Super Netball Grand Final live: Adelaide Thunderbirds face Melbourne Vixens in front of sold-out crowd

Adelaide Thunderbirds have won the Super Netball Grand Final, showcasing a rapid-fire ruthless performance to stun the Melbourne Vixens by 21 points.

After a fiery first quarter, the Vixens held their nerve and were up by a point. But the Thunderbirds came out firing in the second, notching an extraordinary 21-goal blitz that the Vixens would never recover from.

There are 10,040 fans here tonight at John Cain Arena, the highest ever netball attendance in the stadium’s history – however the 2000- strong South Australian crowd are by far the loudest.

Pink scarves, beanies and tops were thrown into the air, as Adelaide fans celebrated in the stands, while Thunderbirds players rushed to embrace each other as AC/DC’s Thunderstruck blasted across the stadium.

Final Score: Adelaide Thunderbirds won 61-40.

The clock is ticking down and a long shot down the court finds the Vixens’ goal circle and the Melbourne team are able to give the crowd something to cheer for.

Moments later the Thunderbirds hit a supershot. The T-birds are relentless pounding this scoreboard.

Thunderbirds lead 61-38

Six minutes to go and it’s looking dire for the Vixens.

The Melbourne players look defeated and crestfallen as the margin continues to grow. The Thunderbirds are unrelenting and unstoppable, and have continued to pile on the goals.

Score: Thunderbirds lead 56-35.

Vixens coach Di Honey has some fighting words for the Vixens, who are staring down a gigantic margin.

“We have absolutely nothing to lose ... You are in this, I know it doesn’t feel like it, but let’s play this last quarter and win this last quarter like Vixens do,” she told players.

Score: Thunderbirds lead 52-33

Elmere van der Berg has been near unstoppable tonight so it’s worth looking at the stats behind her performance.

The South African is shooting with 98 per cent accuracy. Out of her 43 shots at goal, she’s scored 42 of them.

In the third quarter, the Thunderbirds scored nine goals, compared to the Vixens’ nine goals. It’s not as brutal as their 21-goal second quarter, but the Vixens have a near impossible recovery ahead of them.

If the Vixens have one priority, it should be to stop Shamera Sterling-Humphrey.

The star defender has been on Sophie Garbin all night, and intercepted a critical ball from Kate Moloney for a turnover.

At one point, an Adelaide Thunderbirds player leapt for the ball, soaring over two Vixens players and landing on top of one. Both emerged without injury, but it looked like it hurt!

Score: Thunderbirds lead 40-26.

That’s the buzzer and the third quarter is underway. The Vixens need to dig deep and find something spectacular to overcome the deficit they’re in.

Within 90 seconds, the Thunderbirds score three goals (two from turnovers) and seem to have one hand on the premiership trophy already.

There was a near-miss from Elmere van der Berg, but she recovers to shoot again and convert.

Some clever interplay from captain Kate Moloney and Sophie Garbin grant the Vixens a critical goal.

Score: Thunderbirds lead 37-24.

While the Vixens mull over that atrocious second quarter, the audience at John Cain Arena is being treated to a half-time performance.

There’s a chorus of dancers in white T-shirts and jeans dancing and grooving with a saxophonist serenading the DJ behind them.

There are flames and multicoloured disco lights and fans are up in the stands showing off their best dance moves.

South African import Elmere van der Berg is one hell of a force to be reckoned with.

In the first quarter, Vixens defenders managed to block the star goal shooter, but she’s broken free and is wreaking havoc on the scoreboard, and probably Di Honey’s mind right now.

In a tactical timeout, the Vixens coach pleaded with her players to stay calm.

“We need more options, OK? Everyone is standing still,” Honey said.