# Adelaide Thunderbirds

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. 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.

#### 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 | 2nd | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3rd | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2nd | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3rd | 8 | 0 | 6 |
Premierships Runners Up
Source:

### ANZ Championship

Between 2008 and 2016, Thunderbirds played in the ANZ Championship. Natalie von Bertouch became the inaugural ANZ Championship Thunderbirds captain. She subsequently captained Thunderbirds to two ANZ Championship titles. 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. In 2013, Natalie von Bertouch captained Thunderbirds to their fourth premiership after they defeated Queensland Firebirds in the grand final.

#### Regular season statistics

Premierships Runners Up

### Suncorp Super Netball

Since 2017, Thunderbirds have played in Suncorp Super Netball. 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 | 8th | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 2018 | 8th | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 2019 | 7th | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 2020 | 7th | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| 2021 | 7th | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 | 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 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 48–42 | Sydney Swifts | ETSA Park |
| 1999 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 62–30 | Adelaide Ravens | ETSA Park |
| 2000 | Melbourne Phoenix | 52–51 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | The Glasshouse |
| 2001 | Sydney Swifts | 57–32 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | State Sports Centre |
| 2002 | Melbourne Phoenix | 49–44 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | Vodafone Arena |
| 2006 | Sydney Swifts | 65–36 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre |
Source:

### ANZ Championship

| Season | Winners | Score | Runners Up | Venue |
| 2009 | Melbourne Vixens | 54–46 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | Hisense Arena |
| 2010 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 52–42 | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Adelaide Entertainment Centre |
| 2013 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 50–48 | Queensland Firebirds | Adelaide Entertainment Centre |

### 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. Thunderbirds have also played home games, including the 2010 and 2013 grand finals, at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Thunderbirds have also played home games at the Adelaide Arena. Thunderbirds played a 2019 Suncorp Super Netball Round 7 home match against Sunshine Coast Lightning at the Territory Netball Stadium. In 2024, the Thunderbirds moved all home games to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

## 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.

### 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 | 10/11/2000 | 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

| Jane Altschwager Natalie Avellino Karyn Bailey Emily Beaton Erin Bell Laura von Bertouch | Natalie von Bertouch Kate Beveridge Rebecca Bulley Jacqui Delaney Mo'onia Gerrard Kathryn Harby-Williams | Kristen Heinrich Alexandra Hodge Renae Ingles Sarah Klau Sharni Layton Demelza McCloud Laura Scherian | Natalie Medhurst Maddy Proud Chelsea Pitman Peta Scholz Amy Steel Sarah Sutter Matilda Garrett |

#### England

| Ama Agbeze Eleanor Cardwell Jade Clarke Beth Cobden Layla Guscoth | Geva Mentor Tracey Neville Chelsea Pitman Kate Shimmin |

#### Jamaica

* Carla Borrego
* Shimona Nelson
* Shamera Sterling
* Latanya Wilson
* Romelda Aiken

#### New Zealand

* Leana de Bruin
* Maria Folau
* Cathrine Latu

#### Samoa

* Cathrine Latu

#### Scotland

* Fiona Themann

#### South Africa

* Leana de Bruin
* Bongiwe Msomi
* Lenize Potgieter
* Shadine van der Merwe
Source:

### Captains

| | Years |
| Kathryn Harby-Williams | 1997–2003 |
| Peta Scholz | 2004–2006 |
| Laura von Bertouch | 2004–2007 |
| Natalie von Bertouch | 2008–2013 |
| Mo'onia Gerrard | 2010 |
| Renae Ingles | 2014–2015 |
| Erin Bell | 2016–2017 |
| Leana de Bruin | 2018 |
| Layla Guscoth | 2019 |
| Chelsea Pitman | 2019–2020 |
| Hannah Petty | 2020– |
Source:

## Coaches
### Head Coaches

| | Years |
| Margaret Angove | 1997–2006 |
| Tania Obst | 2007 |
| Jane Woodlands-Thompson | 2008–2015 |
| Michelle den Dekker | 2016 |
| Kristy Keppich-Birrell | 2016 |
| Dan Ryan | 2016–2018 |
| Tania Obst | 2018– |
Source:

### Assistant coaches

| | Years |
| Lisa Alexander | 2008–2011 |
| Dan Ryan | 2012–2015 |

### Specialist coaches

| | Years |
| Jenny Borlase | 2016–2017 |
| Natalie von Bertouch | 2018– |

## Main sponsors

| | Years |
| AAMI | 1997–2001 |
| Medibank | 2001–2007 |
| Port Adelaide Football Club | 2007–2010 |
| Fairmont Homes | 2011–2013 |
| Priceline | 2013–2020 |

## Premierships

* ANZ Championship
** Winners: 2010, 2013
** Runners Up: 2009
* Commonwealth Bank Trophy
** Winners: 1998, 1999
** Runners Up: 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006
* Suncorp Super Netball
** Winners: 2023, 2024
** Runners Up

## Southern Force

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