Thunderbirds record winless netball season

The Adelaide Thunderbirds have recorded a winless season for the first time in their history after a 28-goal Super Netball defeat by the Sydney Swifts.

The Swifts looked dominant throughout to take three bonus points and win the final-rounch clash 69-41 in front of a sold-out Adelaide crowd on Friday night.

The last time the sides met - round six in Sydney - the Swifts triumphed by just two points, making for the Thunderbirds' closest game of the season.

It was a different story from the first pass on Friday night, with the Thunderbirds making three changes in the first quarter and failing to convert a number of turnovers in the defensive half.

One of those benched was star shooter Shimona Nelson, with Cat Tuivaiti taking over but struggling to make an impact against tight defence from Swifts Maddy Turner and Sarah Klau.

By halftime, the Thunderbirds trailed by 20 points and were headed for their worst loss of the season.

Nelson returned in the third and things turned around, with the two sides scoring 16 goals each in the third quarter.

As many sides have done against the Thunderbirds this season, the Swifts subbed on their entire bench in the fourth term yet still won the quarter by eight goals.

The loss was the last game for Thunderbirds coach Dan Ryan, who was sacked by the club in June.