Romelda Aiken-George etched her name deeper into netball history on Sunday, becoming the most-capped player in ANZ Championship/Super Netball history with 233 appearances. However, the Jamaican star was left with little to celebrate as the Adelaide Thunderbirds were outclassed by the New South Wales Swifts in a high-stakes top-of-the-table clash at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
The defending champions, aiming for a third consecutive title, suffered their first home defeat in 11 matches, going down 65-57 to a Swifts team that made a resounding statement about their title credentials.
Aiken-George, 36, marked her milestone with a strong first-quarter showing, netting 14 goals to help Adelaide take an 18-11 lead. Her effort, however, was eventually overshadowed by a relentless Swifts comeback led by New Zealand goal shooter Grace Nweke and player-of-the-match Teigan O’Shannassy.
The Swifts struggled with rhythm early on, conceding 15 penalties to Adelaide’s four in the opening quarter. But they grew into the match, finding momentum just before halftime as Helen Housby hit a super shot to reduce the deficit to 33-29 at the break.
What followed in the third quarter was a devastating surge. O’Shannassy ignited the Swifts’ defence with five intercepts, while Nweke poured in 15 goals in the period and Housby added another super shot. The Swifts outscored Adelaide 21-12 in that quarter alone, flipping the match decisively in their favour.
Aiken-George finished with 23 goals from 26 attempts but saw her landmark occasion overshadowed by Nweke’s masterclass — the Kiwi shooter converting 48 of her 50 shots at a remarkable 96 per cent clip. Housby added 13 more, including four super shots, as the Swifts maintained their unbeaten record and surged to the top of the standings.
While it wasn’t the result Aiken-George or the Thunderbirds had hoped for, her record-breaking achievement is a testament to longevity, excellence, and unwavering commitment to the sport — qualities that continue to inspire across generations.