Heading into a hard-earned Suncorp Super Netball bye on a high is the only goal for the NSW Swifts ahead of their Round 8 clash with the Queensland Firebirds on Saturday (3pm AET).
Having missed the chance to go top of the Super Netball standings with an error-strewn performance against the Thunderbirds in Adelaide last week, the Swifts quickly found themselves demoted to fourth on the competition ladder after seven rounds.
The highly-condensed standings at the top of the ladder mean the six-time Premiers can bounce back to the top two with a good showing at Ken Rosewall Arena but head coach Briony Akle knows any repeat of the Adelaide performance cannot be tolerated.
"It's very simple, we have to be better, every one of us," she said.
"This is a champion club, they are champion players... they've proved that before, they've got the medals to prove it but in Adelaide we let ourselves down.
"You cannot win all the time but you have to be able to control discipline and decision making better when things go against you because every team in this league will be well drilled with world-class players.
"You give an inch, every team will take a bloody mile. This is the level we're playing at but we're not bringing it week to week."
The Swifts will be without Australian Diamonds shooter Sophie Garbin for the Firebirds clash with the 24-year-old granted compassionate leave to attend her grandmother's funeral in Western Australia.
Last time the Swifts and Firebirds met - in Round 1 - it was NSW who came away with a thrilling extra-time win in Brisbane.
Coached by ex-Swifts centurion Megan Anderson, who is also a former teammate of Akle's, the Queenslanders have had an up-and-down opening half to the 2021 season, but their rivalry with NSW remains as intense as ever.
"There was only the bounce of a ball between us when we last met and the Firebirds always are up for it when they face the Swifts," Akle added.
"Megsy (Anderson) is a top coach and they showed what they are capable of when they hammered the Lightning away from home.
"Lightning are top of the table so that just shows you how tight the competition is. We have a bye next weekend so if we don't get things right on Saturday we don't have a game in the immediate aftermath to focus on.
"I don't want anything lingering, that's why we have to win."
The Swifts and Firebirds game will be broadcast live on Channel Nine and Telstra's Netball Live App.
Match Notes
- When the teams last met in Round 1 this season the Swifts defeated the Firebirds 69-66 after extra time in Brisbane.
- The teams have met nine times in Suncorp Super Netball, the Swifts have won five and the Firebirds four.
- The Swifts and Firebirds have met 53 times since 1997 across the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball with the Swifts winning 33 matches, the Firebirds 19 and there has been one draw.
- The Swifts are coming off 53-58 loss to the Thunderbirds in Adelaide in Round 7. The Swifts have a record of four wins and three losses and sit in fourth place on the ladder.
- The Swifts' loss to the Thunderbirds in Round 7 their first Super Netball loss to the Thunderbirds in nine meetings
- The Firebirds are coming off a 69-79 loss to the Fever in Brisbane in Round 7. The Firebirds have a record of two wins and five losses and sit in sixth place on the ladder.
- The Firebirds' 69-goals in their Round 7 loss to the Fever is the third highest losing score in Super Netball history after the Swifts 71-80 loss to the Fever (2020) and the Fever’s 72-73 loss to the Swifts (2020).
- The Swifts have the best shooting accuracy in the competition shooting at 92% while the Firebirds are ranked sixth at 83%.
- The Swifts have the best attacking record in Super Netball conceding just 56 goals per match while the Firebirds have the worst record conceding 65.4 goals per match.
- The Firebirds have the second best attacking record scoring 64.7 goals per while the Swifts are ranked fifth scoring 58.7 goals per match.
- The Swifts' best quarter in 2021 is their first; winning four, drawing two and losing one, while their worst quarter is their third having won just one of seven.
