Why Mickey Mouse is the real villain in the Super Netball grand final

The Super Netball grand final has all the characters for the perfect sporting epic.

There are the reigning premiers Melbourne Vixens, who are embracing their unexpected “underdog tag” after snapping a four-game losing streak to reach the decider.

Then there are the Adelaide Thunderbirds, who claimed the minor premiership after a near flawless season with 13 wins to secure their third grand final appearance in four years.

Every epic tale needs a bad guy, too. But when the two titans face off in front of a sold-out crowd at John Cain Arena this Saturday night, the true villain won’t actually step on court.

That villain is a mouse.

Last year, the Super Netball final was played in front of a deafening crowd of 15,013 fans at Rod Laver Arena. This year, the Vixens and Thunderbirds will have to settle for a smaller venue, John Cain Arena, due to a schedule clash with Disney on Ice.

Disney booked Rod Laver for July 2-6 for its “Magic in the Stars” tour, meaning nearly 5000 fewer fans will be able to attend the Super Netball grand final this year than last.

The Mouse’s malevolence wasn’t just limited to Victoria.

Disney on Ice also booked out Adelaide Entertainment Centre across the semi-finals weekend from June 19-21, shutting the Thunderbirds out of their regular stadium and forcing them to play at the Adelaide 36ers’ arena, which houses 2000 fewer people.

But Thunderbirds star Tayla Williams doesn’t have any hard feelings towards the famous Walt Disney character.

“If it was anyone else we would, but not Mickey, can’t do that to the kids,” she laughed.

After defeating the Vixens in the semi-final in front of an Adelaide home crowd, the Thunderbirds have had a week off to prepare for the grand final.

Vixens defender Kate Eddy said the season had been a massive roller-coaster for the Vixens, acknowledging their month-long losing streak, but said the team had taken strength from their preliminary final win and would “embrace the underdog tag”.

“This is a grand final, you don’t really think about what’s happened during the season, doesn’t matter where you are on the ladder or what’s happened beforehand, its ride or die at the end of the day,” she said.

Last year, a pub visit encouraged by then coach Simone McKinnis helped the Vixens snap their losing streak and the team went on to win the premiership. Vixens leadership did not employ similar tactics this year.

“I think the pub trip will be saved to post grand final,” Vixens player Jo Weston laughed.

“We haven’t had a bye this year, which has made having more of that traditional social time a little bit more challenging … but I think we’ve been able to find other ways to build that morale and sort of regroup after what was a really kind of tough month of back-to-back losses.

“That is a real testament to our leadership group, especially Kate [Moloney] and everyone being able to be, you know, stepping up and be vulnerable with how they’re feeling and making sure that we can work collaboratively to get the result we want.”

Coach Di Honey took over from McKinnis this season, having served as assistant coach since 2014, so she played a crucial role in the Vixens’ 2014, 2020 and ’25 titles.

The Thunderbirds present a unique challenge, known for their athletic defenders who often force their opposition into playing a different style.

Defender and co-captain Shamera Sterling-Humphrey inspired the Thunderbirds to a 58-44 win over the Vixens in their semi, both with her on court actions and her half-time address. “I had to give the ladies a talk, saying this is big girls’ netball, we have to put our big girls undies on,” Sterling-Humphrey said.

For their part, the Vixens will need to clamp down on the Thunderbirds’ South African goaler Elmere van der Berg, who scored 51 goals at 90 per cent accuracy in that match.

It will be, to use Sterling-Humphrey’s turn of phrase, “big girls’ netball”.

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