The soon-to-be-defunct Collingwood Magpies have capped a turbulent few weeks by pulling off the biggest upset of the Super Netball season with a dramatic 53-50 win over the ladder-leading Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Emotions overflowed following the final siren of Saturday's clash at John Cain Arena as the Collingwood players and staff celebrated a rare victory to mark the club's final home game in Melbourne.
After letting a seven-goal half-time lead slip in last week's loss to Sunshine Coast Lightning, the Magpies were in serious danger of losing their eighth match in a row after Adelaide recovered from a 10-goal deficit to trail by two with one minute to play.
But Collingwood handed their loyal home fans a glorious send-off by expertly maintaining possession in the closing moments to allow Shimona Nelson to sink her 44th goal of the game as time ran out to kick off the celebrations.
"I haven't been able to cry for two weeks, I feel like it's just all coming out now," a teary Kelsey Browne told Fox Sports after the Magpies chalked up their first win since the announcement the club will withdraw from the competition at the end of the season.
"We've been trying not to process what's happening, trying to prepare for games as normally as we can and just get a win on the board, and for it to come to fruition today is just so exciting."
Browne and 50-gamer Molly Jovic provided stellar service to Nelson under the post, the Jamaican goaler battling through some close attention from elite defender Shamera Sterling to shoot at 100 per cent for the match.
Collingwood capitalised on five unforced turnovers from the visitors to edge ahead 16-12 after one quarter, Nelson's clinical finishing (13-of-13) providing the Magpies with an early boost.
The home side extended their lead to seven goals in the opening minutes of the second term and while Sterling and Latanya Wilson produced valuable gains to help Adelaide stop the Collingwood run, the Magpies steadied to maintain their four-goal advantage at half-time.
A 9-3 start to the third quarter saw Collingwood build a double-digit lead and put them in a great position to secure just their third win for the season.
Adelaide came roaring back in the fourth as Sterling and former Magpies defender Matilda Garrett each grabbed crucial intercepts and shooter Eleanor Cardwell sank seven goals in a row to set up a nail-biting finish.
But the Magpies held their nerve to deal a major blow to Adelaide's hopes of securing the minor premiership and hand NSW Swifts the opportunity to move into top spot if they defeat the Giants on Sunday.
In the other game, West Coast Fever hung on to deny the Sunshine Coast Lightning in a 69-65 win in Perth.
Jhaniele Fowler had 54 goals from 58 attempts for the Fever, while Cara Koenen led the way with 38 goals for the Lightning.
The visitors outscored the Fever 38-32 in the second half, but it wasn't enough. The Fever remain third, a win behind both the Thunderbirds and Swifts.
AAP/ABC
