Live: Thunderbirds and Vixens face off in Super Netball grand final

ABC News

SportsABC News·Jul 4, 2026·7 min read

Live: Thunderbirds and Vixens face off in Super Netball grand final

The Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne Vixens meet in the Super Netball grand final, with a sell-out crowd at John Cain Arena.

The Thunderbirds were minor premiers and have lost just once all season. The Vixens are seeking back-to-back championships after winning last year's grand final.

Follow all the action from the Super Netball grand final in the live blog below.

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Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:22pm

HT stats

Here you can see the Vixens are spending a lot of time standing beside their opposition. They've had 12 more penalties than the Thunderbirds already at half-time. They are also seriously behind on the gain stat. They need to get more clean hand to ball and to score quicker. Get the feet moving and lift the workrate to get in front of the opposition player. They're taking seven more seconds to score and a key breakdown has been the isolation of Austin. The Vixens GA is usually the linchpin in attack but she's already got six general play turnovers in 30 minutes of netball. Another key stat that tells us the TBirds are humming along is that Sterling-Humphrey has six turnovers. Wilson has four. That defensive duo is making life very difficult for the Vixens.

WOW. The Vixens are only converting 44 per cent of their centre passes. That's a terrible grand final stat that needs to be fixed immediately. If they can treasure the ball and trust their connections, instead of trying to pass back out of the circle onto the circle edge they'll have a better chance. Right now they're better in transition than they are off their own centre pass which is just a basic execution. With the TBirds scoring eight of the last 10 goals heading into the main break, you can see momentum is clearly with the minor premiers.

Key Event

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:16pm

HT: Tbirds lead 32-20

By Brittany Carter

WHAT A TURNAROUND! The Thunderbirds won that second quarter 21 points to 8. To restrict the Vixens to less than double digits speaks to their defensive dominance. A couple of differences about the way they approached this period involved the hold of shooter Van der Berg — she managed to break free of the hold of Ellis and get on a roll. Meanwhile, the defenders really started to lift their workrate. The Vixens are passing the ball too high around their goal third and its playing right into the hands of the flightly Jamaican defenders. We are seeing a pattern emerge with the scoreline, similar to the major semifinal. Then, the Vixens lead 14-12 at the first break but were outscored 13-9 in the second quarter.

Heffernan speaks with Fox Netball: "We're really trying to stop their short options and ball speed because we know that's what they're great at."

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:11pm

Short pass

By Brittany Carter

A pass between the Vixens shooters is deemed by the umpires to be short. As Graham tries to offload to Austin. How can that be if Sterling-Humphrey was able to get a touch on it? The TBirds punish and add another to their tally.

SCORE: TBirds lead 29-20

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:09pm

Graham super shot

By Brittany Carter

Graham follows Austin's lead.

SCORE: Vixens lead 27-20

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:08pm

Austin super shot

By Brittany Carter

Back on for the super shot period, Austin lines up her second two-point goal of the game and it's desperately needed for the Vixens.

SCORE: TBirds lead 26-18

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:06pm

Vixens timeout

By Brittany Carter

"No more bounce passes, we need more options okay, everyone is standing still," Di Honey is desperately trying to correct course. Her team were up at the break but are quickly falling behind with 5:37 left in the second period. She's made more changes. Lily Graham enters the game at GA to replace Austin.

For the TBirds, they've brought Sophie Casey on at WD and moved Wilson into GD.

SCORE: TBirds lead 23-16

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:03pm

Overcooked pass

By Brittany Carter

Austin tries to get a bounce pass away to Mundy as they try to increase their ball speed but there's too much on it and the ball heads over the sideline. Easy turnover for the Thunderbirds. They've come out of the break with fire in their belly and the Vixens haven't been able to match that intensity.

SCORE: TBirds lead19-14

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 8:00pm

Heffernan tip and gather

By Brittany Carter

The TBirds are starting to lift defensively as Heffernan wins them some crucial ball back.

SCORE: TBirds lead 17-13

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:59pm

Vixens timeout

By Brittany Carter

After the Thunderbirds score four straight goals to start ths quarter and the Vixens want to slow them down.

"It's just little silly errors," coach Di Honey tells her players in their second tactical timeout of the game. Coming out of the break, there are changes. Emily Mannix enters the game at GK. Ellis to the bench. Hannah Mundy on at WA, Walters off.

SCORE: Tbirds lead 16-12

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:56pm

Sterling-Humphrey deflection

By Brittany Carter

Austin had the ball in hand inside the circle and was looking to post but decided to dish off last second and as she sent the ball to the edge of the circle, Sterling-Humphrey jumped up high and got a touch. The loose ball picked up by Wilson. Opportunity converted by the TBirds as they go in front.

SCORE: TBirds lead 13-12

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:52pm

Free to air for 2027

By Brittany Carter

Super Netball doesn’t deserve to grow the game when they do not televise the grand final on free to air TV. So kids cannot see the GF unless the parents have Kayo/Foxtel.

- Arthur

The good news is next year Super Netball will be available on free to air television. They've done a new broadcast deal with Channel Nine.

Key Event

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:50pm

QT: Vixens lead 12-11

By Brittany Carter

The Vixens have been able to put so much pressure on Van Der Berg that the Thunderbirds are scared to send the ball into the circle. It's leading to some wild and panicked passes as they try to force another option and the Vixens are pouncing. This is a clear tactic as part of their game plan and it sees them up at the first break.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:48pm

Austin super shot

By Brittany Carter

Who else but Kiera Austin nails the first long bomb of the game. She lead the competiton for the two-point shot after the regular season with a total 54.

SCORE: Vixens lead 12-10

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:45pm

Eddy intercept

By Brittany Carter

A very similar defensive play from the Vixens just in the opposite pocket. Heffernan at the top of the circle panics and tries to find Horjus but she's smothered by Eddy and her team convert.

SCORE: Vixens lead 9-8

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:44pm

Weston deflection

By Brittany Carter

Weston gets up to a ball into the pocket Horjus and Eddy mops up the loose ball. Vixens convert.

SCORE: Level 8-all

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:42pm

Heffernan intercept

By Brittany Carter

Wow, incredible leap and clean grab! The Thunderbirds centre pinches a ball meant for Moloney. They are the first team to break the centre pass and hit the front on the scoreboard.

SCORE: TBirds lead 8-7

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:40pm

TBirds timeout

By Brittany Carter

The Thunderbirds have taken the first tactical timeout of the game. Coach Tania Obst has asked her players to drive onto the ball. They just needed a little reminder to stay in the game and trust themselves even if it is a big occasion.

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:39pm

Errors creeping in

By Brittany Carter

Both teams have let the nerves get the best of them and have found it hard in attack. Instead of feeding the circle, Heffernan tried to reset on the transverse line and Wilson was called for contact on Walters as both players contested ball. Vixens started to head up their end but Austin was called for held ball, three seconds up.

SCORE: Level 6-all

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:36pm

It's close

By Brittany Carter

Five minutes into the game and we've been going goal for goal with the run of the centre pass. For that last Vixens goal though, the ball went up either end. Moloney fumbled the ball over the sideline before her team won in back in defence to finish what they started.

SCORE: Vixens lead 5-4

Key Event

Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 7:32pm

First centre pass

By Brittany Carter

Vixens have the first centre pass of the 2026 grand final and Kiera Austin opens their account.

SCORE: Vixens lead 1-0

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