Super Netball Round 11: Giants Out, Firebirds Knocked Out, Carneiro Debuts

We can put a line through two teams after Super Netball round 11, as the top four faced the bottom four in the First Nations Round.

The Giants suffered their lowest-ever score against the Adelaide Thunderbirds on Saturday in Sydney, 70-37. The 33-goal loss means they are now officially out of the title race.

There are ongoing concerns about the future of this club, but they have a knack for providing ongoing opportunities to local NSW players and unearthing the next generation of superstars. In that vein, we need to celebrate the debut of 16-year-old Eva Carneiro.

The Melbourne Mavericks further cemented their spot at fourth by beating the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Naarm, 63-53. Super Netball's only two First Nations players in the entire 88 playing cohort featured in this game — Donnell Wallam (Noongar) and Leesa Mi Mi (Wakka Wakka).

On Sunday, the Queensland Firebirds wore black armbands as a mark of respect for Leah Cummins, after the Mayi-Kulan and Kalkadoon artist, who designed the team's themed dresses for the past few years, sadly passed away.

First Nations umpire Jordan Kiss (Wiradjuri) officiated this match in Brisbane. It went the West Coast Fever's way, 69-51, and also knocked the Firebirds out of premiership contention.

Lastly, the Melbourne Vixens claimed the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup for 2026 after beating the NSW Swifts for a second time this season, 67-57. At the John Cain Area, they won every quarter.

With just three rounds to go before finals and Commonwealth Games selection looming, there has been plenty of discussion about who deserves to get a plane ticket to Glagsow. Thunderbirds co-captain Georgie Horjus is thought to be a must-pick, and we catch up with her to hear about her dreams of heading to Glasgow.

If you missed it, don't worry — we'll get you up to speed with our Super Netball round-up.

Eva Carneiro makes history at 16

Leadership comes naturally to Giants defender Evalina Carneiro.

This year, she was picked to be the school captain at Aquinas Catholic College in Menai and the silver-medal-winning NSW U17 captain at the national netball championships.

The 16-year-old HSC student has also been juggling her studies with her representative roles in the Giants Reserves and Sutherland Stingrays Premier League team.

And on Saturday gone, her meteoric rise in the sport continued as she made history as the youngest player ever to hit the court in the Super Netball era. Carneiro was injected off the bench for the Giants in the third quarter and managed one pickup in 20 minutes of game time.

Her exciting debut follows the likes of former Aussie Diamonds players Kim Green (Commonwealth Bank Trophy) and Maddy Proud (ANZ Championship). They debuted at the same age in their respective eras and have since become legends in the sport.

Whether Carneiro will get more court time in round 12 is still to be decided, with the Giants heading to the Sunshine Coast on Friday when the teenager is supposed to be in school.

Georgie Horjus dreams of the Commonwealth Games

Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich will name the 2026/27 nationally contracted squad on May 31, and Georgie Horjus is expected to be listed for a third year running.

A squad of up to 18 athletes and four invitees will be announced, with the official Commonwealth Games team for Glasgow to be released in mid-June.

The Thunderbirds' co-captain offers a genuine swing between wing attack and goal attack. Currently, she sits second in Super Netball for goal assists (225) and centre pass receives (210).

In 2024, when she first broke onto the international stage, Horjus only appeared in wing attack. By the next international window of 2025/26, Horjus was popping up in both the midcourt and goal circle. She played all 10 Tests in the South Africa, New Zealand, and Jamaica series, indicating she's going to play a big role at the major tournament.

The 24-year-old hasn't been to a Commonwealth Games before.

If selected, she is fully aware of the significance of her presence to young players in her home state. It's certainly been a while since a South-Australian-born netballer carved up the midcourt or occupied the goal circle at the event.

Just 10 South Australian-born players have represented at a Commonwealth Games since netball became an official medal sport. If we include Nat Medhurst — who moved to the state when she was three and secured gold for Australia at the Glasgow 2014 Games — it's 11.

"When I was growing up, there weren't heaps of players born in South Australia to look up to in the Diamonds squad," Horjus told ABC Sport.

"There was Nat von Bertouch through the midcourt, and I was always a big fan of Erin Bell and Nat Medurst as Thunderbirds players, even if they weren't born here.

"I was a bit young to watch Jenny Borlase, but having her now coach at the South Australian Sports Institute and around the Thunderbirds environment, she's a great mentor."

South Australians who have played netball at the Commonwealth Games:

• Jenny Borlase (shooter) 1998

• Kathryn Harby-Williams (defender) 1998 / 2002

• Rebecca Larkin (midcourt) 1998 / 2002

• Sarah Sutter (defender) 1998

• Alex Clarke (midcourt) 2002

• Jacqui Delaney (shooter) 2002

• Peta Squire (defender) 2002

• Natalie von Bertouch (midcourt) 2006 / 2010

• Natalie Medhurst (shooter) 2010 / 2014

• Lauren Nourse (midcourt) 2010

• Sarah Klau (defender) 2022

Giants and Firebirds out of the premiership race

Giants coach Nerida Stewart has been left extremely frustrated by her team. After 11 rounds, they sit dead last, still searching for their first win.

"Extremely disappointed, it's not the quality of netball that we train or prepare for, and we're a lot better than that," Stewart said following the 33-goal loss to the Thunderbirds.

"There's a lot of self-reflection you have to do as well as the coach, because at the end of the day, it's your key responsibility as to why that transition is not happening.

"Something is missing … We've got three weeks left to find consistency … the fans deserve it … It's going to be a week of some really hard-hitting, soul-searching conversations."

ABC Sport has previously reported uncertainty about the Giants' ownership moving forward. It can't be easy to play with that hanging over your head. If we can keep this team going in NSW, it will be important for the pathways.

The bulk of their roster is aged 24 and under; Carneiro would've lowered that average even further on Saturday. But if they can't find a way to win, they'll continue to see a drop off in membership and ticket sales — crucial for financial stability.

Adding to their challenges is that every Super Netball athlete is off contract at the end of this season, in line with the expiration of the CPA. Given their horror campaign, no one could begrudge Giants players for looking elsewhere at this point.

So retention and better recruitment need to be the club's priority. Stewart's contract also runs out at the end of this season. Will she be given another year to improve this struggling team?

Another head coach feeling the heat is Kiri Wills at the Firebirds.

Unlike Stewart, though, she has stability — having already re-signed until the end of 2027.

In her first year in charge of a Super Netball team, Wills finished with the wooden spoon. In her second year, they sit seventh with an extra win on the board. Leading into this season, they signed three Kiwi players with Silver Ferns experience, taking their overall import count to five.

Has there been enough return for that? Probably not. Even taking into account some injuries.

Although Netball Queensland chief executive Kate Davies said the organisation recognises that "meaningful change requires time" and that Wills' re-signing was a "vote of trust in her strategy and our collective future," the club has parted ways with a coach mid-season before.

Both clubs need to think long and hard about their next coach and player signings.