NSW Swifts head coach Briony Akle has been named the Joyce Brown Coach of the Year at the Australian Netball Awards in Sydney.
After taking the Swifts from a sixth-place finish in 2018 to a 10-1-3 record on their way to the club’s maiden Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final win in 2019, Akle was the clear favourite to receive the award.
Akle’s ability to develop promising youngsters like Helen Housby, Sarah Klau, Sam Wallace and Maddy Turner into some of the best players at their respective positions has played a major role in the Swifts success.
After two seasons watching the finals from home, the Swifts found themselves at the top of the table for much of the 2019 season, eventually finishing second at the end of 14 rounds.
A semi-finals loss to the Sunshine Coast Lightning threatened to derail their premiership hopes, but Akle rallied her troops, beating the Melbourne Vixens and Lightning to secure the club’s first Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final.
Akle was able to build a special bond within the playing group, creating a family mentality in the locker room which helped them overcome major adversity throughout the season including the loss of their captain Maddy Proud to injury and a mid-season four-week Netball World Cup break.
The Swifts will begin their title defence with a Grand Final rematch at their new home, Ken Rosewall Arena, on Sunday May 3.
