By Stephanie Smarrelli
It was a giant victory for the Adelaide Thunderbirds who booked their place in the big dance after a spectacular extra time win over the NSW Swifts.
The Thunderbirds are now in prime position to make history and claim their maiden Suncorp Super Netball premiership.
While on Sunday the West Coast Fever knocked the Melbourne Vixens out of premiership contention.
A record 18,905 fans turned out for the largest first weekend of finals in Suncorp Super Netball history.
Here’s what you need to know from the weekend of netball action.
AUSTIN’S WORLD
The match between the Thunderbirds and Swifts looked done and dusted following a missed super shot with seven seconds left on the clock. But Tayla Williams stood up and took a clutch intercept and fed it into Lucy Austin who had no option but to turn and shoot.
And shoot she did, Austin in her first year as a contracted player look unfazed and sunk the goal that would send the major semi final into extra time on the buzzer.
Austin shot the Thunderbirds through to extra time.The pressure could not have been more intense with the home crowd cheering on the Swifts but the Thunderbirds showed they could handle the pressure and put any doubters to rest.
Shamera Sterling was influential throughout the match with six gains and two crucial ones during extra time.
While Eleanor Cardwell and Austin’s combination shone in the goal circle and the Thunderbirds midcourt stepped up throughout the match to match it with Paige Hadley and Maddy Proud.
The Swifts gave their everything throughout the match with Sarah Klau applying consistent pressure in defence and Romelda Aiken-George and Helen Housby smooth in attack.
During extra time Swifts head coach Briony Akle gave some of her side’s less experienced players the opportunity to absorb the pressure of extra time in a final with Sophie Fawns and Lili Gorman-Brown taking to the court and although the move didn’t pay off this week the experience will be valuable if the side face a similar position this week.
The Thunderbirds will have a week off to relish in their achievement while for the Swifts it’s do-or-die against the West Coast Fever in the preliminary final.
FEVER CRUSH VIXENS DREAM
The West Coast Fever are one step closer to going back-to-back with their four-quarter performance against the Vixens securing them a spot in the preliminary final.
The Fever defeated the Melbourne Vixens by seven goals.It was a tight tussle between last year’s grand finalists with much of the match goal for goal and the lead changing multiple times but it was the Fever that made the most of their opportunities.
Fever converted seven goals from gains throughout the match in comparison to the Vixens two.
Sunday Aryang and Courtney Bruce led the Fever from defence with the duo’s formidable defensive partnership the difference.
The Fever tallied nine gains to the Vixens four and while the Vixens were hampered by injury in their defensive end it was their mistakes across the court that hurt them more.
The Vixens put up a good fight with Liz Watson hitting the circle edge smoothly for 50 feeds and Kate Moloney having an impact early.
However, when the pressure was on in the final five minutes of the match it was the Fever that ripped the game open through captain Bruce.
Both matches on the weekend highlighted that every decision on the court could be costly and the smallest of errors might end a team’s campaign.
With a spot in the grand final on the line this weekend the Fever will come up against a reenergised Swifts outfit which will be determined not to suffer another narrow loss.
