The NSW Swifts are proud to name the athletes which will form the QBE Swifts Academy squad for the upcoming Super Netball Reserves competition.
Developed in consultation with Member Organisations and Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) teams - and supported by the Australian Netball Players' Association - Super Netball Reserves will run over five weeks from June 1 to July 7.
It was established to support talent identification and to provide additional match play for athletes on the cusp of SSN. Seven SSN teams will participate in the pilot program, which will be open for fans to attend. The Swifts will be represented by the QBE Swifts Academy which underpins the Club.
The QBE Swifts Academy replaced the Netball NSW Waratahs in late 2019 as the main feeder program to the senior team. Launched with the backing of Netball NSW and the Swifts’ Principal Partner QBE Insurance, the Academy strengthens the foundations of Australian netball's most decorated elite Club by providing further pathway opportunities to aspiring players from across NSW.
For the Super Netball Reserves competition athletes will be chosen from the 2024 list of Academy players and Swifts Training Partners. Grace Whyte, who was recently named as the Swifts’ 11th player, debuting against the Vixens, is also eligible. Some players are unavailable due to injury.
Kath Tetley, Executive General Manager of the NSW Swifts, said:
“This new competition is a very welcome addition to our calendar as it provides much needed, top-class gameplay for our up-and-coming athletes.
“Our QBE Swifts Academy has produced amazing talent such as Sophie Fawns, Lili Gorman-Brown and Grace Whyte, and exposure to a high level of competition is vital for the development of everyone selected.
“Each athlete named has a special talent and I would like make a special mention of Academy head coach Lenore Blades who is running a brilliant program.
“I would also like to once again thank Netball NSW and QBE Insurance for their continued support and look forward to watching the squad gear up their preparations ahead of the competition start.”
QBE Swifts Academy – Super Netball Reserves Squad
- Audrey Little (Manly Warringah/Many Warringah Sapphires)*
- Brooke Paterson (Randwick/ERNA Hawks)
- Charlotte Raleigh (Armidale/North Shore United)
- Charlotte Smith (Sutherland Shire/ Sutherland Stingrays)
- Courtney Castle (Liverpool City/ERNA Hawks)
- Dakota Thomas (Newcastle/ERNA Hawks)*
- Elle Temu (South West Mounties Magic)*
- Eloise Egan (Hills District/Panthers)
- Eugenie Little (Manly Warringah/Manly Warringah Sapphires)
- Freddie Schneideman (Randwick/ERNA Hawks)*
- Grace Whyte (Tumut/ENRA Hawks)**
- Jamie Hume (Central Region/South Western Mounties Magic)
- Jemma Donoghue (Northern Suburbs/Manly Warringah Sapphires)*
- Jess Conlan (Griffith/ERNA Hawks)*
- Lauren Woods (Blacktown City/North Shore United)
- Nicola Barge (Sutherland Shire/Sutherland Stingrays)
- Chelsea Mann (Manly Warringah/Manly Warringah Sapphires) not considered due to injury
QBE Swifts Academy – Super Netball Reserves Fixtures
- Sunday 2 June: Vixens v QBE Swifts Academy (11:00am AEST, State Netball Centre, Parkville)
- Saturday 8 June: QBE Swifts Academy v Lightning (Post SSN match, Ken Rosewall Arena)
- Sunday 9 June: QBE Swifts Academy v Firebirds (11:00am AEST, Ken Rosewall Arena)
- Sunday 16 June: Fever v QBE Swifts Academy (7:30pm AEST, Gold Netball Centre)
- Sunday 7 July: QBE Swifts Academy v Thunderbirds (Post SSN, match Ken Rosewall Arena)
- Sunday 14 July: Giants v QBE Swifts Academy (11:00am AEST, Ken Rosewall Arena)
*denotes Swifts Training Partner
** denotes 2024 Swifts Rookie
