Super Netball Highlights
Super Netball Mid-Season Update: Milestone Matches, Team Standings, and Fan Reactions
As Super Netball progresses through its third round, the competition has adopted a split-round format spanning the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends, sparking mixed reactions from the netball community.
Easter Sunday featured just two matches, with Melbourne Mavericks claiming their first win of the season by defeating the Giants 71-56 at John Cain Arena. Meanwhile, NSW Swifts handed the Adelaide Thunderbirds their first loss of the season with a convincing 65-57 victory on the defending champions' home court.
The decision to implement a split round was strategically made after noticing consistently lower attendance figures during Easter Saturday fixtures in previous seasons. By spreading matches across two weekends, organizers aimed to maximize attendance during what is traditionally a busy holiday period for families.
Fan response to the scheduling has been largely negative, with many expressing disappointment about having fewer games to enjoy during their extended break. Social media platforms saw numerous comments from supporters questioning why more matches weren't available when they had additional free time.
A significant milestone was celebrated as Jamaican star Romelda Aiken-George played her 233rd national netball game, surpassing Geva Mentor's record to become the most capped player in combined Super Netball and Trans-Tasman Championship history. The Thunderbirds organization honored this achievement with a special post-match ceremony featuring flowers, balloons, and a guard of honor, which Aiken-George walked through while holding her two-year-old daughter Gigi's hand.
With the competition now at its halfway point, teams are positioning themselves for playoff contention, with the Swifts currently occupying the top spot after their statement win over the previously undefeated Thunderbirds.
Throughout her illustrious career spanning multiple netball eras, the 36-year-old shooter has demonstrated remarkable resilience and talent, often with little fanfare.
Her journey began as a teenager, when she boldly relocated overseas to join the Firebirds for the inaugural Trans-Tasman Championship season—a decision that would define her professional path.
The emotional moment when she embraced her teammates, tears flowing freely, revealed the depth of her typically restrained character and how meaningful recognition has become after years of dedication to the sport.
With three championship titles and numerous records to her name, including becoming the first player to score 5,000 goals, her legacy in netball is undeniable. Her record-setting 63-goal performance in the 2016 championship game remains unmatched in final match statistics.
After the Trans-Tasman era concluded, she continued with the Firebirds into the Super Netball league until her maternity leave in 2022 unexpectedly ended her tenure with the club.
Finding herself without a contract, she joined the Swifts as a training partner, stepping in for the injured Trinidadian shooter. Her impact was immediate—guiding the Swifts to the 2023 grand final where they narrowly lost to the Thunderbirds, her current team, in a dramatic extra-time conclusion.
With Wallace-Joseph set to return from her ACL injury in 2024, Aiken-George sought new opportunities once again. This led her to relocate her family interstate for the second time in just two years.
Upon joining the Thunderbirds, Aiken-George found herself back in the grand final. This time, she emerged victorious and was named player of the match after scoring an impressive 42 goals with an 82 percent accuracy rate. Remarkably, she achieved this on just two hours of sleep, as her daughter Gigi was unwell.
This win marked her seventh grand final appearance in Australia and her fourth premiership. It was also the first time Aiken-George lifted the Super Netball trophy, a moment influenced by her storied trans-Tasman rivalry with retired defender Sharni Norder.
Despite her significant journey and the legacy she has built, it was surprising that the league's official channels barely reported or acknowledged her milestone of 233 caps.
Swifts' Surprise Victory
The NSW Swifts' watershed 56-51 triumph over Adelaide Thunderbirds
rewrote multiple narratives in a single Easter Sunday showdown
Ending a three-year drought against their southern rivals
Sydney's orange army dethroned the previously unbeaten ladder leaders
Propelling themselves to summit position with defensive mastery
While clubs united to honor retiring great Maddy Proud post-match
Netball Australia's delayed recognition of her 150-game milestone
Raised eyebrows given her status as one of the game's modern icons
Administrators later attributed the commemorative oversight to Easter scheduling complexities
This statement victory amplified whispers about the Swifts' transformed roster
Trans-Tasman sharpshooter Grace Nweke's partnership with Helen Housby
Combines with midcourt general Verity Simmons' veteran composure
Creating unexpected early-season chemistry that's disrupting title predictions
Sharni Lambden's defensive rotations proved pivotal in neutralizing
The Thunderbirds' much-vaunted attacking circle – a tactical masterstroke
That positions last year's wooden spooners as genuine finals dark horses
In a season where established hierarchies are crumbling weekly
Despite concerns about team chemistry following the departure of their two-time champion due to behavioral issues, the squad has shown remarkable resilience. Questions lingered about whether new player combinations could effectively work together and if they could recapture their previous competitive edge.
The team's recent history against their rivals has been particularly challenging. They've endured a frustrating streak spanning two seasons, failing to secure a victory even after acquiring a prominent shooting specialist.
Their 2023 campaign included several near misses: an abandoned match halted at halftime with scores deadlocked at 25-all due to facility issues, a narrow round 14 defeat (60-57), a heartbreaking major semi-final loss (64-62), and an agonizing one-point grand final defeat (60-59).
The following season proved even more difficult, with the team suffering their lowest-ever competition score in a round seven thrashing (58-33) before another substantial defeat in round 13 (60-48).
The Mavericks' camp erupted in celebration this week
as they clinched their inaugural 2025 victory
climbing into the league’s upper tier despite missing key shooter Sasha Glasgow
Her comeback from a devastating leg fracture had been smooth until Round 3
where she exited the court limping with calf discomfort during the final minutes
leaving fans anxious about her availability moving forward
Meanwhile, the Swifts’ early-season resilience stole headlines
overcoming an eight-goal deficit in a stunning second-half revival
Rising talents Teigan O’Shannassy and Grace Whyte ignited the turnaround
O’Shannassy dominated defensively with six intercepts and a rebound
while Whyte orchestrated the attack with 13 assists and 23 feeds
Their heroics were shadowed by concerns at Sydney Airport
where Whyte was seen sporting a moon boot post-flight
casting uncertainty over her participation in Round 4
This dual narrative of triumph and tension
highlights the league’s unpredictable drama
where breakout performances collide with physical fragility
reshaping team dynamics week to week.
Jok's Inspiring Comeback
Tracey Neville, the Mavericks' head coach, assured that the injury to Glasgow was not severe. The team is taking extra precautions to ensure she regains full confidence in her physical condition.
In her absence, Sacha McDonald, who spells her name with a "C," was initially set to take over. However, it turned out that McDonald's services were not required. Instead, training partner UneeQ Palavi and Shimona Jok, who was marking her 100th game, formed an impressive duo on the court.
During the third quarter, Jok suffered an accidental poke in the eye from Giants defender Jodi-Ann Ward. The incident left her in pain, clutching the goal post with a bloodshot, watery eye. Despite the discomfort, Jok persevered and was ultimately named the player of the match for her outstanding performance, scoring 60 goals with 95% accuracy.
Neville highlighted the significance of Jok's milestone, noting, "This has been a week-long celebration. It was an emotional moment for Shimona, reflecting on her journey from her early days, through the challenges of missing out on contracts, to now celebrating this achievement with her family and friends. Not many players reach this point, and her career is flourishing as she becomes stronger and more skilled."
Jok, a Jamaican import, has faced numerous obstacles in the Australian league. At 20, she signed with the Thunderbirds and later played for the Collingwood Magpies for five seasons until their team disbanded. Afterward, she was not offered a full-time contract by another club.
The Mavericks picked her up as a training partner and eventually promoted her to their number 11 player. Even then, court time was not guaranteed, but when given the opportunity, Jok proved herself to be the starting GS. In 2024, she went from being without a club to becoming the Mavericks' season MVP. In a significant milestone for her career, the Tongan athlete secured a complete 60-minute appearance during the third-round clash against the Giants. This achievement marked her first full game in the Super Netball competition.
Prior to this breakthrough, her participation had been limited to brief periods for both the Swifts and Mavericks squads.
The match carried additional emotional weight as it followed a personal tragedy. Just one week earlier during round two, while representing the Mavericks in Sydney, she received news of her grandfather's passing.
Competing in the goal attack position—not her usual role on court—she displayed remarkable skill and adaptability. Along with her teammates who all wore black armbands in solidarity, she honored her grandfather's memory through her intelligent playmaking and creative approach to the game.
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