By Henry Milic
Reigning premiers the Adelaide Thunderbirds will host a home Grand Final this Saturday night as they welcome the Melbourne Vixens to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
As the side eyes back-to-back premierships, a win would also make captain Hannah Petty the club’s third dual-premiership captain.
After making their first finals series in a decade in 2023, captain Hannah Petty said her team is even better equipped to handle the pressure of the moment this time around.
“We can definitely take confidence having played in a Grand Final last year and from this season’s results but at the same time it is a very different feeling,” Petty said.
“We have experienced it now and we know what it’s like, as last year it felt more like a rollercoaster, and we were just along for the ride.
“This year we feel like we can be in control of a few more things and know what to expect.
“We also know how hard these matches are to win so the fact is we will just be focusing on staying in the moment and letting the result take care of itself.”
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A win on Saturday night would see Petty join former Thunderbirds captains Kath Harby-Williams and Natalie von Bertouch as the only captains to lead their side to two premierships.
It would also mark 25 years since the Thunderbirds have gone back-to-back, after Harby-Williams’ side first did so back in 1998 and 1999.
“It would be crazy to think that my name would sit alongside those two amazing players,” Petty said.
“What they have done for the game and continue to do for the game is astonishing.
“I’m just trying to play my little bit with this team right now and these are the things I might look back on post career, when I’m old and proud of what has happened.”
Hannah Petty alongside former Thunderbirds 2x Premiership Captain Natalie von Bertouch.Eyes On The Prize
The side had an internal hit-out over the weekend, after winning their Major Semi-Final against the Vixens by a commanding 25 goals at 36ers Arena, to advance straight into the Grand Final.
With the week off in hand, Petty said the side is primed to perform come Saturday.
“You can’t ask for more as a captain with the team that we have got,” Petty said.
“I’m just so proud to be a part of this team, everyone just does their role perfectly.
“We are definitely going to enjoy each little moment along the way and hopefully we will make one big special one on the weekend.”
Hannah Petty in the Major Semi-Final match against the Vixens. The Thunderbirds won all seven home games at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in 2024 and have gone on to stay undefeated in Adelaide after their Semi-Final victory.
Records were broken on and off the court this year, seeing the club reach its highest ever attendance in Suncorp Super Netball history in its move to the Entertainment Centre.
“It’s super special, the Pink Army have been so loud and so supportive all year, and the fact that we haven’t lost a game there is unreal to think about,” Petty said.
“The fans give us extra life and we just want to see the whole stadium painted pink come the big game and we want to do it for them.”
