The Adelaide Thunderbirds have recorded a winless season for the first time in their 21-year history after a 28-goal Super Netball defeat by the NSW Swifts.
The Swifts looked dominant throughout to take three bonus points and win the final-round 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 the Swifts' Maddy Turner and Sarah Klau.
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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 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.
Swifts coach Briony Akle said: "(I was) super excited that we got 10 girls out there for our last game and to win by that margin was pretty exciting for us.
"They've contributed all year and I think they still contributed to that win."
The loss was the last game for Thunderbirds coach Dan Ryan, who was sacked by the club in June.
Following the game, Ryan said it had been "a really tough two years on the job".
"It's been pretty taxing for everybody and I think everybody is probably glad to see the end of 2018," he said.
"I'm grateful that I was able to live my dream and head coach here and I guess I'll take away so many great life lessons and career lessons."
