The NSW Swifts have been dealt a third COVID-related blow ahead of today’s must-win Suncorp Super Netball Round 14 clash with the Queensland Firebirds at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena (4pm).
Double Premiership-winning midcourter Tayla Fraser will join head coach Briony Akle and defender Teigan O’Shannassy in missing the final regular-season game of the year, with the trio ruled out by COVID-19 protocols.
QBE Swifts Academy midcourter Lili Gorman-Brown (Sutherland Shire), who debuted for the Swifts against the Melbourne Vixens in Round 2, has been added to the Game-Day squad while earlier in the week fellow Academy athlete Dakota Thomas (Newcastle) was elevated to replace O’Shannassy.
Assistant coach Bec Bulley will assume head coach duties for the day.
The defending Premiers are still in the hunt for Finals netball with one round to play, however, they must beat the Firebirds and hope other results go their way if their push for three titles in four years is to stay on track.
The Swifts and Firebirds are in a four-way battle for the last Finals spot alongside the Collingwood Magpies – who currently sit fourth – and the Adelaide Thunderbirds, who play West Coast Fever in Round 14.
Should both the Swifts and Thunderbirds win their respective games, and the Magpies lose to the Minor Premier Melbourne Vixens on Monday, the team with the best goal percentage of the three will qualify for Finals.
