Netball
19 August, 2025
Thunder strike against Demons, while Roos, Saints flex muscles
Southern Mallee Thunder have opened up the WFNL A grade top five following a commanding win against defending premiers, the Horsham Demons.
The Thunder's 59-47 victory puts them one game outside of the top three with one round remaining.
Coach Steph Thomson was rapt with her side's performance.
"Everyone on the court played their role," she said.
"Whether it was Sydney (Thorogood), Abby (White) or Taya (Horman) getting an intercept, we were able to convert a lot of those opportunities into goals."
The Thunder coach said while mathematically the team can make the top three, they are focused on the game ahead.
"There's still a possibility we can get there," Thomson said.
"It might come down to like our percentage… It's obviously really exciting, but we're not focusing on that.
"We're just taking each game as it comes. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves.
SMT came to City Oval having won six of the past seven games.
Thomson said the high level of play was a product of tireless work on and off the court since the club's formation in late 2023.
"When you look at all the other clubs, they've been playing together for years," she said.
"Towards the end of the season, we clicked as a group. We've got pretty much everyone from the team last year as well.
"[On Saturday] we were calm and connected, and we were having fun. That's when we play some of our best netball."
While the Thunder won by 12 goals, they trailed for most of the first quarter, only seizing the lead in the final minute of the quarter.
Thomson was in good form, scoring 12 of the Thunder's first 15 goals.
The Thunder never gave up the lead after the first quarter, extending a one-goal margin into seven at the main break.
While Thomson and Demons' co-coach Ebonie Salter battled at one end, White and Imogen Worthy battled at the other.
The Thunder coach praised the solid defensive work of White and Thorogood.
"Sydney and Abby worked well together," she said.
Between them and the wing defences, Taya and Connie (rule), we do a rotation with them, and they know exactly what they're doing.
"I think all of them got intercepts, which is great."
White and midcourter Codie Robins were named in the Thunder's best, with the latter drawing praise from Thomson.
"Cody was everywhere. She was on fire," she said.
"She was getting to the circle edge; we've been working hard to get our attackers to the circle edge, because it makes it a lot easier to feed into our goalies."
Thomson finished with 40 goals, while teammate Emma Mill added 19.
Horsham's Worthy scored 33, and Georgia Batson finished with 14.
The Horsham Saints finish their regular season with an 80-49 victory against Ararat.
The Rats came into the game missing Faith Biddle, who hasn't taken the court since round 14.
The minor premiers were untouchable, establishing a 10-5 lead after the first seven minutes, extending out to a 19-12 lead at the first break.
Jorja Clode shot 28 goals in the first half, three more than the entire Rats line-up, helping the Saints take a 39-25 lead at the main break.
Saints captain Ashlee Grace and the Saints midcourt did not let up in the second half, limiting Ararat's goal-scoring opportunities.
Clode scored 30 goals in the second half, again scoring Ararat's 24.
In the end, the league's leading goal scorer finished with 58, missing only three times in the 31-goal victory.
Teammate Abby Hallam finished with 22 goals, while Ararat's Laney McLoughlan (25) and Maggie Astbury (24) were valiant in defeat.
The Saints head into the finals with a two-week break, with a round 18 bye followed by another in the first week of finals.
Despite the loss, Ararat remained in fifth place, having secured its finals position earlier in the season.
Dimboola's quest for a top-three finish remains on track after it defeated Warrack Eagles 47-37.
While the Roos were missing Olivia Beugelaar, Maddi Marra looked every bit in the goal circle, using her pace to find good looks on goal.
Nicole Polycarpou, in her second game back from absence, did the bulk of the scoring for Dimboola, scoring 28 goals, while Marra finished with 18.
At the other end, Eagles' goalshooter Amber O'Connor added 21, while Nicola Clyne finished with 11.
Finally, Nhill defeated Minyip-Murtoa to record their third win of the season.
Ruby James was brilliant for the Tigers, shooting 37 goals, while fellow goalie Charlotte Foulds added 21.
The Burras' Jessica Newell was a shining light, scoring 30 goals, while Lucy Brand finished with 12.