The records continue to tumble for the Melbourne Mavericks after the club secured their maiden Super Netball Finals berth.
Just three years after joining the league, the Mavericks’ latest feat adds to what has become a record-breaking season for them having already hit their highest ever membership numbers in 2026, registered more wins in a season than ever before as well as their first victory in the west last weekend against Fever.
Fourth place on the 2026 ladder was secured on Saturday night after the NSW Swifts and Sunshine Coast Lightning both lost to the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Queensland Firebirds respectively.
The results handed the Mavs an unattainable points lead on their 5th and 6th placed rivals before they had even contested their Round 13 derby against the Vixens.
The Mavericks will play Fever in the first round of finals but what remains uncertain is who will claim home advantage.
Delighted with how his team has come together this season, particularly given the late withdrawal of Molly Jovic (pregnancy) and the season-ending ACL injury to Tara Hinchliffe, head coach Gez Murphy, who only took over in December said: “I am rapt for the girls making it to finals for the first time with the Mavs.
“When I was looking at the list, I thought they had the talent and variety to push for finals, but it would depend on how quickly they could build the connections.
“They have improved each week and show such a great commitment to backing each other and the game plan. Bring on finals!”
With finals on the horizon, the Mavericks still have one home game to go in the regular season with fans encouraged to head to John Cain Arena on Saturday June 13 for the home and away season finale against the Firebirds.
“Proud doesn’t come close to how I’m feeling,” Mavs GM Shae Bolton Brown said. “As a club we have always known finals was possible but the way the team has come together this season has blown me away.
“Some of these athletes only played together for a few months before we got started; we have had some huge injury blows to adapt to and they have taken on the challenge of achieving what some didn’t believe we could.
“For Gez to secure finals in his first season as coach underlines just how well this group has come together and how well he and Richo have combined.
“It’s been a year of so many firsts for us as a team and as a young and growing franchise and this is another incredible chapter to add to our story.”
It is the best home and away season on record for the mavericks who have finished 5th and 7th in their opening two seasons respectively.
Under no illusions about what was building at the club, CEO Richard Simkiss said: “This is an historic moment for our club, one of so many big things we have achieved in 2026.
“It’s a testament to the incredible hard work of the players, the coaching staff and the wider team of people behind the scenes.
“We went into this season believing anything was possible and we have well and truly shown we are a force to contend with in the league.
“It’s a huge achievement for us all and we couldn’t do this without the incredible support of our members, our fans and all our sponsors.
“We are thrilled to see the impact our players and team have had on local communities in Melbourne, Victoria and the across wider netball world and we look forward to welcoming more and more Maverick supporters!”
