Adelaide Thunderbirds

Adelaide Thunderbirds
Founded1997
Based inAdelaide
RegionsSouth Australia
Home venueNetball SA Stadium
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Head coachTania Obst
Premierships6 (1998, 1999, 2010, 2013, 2023, 2024)
LeagueSuncorp Super Netball
ANZ Championship
Commonwealth Bank Trophy
2024 placing1st
Websiteadelaidethunderbirds.com.au
Uniform
Uniform
Uniform

Uniform

Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian professional netball team based in Adelaide, South Australia. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship and between 1997 and 2007, they played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Thunderbirds have won five premierships. They won their first two premierships in 1998 and 1999 during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era, their third and fourth in 2010 and 2013 during ANZ Championship era, and their sixth in 2023, 2024 during the suncorp netball era. Historically, Thunderbirds are one of Australia's most successful netball teams. Between 1997 and 2010 they finished in the top three of every regular season, and are the first and only team to win a Trophy at all 3 eras.

History

Commonwealth Bank Trophy

Between 1997 and 2007, Adelaide Thunderbirds played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Together with Adelaide Ravens, Melbourne Kestrels, Melbourne Phoenix, Perth Orioles, Queensland Firebirds, Sydney Sandpipers and Sydney Swifts, Thunderbirds were one of the founding members of the league. Thunderbirds were initially going to be named Adelaide Falcons but the name was changed at the request of the rugby union team.[1][2][3] Adelaide Thunderbirds and Adelaide Ravens represented Netball South Australia and each team was assigned four state league clubs to select players from. Thunderbirds were aligned with Cheerio, Contax, Matrics and Oakdale. With a team coached by former Contax head coach, Margaret Angove and a starting seven featuring Rebecca Sanders, Kathryn Harby-Williams, Jacqui Delaney, Sarah Sutter, Peta Squire, Cassie Mogg and Alex Hodge, Thunderbirds won their first two premierships and grand finals in 1998 and 1999.[1][4][5][6]

Regular season statistics
Season Position Won Drawn Lost
1997 2nd 9 0 3
1998 1st 11 1 2
1999 1st 11 1 2
2000 1st 12 0 2
2001 1st 12 0 2
2002 2nd 12 0 2
2003 3rd 10 0 4
2004[7] 2nd 12 0 2
2005[8] 3rd 12 0 2
2006 2nd 11 0 3
2007 3rd 8 0 6

  Premierships
  Runners Up

Source:[5][6][9][10][11][12][13][14]

ANZ Championship

Between 2008 and 2016, Thunderbirds played in the ANZ Championship.[1] Natalie von Bertouch became the inaugural ANZ Championship Thunderbirds captain. She subsequently captained Thunderbirds to two ANZ Championship titles.[15][16] In 2010, after finishing second during the regular season, they defeated the minor premiers, New South Wales Swifts, in the major semi-final and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the grand final.[17][18][19][20] In 2013, Natalie von Bertouch captained Thunderbirds to their fourth premiership after they defeated Queensland Firebirds in the grand final.[16][21][22][23]

Regular season statistics

  Premierships
  Runners Up

Suncorp Super Netball

Adelaide Thunderbirds players warm up in clash against the Giants during the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season.

Since 2017, Thunderbirds have played in Suncorp Super Netball.[24] They had struggled in the competition, not making finals or finishing higher than 7th place until winning the grand finals in 2023 and 2024.

Regular season statistics
Season Position Won Drawn Lost
2017[25] 8th 1 0 13
2018[26] 8th 0 0 14
2019[27] 7th 3 2 9
2020 7th 5 0 9
2021 7th 5 0 9
2022[28] 7th 5 0 9
2023 2nd 9 1 4

  Premierships
  Runners Up

Grand finals

Commonwealth Bank Trophy
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
1997 Melbourne Phoenix 58–48 Adelaide Thunderbirds The Glasshouse
1998[1] Adelaide Thunderbirds 48–42 Sydney Swifts ETSA Park
1999[1][29] Adelaide Thunderbirds 62–30 Adelaide Ravens ETSA Park
2000[30] Melbourne Phoenix 52–51 Adelaide Thunderbirds The Glasshouse
2001[31][32] Sydney Swifts 57–32 Adelaide Thunderbirds State Sports Centre
2002[33] Melbourne Phoenix 49–44 Adelaide Thunderbirds Vodafone Arena
2006[31][34][35] Sydney Swifts 65–36 Adelaide Thunderbirds Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

Source:[9][10][11][12][13][14]

ANZ Championship
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2009[36][37] Melbourne Vixens 54–46 Adelaide Thunderbirds Hisense Arena
2010[19][20] Adelaide Thunderbirds 52–42 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Adelaide Entertainment Centre
2013[21][22][23] Adelaide Thunderbirds 50–48 Queensland Firebirds Adelaide Entertainment Centre[38]
Thunderbirds players celebrating with the trophy after winning the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final.
Suncorp Super Netball
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2023 Adelaide Thunderbirds 60–59 New South Wales Swifts John Cain Arena
2024 Adelaide Thunderbirds 59–57 Melbourne Vixens Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Home venues

Thunderbirds have played the majority of their home games at the Netball SA Stadium. Due to sponsorship arrangements this venue has also be known as ETSA Park or Priceline Stadium.[7][8][39] Thunderbirds have also played home games, including the 2010 and 2013 grand finals, at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.[1][38][40] Thunderbirds have also played home games at the Adelaide Arena.[39][41] Thunderbirds played a 2019 Suncorp Super Netball Round 7 home match against Sunshine Coast Lightning at the Territory Netball Stadium.[42][43][44] In 2024, the Thunderbirds moved all home games to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.[45]

Team colours

During the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era, Thunderbirds main colour was silver. Between 2008 and 2010, when Thundersbirds were sponsored by Port Adelaide Football Club, they adopted their sponsors team colours of black, white, teal and silver. Ahead of the 2011 season, Thunderbirds announced they were changing their team colours to pink.[38][46][47]

Logos

Notable players

2025 squad

Adelaide Thunderbirds 2025 playing roster
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height Notes
JAM Romelda Aiken-George GS, GK 19/11/1988 1.96m (6ft 5in) Head Coach: Tania Obst
AUS Lucy Austin GS 19/12/2002 1.90m (6ft 3in) Assistant Coach:
AUS Lauren Frew GA/GS 12/12/2001 1.87m (6ft 2in) -(C)= Captain
AUS Georgie Horjus GA/WA 28/01/2002 1.72m (5ft 8in) -(CC)=Co-Captain
AUS Kayla Graham GA/GS 24/05/2004 1.82m (5ft 11in) -
AUS Tayla Williams C/WD/WA 13/04/2000 1.75m (5ft 9in) -(TP)= Training Partner
AUS Hannah Petty WD/C/WA 17/05/1997 1.75m (5ft 9in) -(RP)= Replacement Player
JAM Latanya Wilson GD/WD/GK 10/11/200 1.88m (6ft 2in) -(TRP)= Temporary Replacement Player
AUS Matilda Garrett GD/GK 11/08/1998 1.85m (6ft 1in) -(IN)= Injury
JAM Shamera Sterling GK/GD 21/10/1995 1.90m (6ft 3in) -(MAT)=Maternity Leave

Internationals

 Australia
 England
 Jamaica
 New Zealand
 Samoa
 Scotland
 South Africa

Source:[48][49]

Captains

Years
Kathryn Harby-Williams 1997–2003
Peta Scholz 2004–2006
Laura von Bertouch 2004–2007
Natalie von Bertouch[15][49][23] 2008–2013
Mo'onia Gerrard[17] 2010
Renae Ingles[50][51][52] 2014–2015
Erin Bell[53][25][54] 2016–2017
Leana de Bruin[26][55] 2018
Layla Guscoth[27][56] 2019
Chelsea Pitman[27][56][57][58] 2019–2020
Hannah Petty[57] 2020–

Source:[5][6][48]

Coaches

Head Coaches
Years
Margaret Angove 1997–2006
Tania Obst 2007
Jane Woodlands-Thompson 2008–2015
Michelle den Dekker[53][59][60] 2016
Kristy Keppich-Birrell[53][60] 2016
Dan Ryan[61][62][63][64] 2016–2018
Tania Obst[65] 2018–

Source:[5][6][48][66]

Assistant coaches
Years
Lisa Alexander[49][17] 2008–2011
Dan Ryan[67][61] 2012–2015
Specialist coaches
Years
Jenny Borlase[53][25][59] 2016–2017
Natalie von Bertouch[27][68] 2018–

Main sponsors

Years
AAMI[2][3][4] 1997–2001
Medibank[2][8][69] 2001–2007
Port Adelaide Football Club[47][38][46][70] 2007–2010
Fairmont Homes[71][72][47] 2011–2013
Priceline[73][74][75] 2013–2020

Premierships

Southern Force

Main article: Southern Force (netball)

Southern Force are the reserve team of Thunderbirds. They play in the Australian Netball League. In 2012 they were ANL Champions.[72][25][76]

References

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