By Stephanie Smarrelli
We've been on the edge of our seats all season, riding the ups and downs as the world's best netballers have gone head-to-head and now there's only one more drop on the rollercoaster to go.
The 2024 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final.
It all comes down to sixty minutes of netball on Saturday night.
The Thunderbirds and Vixens have been the top dogs all season.
The reigning premiers are on the verge of going back-to-back, while the Vixens are eying off a fourth national league title despite an injury-plagued year.
The Thunderbirds and Vixens will both bring significant strengths to the Grand Final on Saturday.
But which game style will stand up to the pressure of the biggest game on the netball calendar?
WILL THE VIXENS RAIN ON THE THUNDERBIRDS' PARADE?
There's no sugarcoating it. The Vixens were completely outplayed the last time the two teams went head-to-head but that loss will add fire to the belly this week.
The Thunderbirds defeated the Vixens by 25 goals in the Major Semi Final.Going the long way to the Grand Final is a path no team wants to take but the Major Semi Final loss to the Thunderbirds, and last week’s nail-biting Preliminary Final, would have taught them some valuable lessons.
The Thunderbirds haven't felt that immense pressure of a side closing in on them in almost a month.
Being able to withstand the heat is one thing but to withstand it in a Grand Final is an entirely different ball game.
At home in front of a packed house at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the minor premiers will go into the big dance as the hunted, but the Vixens aren't known to shy away from a hunt.
With all three Vixens goalers comfortable from Super Shot range, and Kiera Austin coming off an MVP performance in the Preliminary Final, at their best they can cut back any lead.
Having allowed the NSW Swifts back into last year's Grand Final after halftime, the Thunderbirds will be on high alert if the Vixens goalers start draining long bombs.
One of the biggest areas the Vixens needed to improve from the Major Semi Final was their general play turnovers and they did it last week, finishing with half the general play turnovers.
The Vixens will need to put on a better display to defeat the reigning premiers.It will be crucial they keep the general play turnovers low again in the Grand Final if they want to win. During their last meeting the Thunderbirds scored a massive 17 goals from gains.
And with the best defensive trio in the league, it's inevitable the Thunderbirds will win the ball back, but the pressure will be on the Vixens to prevent the gains from having any impact.
In the goal circle for the Thunderbirds experienced campaigner Romelda-Aiken George will be a strong target. She's no stranger to a Grand Final berth having appeared in six, including last year.
Vixens defenders Emily Mannix and Rudi Ellis will have their work cut out for them but having worked with their teammates last weekend to successfully turn ball over against Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard their confidence should be up.
While most of the attention will be on the shooters and defenders you can't forget about the wealth of work the midcourters do.
Kate Moloney and Georgie Horjus are among the league's best, the duo's cuts and drives make it hard for the opposition to prevent them from hitting circle edge.
Grand Final Day will come down to which team can withstand the pressure, and are mentally laser focused on getting the job done.
Don't miss a second of the action with the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final available to watch live and on demand on Kayo Freebies and Foxtel.
