St Michael’s College is proud to partner with the Adelaide Thunderbirds for a second year, further supporting netball pathways and development opportunities for students and coaches from Reception through to Year 12.

Building on the strong foundation established in 2025, including expanded student engagement and elite-focused experiences, the partnership continues to deliver exciting opportunities both on and off the netball court.

The partnership also follows a significant milestone for the College, with 2025 marking 50 years of netball at St Michael’s College, celebrating five decades of participation, community connection and sporting excellence! In 2026, the courts across the College will fill with close to 300 students across Primary and Secondary Campuses, the highest participation numbers in the College’s history. The Thunderbirds partnership provides students with the opportunity to further develop their skills through an inclusive and high-quality netball program, game-day experiences for selected year levels and further development for coaching staff.

An additional standout element of the partnership this year is the involvement of Kate Heffernan, elite midcourt player for the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Before joining the Thunderbirds, Kate enjoyed a successful netball career in her home country of New Zealand. Kate brings international experience to her work with students, providing them the opportunity to gain knowledge from an athlete who has both played at high levels of National sport and also captained at an international level.

Further, students will engage with Latanya Wilson (Latty), seen as one of the best defenders in the league. With six seasons at the Thunderbirds, dual premierships and being crowned the Adelaide University Club Champion for the second-consecutive year, Latty will bring her strengths in defence to further upskill students to take to the court.

St Michael’s College Talent and Development Program Co-ordinator, Kaiden Brand, is looking forward to seeing the continued development of students over the year ahead, following a strong year in 2025:

“It’s fantastic to see our netball program continue to grow, with students across both campuses embracing the opportunities created through our partnership with the Adelaide Thunderbirds. We’re excited to see our students and coaches continue to benefit from the valuable development opportunities this partnership provides.”

These opportunities reinforce St Michael’s College commitment to sport as a key part of student wellbeing, leadership and community culture. The College is proud to continue working with the Adelaide Thunderbirds and looks forward to another year of netball success within the College Community.