Adelaide's bid for a three-peat of Super Netball titles is over after they suffered a heartbreaking 58-56 loss to the Melbourne Vixens in a pulsating minor semi-final.
The Vixens led by four goals with three minutes remaining in Sunday's match at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre before the Thunderbirds launched a frenzied late comeback.
Thunderbirds youngster Kayla Graham snared a vital intercept to spark the run, with two Super Shots from Georgie Horjus catapulting Adelaide to a 56-55 lead with two minutes remaining.
But there were a couple more twists to come.
Vixens sharpshooter Kiera Austin nailed a Super Shot to regain the lead, before Horjus missed a long-range shot to give possession back to Melbourne.
The Vixens wound down the clock for the final minute with a series of slick passes before nailing a goal with just seconds remaining to secure the two-goal win.
The result was sweet revenge for the Vixens, beaten by Adelaide in last season's grand final.
It also ensured the reign of Vixens coach Simone McKinnis, who will step down at the end of the season, will last at least one more week.
The Vixens will take on the second-placed NSW Swifts in an away preliminary final next Sunday.
The Swifts are licking their wounds after suffering an embarrassing 77-45 loss to West Coast Fever in the major semi-final in Perth on Sunday.
The grand final will be held in Melbourne on August 2 under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider.
It means if the fourth-placed Vixens are able to make the grand final, they will enjoy home-court advantage against the all-conquering Fever, who finished on top of the table and are now on a competition-record 13-match winning run.
Austin played a key role in the Vixens' victory against Adelaide, nailing all five of her Super Shot attempts.
Vixens goal shooter Sophie Garbin tallied 39 goals from 42 attempts, while Kate Eddy finished with three intercepts and three gains.
"We've had some really disappointing games against the Thunderbirds over the last year or two, so it was important for us (to win)," McKinnis said.
"Our players were fearless, they took it on and they backed themselves.
"And even when there was little patches (when we were challenged), there was a calmness and a freedom about what they were doing.
"Just that composure I thought was brilliant. At different times, different people stood up."
For Adelaide, goal attack Horjus nailed six Super Shots from nine attempts, while goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George (37 goals from 42 attempts) was error-riddled at times.
There was drama even before the match began, with Vixens goalkeeper Rudi Ellis left with a cut eye during the warm-up after copping an accidental elbow from a teammate.
Eddy was the standout player of the opening quarter, tallying two intercepts and two gains to help turn an early 1-4 deficit into a 13-11 lead by the first break.
Adelaide snatched the lead with six of the first eight goals of the third quarter, but a crucial Eddy intercept helped turn the momentum back the Vixens' way.
Two Austin Super Shots gave the Vixens a 46-42 lead at the final change, and they were able to recover from Adelaide's frenzied late comeback to secure victory.
