Adelaide Thunderbirds

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:38): I rise to speak to congratulate the Adelaide Thunderbirds on their championship victory in the Suncorp Super Netball grand final, played in early July. It was an exciting match from beginning to end. For those of you who missed it, overtime was needed to separate the New South Wales Swifts and the T-Birds. The game ended in an exhilarating outcome, with Adelaide Thunderbirds winning by a single goal, earning them the trophy.

Since the T-Birds club's inception in 1997 they have won five championships and finished in the top three of every regular season between 1997 and 2010. However, it has been a decade since their last championship in 2013. The club's journey of persistence, resolve and resilience led them back to the victory of claiming the trophy in 2023.

In the 2017 and 2018 seasons the club lost 27 games in a row. Not winning a national league match for 531 days was, in fact, the longest unsuccessful record for any top-tier professional sporting club based in our state. Like a phoenix, the T-Birds regrouped, refocused and then magnificently rose to the challenge.

Three of the team's 10 players are internationally based. Eleanor Cardwell, the grand final's most valued player, has played for the English team Vitality Roses since 2016, and Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson won medals for Jamaica at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games. Having such incredibly talented players as members of our state's team tells us how highly regarded the Thunderbirds are.

Their recent victory was watched by over 9,500 spectators in Melbourne and countless others on TV, like myself. This audience makes the Malinauskas government's announcement that Adelaide will host the 2024 grand final especially exciting, giving the Thunderbirds an opportunity to defend their title in front of a home crowd. The 2024 grand final will also be another great addition to an already extensive list of major events Adelaide will host.

Thanks to the SA Labor government reaching an agreement with Netball SA and the Adelaide Thunderbirds, the Entertainment Centre will not only host the 2024 grand final but become the home netball court moving forward. Hosting games at the centre will help to strengthen the mighty netball army even more with the capacity to accommodate larger crowds for this elite sport—one of the most popular sports amongst women and girls.

By relocating the Thunderbirds, the state government can immediately begin work to rejuvenate and modernise the ageing Mile End stadium to encourage community participation to grow. By ensuring that Netball SA has the facilities it deserves, we can encourage more girls from diverse backgrounds to get involved in their local teams. This is another commitment by a Labor government that is serious about supporting girls and women in sports. As the CEO of Netball Australia, Kelly Ryan, said:

This partnership will create a legacy for the future generations of South Australian netballers…boost our ability to grow both the grassroots and elite levels.

The Thunderbirds' captain, Hannah Petty, called the announcement 'incredibly exciting for our entire netball family'.

In recognition of the Thunderbirds' mighty efforts, the Malinauskas government hosted a state reception for the team and their squad here in Parliament House, which many honourable members also attended.

There are over 35,000 women and girls who play netball in South Australia, so seeing their state team reach the highest achievement is an inspiration they can all strive to be part of in the future. I look forward to cheering on the Thunderbirds in the 2024 season and welcoming them and their rivals to the Entertainment Centre throughout the year. Once again, congratulations T-Birds.