Premiership-winning Melbourne Vixens defensive midcourter Allie Smith is joining the reigning champion NSW Swifts for the 2022 Suncorp Super Netball season.
The 21-year-old, who debuted for the Vixens in 2020 and played in their Grand Final win over the West Coast Fever, comes with a proven track record at the elite level where she primarily plays as a wing defence.
Originally part of the Vixens’ extended squad for the 2020 Super Netball hub in Queensland, Smith backed up her debut season with a fulltime contract in 2021.
Swifts Head coach Briony Akle said what impressed her most about Smith was the doggedness and determination she displayed on court. Smith joins the Premiers on a one-year deal.
“It is very rare that you get the opportunity to sign a player who is not only so young, but who also has a proven ability at this level,” she said.
“With a much shorter pre-season next year and some changes to our squad we needed to secure a player who can hit the ground running for a title defence.
“Allie is a specialist WD who really impressed us when we chatted to her and I think she will be a great fit for the group. She has a wonderful way of harrying opposition attacks and never gives up when chasing possession.
“Allie stood out for the Vixens in their Premiership campaign last year and backed up again in 2021 in a squad that was rebuilding. The Vixens are a champion outfit so Allie already knows what High-Performance sport is all about and I cannot wait to welcome her into the Swifts environment.”
Smith is excited to be making the move to the seven-time Premiers.
“It has been a whirlwind week but I’m thrilled to have signed with the Swifts for next season,” she said.
“There is a lot of history, rivalry and respect between the Vixens and Swifts so I know the standards expected, but I am eager to prove myself in a new team and state.
“Some of my teammates at the Vixens who also played for the Swifts, such as Kate Eddy and Caitlin Thwaites, always spoke glowingly of their time in Sydney and when the opportunity arose I was really keen to explore it.
“My conversations with Briony and Bec Bulley have made me even more excited about the move and hitting the training court for the first time with my new teammates.
“I know the Swifts are eager to go back-to-back and I’m ready to give it my all to help make that happen.”
The Swifts have now signed nine of their 10-strong roster for 2022. Smith joins Maddy Proud, Paige Hadley, Sarah Klau, Maddy Turner, Helen Housby, Sam Wallace, Tayla Fraser and Teigan O’Shannassy in signing for 2022.
The club will announce the final contracted player for 2022 in the coming days.
