A few months back, if you’d have offered Briony Akle second place on the Suncorp Super Netball ladder with nine rounds played she’d have taken it.
As the defending Premiers, the NSW Swifts have had a target on their backs this year but sitting just behind the pace-setting Melbourne Vixens is a pretty good return given the intense hub-life format of the 2020 competition.
It’s hard to believe that Saturday’s clash with the Queensland Firebirds will be Round 10 of the condensed season – something that only sinks in for the team and staff when asked about it.
“It seems like yesterday when we got a call to say everyone has to get to Queensland before the border shuts,” Akle recalls. “I’ve been very lucky that my kids and husband have been able to make the trip north with us.
“It has been a big upheaval for them and it has its challenges with home schooling and keeping them entertained but my husband has been amazing and the boys have been brilliant with making the most of what’s on offer up here on the Sunshine Coast.”
Former Swift and current Magpie Ash Brazill called Akle one of her netball heroes a few weeks ago. The comment came after the new mum and dual-code star saw a picture of Akle home-schooling her four boys after coaching the Swifts to a Super Netball win.
Akle said it was nice to get mentioned like that but also noted she's cherished the opportunity to spend more time with her family.
“Life gets so crazy down in Sydney at times you actually find it hard to spend as much time as you want with your family, so there is a silver-lining to hub life for me,” she added.
“I think when I joined the Swifts everyone at the club wanted to create a real family network and my crew have loved being embraced by the players and staff.
“Outside of me, we’ve had players looking out for each other and many of the staff have been taking turns to organise team dinners to ensure everyone has the support they need.
“It’s natural that people get lonely up here, and we’re obviously hoping to be in this competition right to the end, so the plan is to be here for a while yet.
“Because of that there’s never been a season where off-court preparation is so vital to ensure people’s collective mental wellbeing is looked after.
“When we are back in Sydney there is a brilliant bond between our players, coaches and admin staff and I think we’re keeping that going up here as much as possible.
“We also get some great news coming through such as the club hitting over 3,500 members, despite a global pandemic meaning we can’t play at home this year. News like that lets you know you’re playing for something much bigger than individual honours.”
On court the Swifts haven’t been as slick as Akle would like, but with every team bringing their A-game for the Premiers there’s plenty to be happy with.
“We have played some brilliant netball this year but we never seem to do things easy.
“Against the Magpies we had some beautiful patches of play but silly errors allowed them back into the contest.
“We’ve only lost two games this year, both against top sides in the Vixens and Sunshine Coast Lightning, but in other games we’ve struggled to put teams to the sword.
“For us it’s all about making Finals first and foremost because it’s a new ball game when you get into the playoffs.
“I think finishing in the top-two is very important as it means a second chance. We got well beaten in the Major Semi Final last year but it gave us a chance to regroup and come back stronger to ultimately win the whole competition.
“It’s worth noting that second chances are hard-earned by finishing in the top-two at the end of the regular season so to be in the running for that, despite all of the upheaval in recent months, is pleasing.
“But we need to improve. With only five rounds of regular season action left the top sides like the Vixens are hitting top gear and teams like the Fever look to have found a rich vein of form.
“Another side coming good are the Firebirds who we face on Saturday. They’ve gotten that monkey of their backs with two good wins and they’ll have no shortage of motivation to beat us given the history the clubs share.
“Maddy Proud said nothing short of 60-minute performances will suffice from here on in as no-one is ruled out of the playoffs yet. She’s right but I we know we’ve got the players good enough to do that on a consistent basis, as last year proved.”
