shots are effortless, making us mere mortals think we can nail them too (we can’t).
If Austin gets the ball in her hands during the power 5, she’ll rain super shots and blow teams apart.
Devastating Defence
Strong, powerful, and physical.
The Vixens defence aren’t intimidated by anyone. Mannix is in career-best form, Jo Weston is one of the most competitive players on court and Rudi Ellis has been a revelation at GK.
Her height and agility are exactly what the Vixens need to combat Aiken-George and Fowler-Nembhard. They’ll poke, prod, and pester their opponents, pressuring their attackers to make unforced errors.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kate Moloney
One of the best leaders in the game, she demands, and gets, the best out of her teammates. Her work rate in attack and defence is unmatched.
Kiera Austin
Her super shot prowess is poised to devastate this finals series. She’s also one of the best defending attackers, she’ll pick up crucial intercepts.
Emily Mannix
The most likely to get ball back for her team. To win, she needs to fly!
Emily Mannix is the Vixens main interceptor.X-FACTOR
Experience.
They’ve got the most finals caps of any team and only two players haven’t played in a final.
Experience is worth more in final. Fear and pressure build to rattle even the best players. The more you’ve been in that situation, the quicker you can settle into the game.
HOW THE FEVER CAN WIN
Get the ball to Jhaniele
They’re the most prolific scoring side thanks to the Jamaican superstar and she’s so much more than her height.
Her ability to hold space, the strength at which she plucks misplaced balls out of the air and her shooting accuracy are incredible at any stature. Add in her competitiveness and she can win a game off her own back.
Defensive Dominance
Dan Ryan has built a new defensive trio in season 2024 with the departure of Courtney Bruce and as a result Sunday Aryang has elevated her game.
The Diamonds defender reads the play but needs the full-court sustained pressure of her teammates to get as much opportunity as possible. Add in Fran Williams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Dan Ryan can switch his line up to adapt to each opponent.
Chess Moves
Dan Ryan loves a tactical move, and after flying high at the start of the season we’ve seen them mix things up in the back half of the year.
Don’t be surprised to see star Alive Teague-Neeld swing into goal attack and Kelsey Browne moves into the more familiar wing attack bib.
Ryan is not afraid to make changes, and their opposition will need to prepare for anything.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard
She’s a five-time MVP for a reason. If she needs to carry the whole team on her back to win, she will.
Alice Teague Neeld
Her connection with Jhaniele is one of the best in the game. Being a tall feeder is key in sighting a tall goaler and delivering quick, quality ball that can’t be beaten.
Kadie-Ann Dehaney
If she can come through with clean intercepts at goalkeeper and rip in the rebounds the Fever can beat anyone.
Kadie-Ann Dehaney is a weapon behind the ball for the Fever.X-FACTOR
The hurt of 2023.
The wounds of last year's finals loss cut the Fever deep. Nothing motivates a team more than unfinished business.
They’ve got a point to prove. No one tipped them to be a contender and they’ll use that emotion to propel them.
HOW THE LIGHTNING CAN WIN
All Aussie Attack
Their starting combination of Koenen-Fretwell-Watson is elite.
Steph Fretwell may have retired from Diamonds duties, but her form at the pointy end of the season is peaking.
They’re not intimidated by defenders because they’ve already won every international accolade. Now, they’re ready to add an SSN premiership to their collection.
Defensive Unit
The Lightning have one of the most devastating defensive lineups in the league, with three of the best Australia has to offer rotating through goal defence and goalkeeper.
Courtney Bruce is coming back to her best, and together with the presence of exciting defender, the 21-year-old Ash Ervin, the master is teaching the apprentice beautifully.
Full Ten
Fighting for a fully fit ten all season, coach Belinda Reynolds is now utilising her bench, which is proving powerful.
In this competition if you want to win premierships it takes every player. Reilly Bacheldor can swing in as a pinch-hitting super shot specialist, Ava Black brings energy and speed, while their circle defenders will rotate on and off to keep the opposition guessing. Every player has earned their opportunity.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liz Watson
The Diamonds captain is the best midcourter in the world thanks to her ability to get the ball, deliver with precision, and re-offer until she drops.
Liz Watson lives for the big stage.Steph Fretwell
She was devastating in the final round match against the Thunderbirds, nailing super shots to almost steal the win. She’s in scintillating form and is a scary prospect for any opposition.
Ash Ervin
At just 21, she’s had a break-out season to become one of the best defenders in the league. The combination of her height (192cm) and ability to read the game makes her a tough opponent for tall shooters.
X-FACTOR
The underdogs.
There’s nothing to lose for this Lightning side, winning 5 games less than the rest of their finals counterparts.
It’s taken them all season to fire but mark my words, they’re firing at the right time. They’ve won a premiership from 4th place before, don’t be surprised if they do it again.
MY PREDICTION
The Adelaide Thunderbirds are in the box seat. The minor premiers won’t leave Adelaide at all in the finals series.
As reigning premiers they’re a side that knows how to win premierships, and they have the opportunity to create history as the first Thunderbirds team to go back-to-back in 25 years.
The Thunderbirds are on track for back-to-back premierships.A home grand final, if they make it, is already sewn up at the fortress that has seen them win 7 from 7 this season.
Lastly, the defensive unit of Sterling-Humphrey, Garett and Wilson is a once in a generation lineup. If anyone can beat them, they deserve the premiership.
For me, The Thunderbirds are go.
