In recent years the Swifts have learned how to win Premierships by the long road, and the short one.
The Club’s 2019 title success came after they had to play all three rounds of Finals – the Major Semi Final, Preliminary Final and Grand Final – while in 2021 they had a direct path to the decider having won the Major Semi against the Giants.
This Saturday night’s Suncorp Super Netball Major Semi against the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Qudos Bank Arena (7pm AEST) presents the Swifts with an opportunity to go straight through to a third Grand Final in five years.
If successful, the seven-time Premiers will book their place in the 2023 showpiece at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena on Saturday 8 July. Lose and they’ll have a second chance in Sydney one week later in the Preliminary Final, against either the West Coast Fever or Melbourne Vixens.
Experience is something Swifts head coach Briony Akle wants her side to use when the heat is on.
“We’ve been here before and done it so we know what’s required,” Akle said.
“Finals are a different beast, and in may ways it’s an entire reset – the teams that manage that best are generally the ones who achieve success. We’ve got to make sure it’s us.”
Asked if there was any reduced pressure due to a second-chance, Akle was quick to dismiss that notion.
“You always want to go direct to a Grand Final because once you’re in, you’re in,” she said.
“You have extra time to recuperate and analyse who you might face and that can be important at the pointy end.
“That said, we’ve done it both ways in recent years so whatever the result on Saturday night we’ll assess where we’re at and get ready to go again.
“You work bloody hard all year to earn the right to host a Finals game so any ‘second chance’ us or the Thunderbirds earn is merited.
“This is a massive game for senior players in our defence, midcourt and attack – all of them have won multiple Premierships and it’s time for that experience to come to the fore.
“Adelaide proved last week they are a brilliant team with huge threats all over the court. Everyone talks about their defence in the goal circle, but I though their midcourt was sensational against us last Saturday.
“They shut us down and didn’t allow us get to post quickly, which really disrupted our flow.
“It takes a very special players to play at this level, yet alone win titles. Our players have proven it before and now it’s time to show that again.
“You play all year for these games. Our motto is ‘Be Better’ and that’s what I’m pushing this week.”
Match Notes
- When the teams last met in Round 14 the Thunderbirds defeated the Swifts 60-57 at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
- The Swifts hold a 10-win, two loss and two draw record in 14 previous Super Netball matches against the Thunderbirds.
- The Swifts and Thunderbirds have met 67 times since 1997 across the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, the Trans-Tasman ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball, with the Swifts having won 34, the Thunderbirds 31 and there have been two draws.
- Thunderbirds' Round 14 win over the Swifts was just their second ever win over the Swifts in 14 meetings in the Super Netball era (since 2017). The Thunderbirds' 60-goals against the Swifts is also their highest Super Netball score against the Swifts. It was also the Thunderbirds' first win over the Swifts (46-43) in Sydney since 2 June 2013 in the former Trans-Tasman Championship.
- The Swifts secured their place in 2023 Suncorp Super Netball Finals Series with their win over the Vixens in Round 11. They also claimed the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball Minor Premiership when they defeated the Firebirds in Round 13.
- The Swifts have claimed seven National League Premierships: 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2019, 2021.
- The Swifts have played in six Super Netball Finals for a record of four wins and two losses including the 2019 and 2021 titles.
- This is the Thunderbirds first Super Netball Final and first finals match since they claimed the 2013 ANZ Championship title.
- The Swifts have played 10 matches at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney for a record of eight wins and two losses. They have won their past seven matches at the venue.
- The Swifts' and Thunderbirds' only previous meeting at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney in Super Netball was in 2017 when the Swifts won 54-44 in Round 2.
