Thunderbirds hit town after record-breaking premiership victory
A sea of pink scarves flooded Rundle Mall to mark the Adelaide Thunderbirds’ historic premiership victory – and their head coach’s birthday.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds netballers have celebrated their landmark premiership victory against the Melbourne Vixens with hundreds of adoring Pink Army fans donning pink scarves and jumpers in Rundle Mall this afternoon.
Thunderbirds players and coaching staff were joined by Acting Premier Kyam Maher, Sport Minister Rhiannon Pearce and Netball SA CEO Bronwyn Klei to celebrate with the Pink Army.
The Premiership Trophy took centre stage after the team emerged on stage to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck with the Thunderbirds cheerleading squad and mascot Tori T-Bird nearby, and highlights from the season playing on the big screen.
Maher said the victory cements the Adelaide Thunderbirds as “one of South Australia’s most enduring and successful sporting teams”.
“The Thunderbirds are not only a champion netball team, they are also an enormous inspiration to many South Australian women and girls and this premiership further demonstrates this.”
Pink confetti shot out of cannons and line the mall as Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst lifted the trophy in front of her players, the crowd also singing her happy birthday and Obst declaring the trophy the perfect birthday gift.
“This team is unbelievable, and they’ve been fantastic the whole season, and their desire to be better week in, week out, I couldn’t ask for anymore as a coach,” Obst said.
Pearce said she would not be taking her Thunderbirds scarf all week as the premiership celebrations continue.
“These guys are second to none in proving again just how incredible women’s sport can be. They really are the gold star of sport here in the community,” Pearce said.
The city will also be illuminated tonight, with key landmarks including SA Parliament, Adelaide Convention Centre, the Entertainment Centre, Town Hall, Adelaide Oval and Riverbank footbridge donning pink.
The celebrations follow the Thunderbirds victory against the Melbourne Vixens 61 to 40 on Saturday in front of a sold-out John Cain Arena in Melbourne.
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More than 10,000 fans attended to watch the Thunderbirds become the first team to win three premierships in the Suncorp Super Netball league, with the 21-goal win the largest grand final victory in the national competition era.
It was the most dominant season from any team in the league’s history, setting a record for most regular season wins with 13 and one loss while also setting the record for highest percentage at 126.7 per cent.
The grand final win levelled the Thunderbirds as the equal-most successful club in Australian netball history alongside the NSW Swifts with seven premierships apiece across all netball leagues.
Three-time club champion Latanya Wilson was named MVP for her performance in the grand final, capping off an impressive season with 42 intercepts.
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