NSW Swifts Head Coach Briony Akle and Co-Captain Paige Hadley have been named as finalists for Sport NSW’s 2023 NSW Sports Awards.
A four-time champion, twice as a player and twice as Head Coach, Akle has been nominated as the 2023 NSW Sport Awards - “Coach of the Year”.
After reaching a third Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final in the span of five years, Briony has also been the recipient of the Joyce Brown Medal in 2019, taken Australia to their maiden Fast5 gold medal in 2022 and additionally played a role in Tonga’s 2023 World Cup campaign.
In the ‘Coach of the Year’ category, Akle comes up along the likes of Matthew Horsnell (Athletics), Dzmitry (Dima) Kachan (Gymnastics), Adam Kingsley (AFL) and Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi (Paddle)
Reaching 150 NSW Swifts Match Caps in the National League - was only a glimpse into what the rest of 2023 would hold for Paige Hadley, not only on a domestic scale but also internationally.
Playing a pivotal role in the Australian Diamonds World Cup winning team, Hadley started in the Centre bib, which would ultimately lead the side securing the nation’s 12th Netball World Cup defeating England.
Following a successful international campaign as well as featuring in her fifth National League Grand Final, Hadley is joined by the following athletes in her nomination for “Athlete of the Year” up against Jack Besgrove (Softball), Caitlin Foord (Football), Jessica Fox OAM (Paddle) and Rhiannan Iffland (Diving)
Sport NSW have released their full list of finalists for the 2023 NSW Sports Awards, full list can be found HERE
