Adelaide Thunerbirds recruit Elmere van der Berg makes her mark with wonder goal, now for battle with Melbourne Vixens
Elmeré van der Berg knew the ball wouldn’t go out, even if everyone thought it did.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds new recruit hit a crucial spot on the net, millimeters from the white line, in their clash with the Melbourne Mavericks on Easter Saturday.
The 191-centimeter-tall South African-born shooter quickly spun, jumped, threw the ball into the air and then fell out of bounds. His stunned opponent, lulled into a false sense of security, could only watch as the netball sailed through the air and passed through the hoop.
Van der Berg said he had no idea his opponent looked so shocked until he saw replays of the incident spread on social media.
“I think we have a really good awareness of where the line is and whether you’re out or not,” he told this imprint.
“So when I landed I knew I wasn’t out and then I was about to fall [of] on the court, so I tried to take the shot and it went in… which was pretty cool.
“It’s nice to have moments that excite the team.”
Van de Berg’s astonishing efforts helped the Thunderbirds to a 55-48 victory, allowing the Thunderbirds to start the season with four straight wins for the first time since 2006. Van de Berg is the league’s best shooter, having scored 239 goals so far, including a record-breaking 59 of 61 shots in the opening round.
Van der Berg, the top scorer in the UK Netball Super League in 2025, made her debut for the Thunderbirds this season and has already received critical acclaim for her stylish shooting style.
The Thunderbirds will take on the season premiere Melbourne Vixens this Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd at the John Cain Arena.
Vixens’ Hannah Mundy said the fact that both sides came into the competition undefeated made the clash even more exciting.
“I think it’s a great time in the season to get tested against the Thunderbirds,” Mundy said. “We play really good netball and I think we know we can beat them.”
Mundy said Adelaide’s new players had added a new layer of depth to their playing roster, which had thrived by imposing tough defensive pressure.
The Vixens also keep a close eye on Van der Berg. Mundy and his teammates had seen footage of the shooter’s stylish moves and prepared a plan.
“HE [Van der Berg] He is obviously new to competition and has shown a lot of athleticism and accuracy. “I think our defenders will try to create chaos and confusion for the feeders coming in because the feeders are feeding him pretty well right now,” he said.
“So I think it’s an all-out effort. It’s not just the goalkeeper’s responsibility. It’s kind of everyone’s responsibility to make sure their hands are on the ball and there’s some disruption.”
Mundy, who has fully recovered from her foot injury last season, said the Vixens are ready to continue their title challenge and make it back to back.
Van der Berg was also ready for a blockbuster encounter and added that playing in the Australian Super Netball League has a higher pressure style of play compared to the UK league.
“When you step on the field it feels like you’re playing a truly international match,” he said. “The training program is also a bit more intense… we do more during the week than we do in the UK.”
The former teacher, who hails from a town just outside Bloemfontein in South Africa, has loved every minute of her first season in Australia, especially the warm weather and beaches.
The 24-year-old jokingly described himself as an impatient person and therefore enjoyed Adelaide’s quiet atmosphere and lack of traffic.
“Australia is nothing like the UK. I love Australia,” she laughed.
“From the moment I came here, I never wanted to leave. The team is very welcoming… The environment is very healthy.”
“I really enjoy playing netball and Australia. I don’t miss home.”
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Hannah Kennelly is an award-winning sports journalist and Formula 1 writer for The Age.Connect via email.
