The players set to shape finals

By Matt Fotia

Finals series are defined by big moments.  

Across history, successful sides have had players who stand up when those big moments come along. 

They make it their mission to push not only themselves but their teammates towards ultimate glory. 

Here are four players we think will own those moments this time around. 

SHAMERA STERLING-HUMPHREY 

There is no denying the Adelaide Thunderbirds have the best defence in the competition, and they’re marshalled by one of the best in the world, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey. 

Sterling-Humphrey has been sending shivers down shooters’ spines for years but has become the games ultimate x-factor in recent times as she gains more big game experience. 

She played a crucial role in the Jamacia Sunshine Girls success at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and decided to make that a habit in 2023. 

The superstar defender was named the 2023 SSN Most Valuable Player and played a starring role in the Thunderbirds unlikely premiership, finishing the finals series with 13 gains, 9 deflections, 6 intercepts, 5 rebounds, 4 pick-ups and 158.5 Nissan Net Points across the Thunderbirds two inspirational wins. 

Jamaica went deep in the 2023 World Cup, going down to Australia by three goals in a nail-biting semi-final. Sterling-Humphrey had 4 gains, 2 rebounds and 2 intercepts as she tried to will her side into their first ever World Cup final. 

She hasn’t slowed down in 2024, leading the league in gains (108), deflections (96), intercepts (44), and defensive rebounds (36), contributing to the Thunderbirds standing as the number one goals from gain side in the competition.  

Her presence behind the ball is intimidating, with sides forced to alter their ball movement in an attempt to nullify her influence on the game.  
 
Sophie Garbin and Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard present as likely opponents for Sterling-Humphrey and her dynamism allows her to not just negate their influence, but also start Adelaide attacks through flying intercepts and outrageous deflections, an integral part of the Thunderbirds assault on back-to-back championships. 

KIERA AUSTIN 

The World Cup final is the biggest stage in netball and in 2023 Kiera Austin owned it. 

After not experiencing any court time in the Diamonds semi-final win over Jamaica, Austin was thrown on mid-way through the second quarter of the final against England, with Australia holding a one-goal lead. 

The Vixens superstar was unstoppable, finishing the game with 15 goals from 17 attempts, 18 feeds, 16 assists, one gain and one deflection in a player of the match performance, combining beautifully with now Vixens teammate Sophie Garbin in attack. 

SSN glory has evaded Austin to this point in her career, but she still has plenty of SSN finals experience to go alongside her big game credentials with the Diamonds, having appeared in both the 2022 and 2023 finals series. 

Austin is the most complete goal attack in the competition, if not the world, with her elite work rate allowing her to influence the game in both defence and attack. 

She’s the highest ranked goaler across the SSN in 2024 for intercepts (11), and gains (18) while only Sophie Dwyer (25) has more deflections this season than Austin (22). 

Austin is still one of the biggest attacking threats in the competition, sitting 8th for goals scored (293), 4th for super shots (55), 15th for goal assists (192) and 15th for feeds (265). 

Austin has saved her best performances for the big sides this year. 

The endurance machine is averaging 23.7 goals, 4.7 super shots, 17 feeds, 12.5 assists, 2 deflections, 1 gain and 1 intercept per game against the Thunderbirds and Fever, two sides she’ll likely have to face along the way to the ultimate prize. 

ALICE TEAGUE-NEELD 

When you think West Coast Fever, you think about Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, how could you not. 

But the Jamaican superstar can’t do much without the ball and Fever wing attack Alice Teague-Neeld is her main source. 

Fowler-Nembhard’s abilities mean that most of the time Teague-Neeld doesn’t get the credit she deserves. 

Teague-Neeld was named wing attack in 2023 SSN Team of the Year after averaging 85.5 Nissan Net Points across the campaign and has carried that form into 2024, fulfilling the role of chief creative outlet for the Fever. 

She’s ranked second behind Diamonds captain Liz Watson for total feeds (494) and assists (353), and has a superior conversion rate, with 71.4% of her feeds resulting in goals.  

Teague-Neeld also rates highly for centre pass receives, ranked 2nd with 294, and second phase receives, ranked 7th with 146.  

Her other strength is her durability and reliability.  

Teague-Neeld has recorded just 36 turnovers and only Fowler-Nembhard and Jess Anstiss have played more minutes for the Fever this season. 

Teague Neeld has tasted success at SSN level before, as a member of the Fever’s victorious 2022 side, and was one of their most consistent finals performers over the past two seasons, averaging 76.7 Nissan Net Points, 36.3 feeds, 22 assists and 29.5 centre pass receives across four finals appearances. 

Flair might not be her strong suit, but consistency is, and her Fever teammates love her for it. 

STEPH FRETWELL 

The Lightning have been well off the pace set by the top three this season but still pose a huge finals threat, such is the match winning quality on their list headlined by World Cup winner Steph Fretwell. 

Fretwell has an enormous amount of finals experience, having played in five straight national league grand finals from 2015-2019, winning back-to-back premiership in 2017 and 2018 with the Lightning. 

Fretwell was as important to the Lightning then as she is now, averaging 16.5 goals, 24.5 feeds, 18.5 assists and 22.5 centre pass receives in those dual premiership glories. 

Known for being one of the best ball handlers in the competition, Fretwell’s ability to find space and remain calm under pressure makes her the perfect player for the big moments, something she displayed in the Diamonds 2023 World Cup semi-final against Jamaica. 

Fretwell played the entire match and shot her 29 goals at 90.6% (she didn’t miss after half time) as well as providing 14 assists and collecting 19 centre pass receives to help drag the Diamonds into another World Cup decider. 

She remains one of the best sharpshooters in the league, sitting in the top 10 league wide for one-point goals and super shots, as well as doing plenty of work out the front contributing 175 assists (17th) and 234 feeds (17th). 

Her connection with Liz Watson and Cara Koenen has been built over a lengthy period of time, across multiple teams, and that synergy will come to the fore as the pressure intensifies across the finals series. 

And let’s be honest, if you needed a last second super shot to ice the game, you’d want the ball in Fretwell’s hands.