How best to describe the 2018 Suncorp Super Netball season from the NSW Swifts’ point of view…A thrilling ride? A glimpse into the rising force of Australian netball?
A year where the youngest team in the competition dared to dream success would come sooner than predicted?
You certainly could ascribe all of those to 2018. Starting the season with a thrilling win over the Queensland Firebirds in Round 1, it was clear this young group – now a year older – were starting to become more street-smart, winning the games they lost in 2017.
After a turbulent off-season, new head coach Briony Akle instilled belief in her troops. No longer would the excuse of youth cut it. It was time to win more and the Swifts delivered.
It wasn’t quite enough to return the Swifts to the Finals for the first time since 2016, but things were different. They gave it a red-hot crack and the margins between victory and defeat were minimal.
Having failed to register wins over the Giants, Magpies, Firebirds and Lightning in 2017, the Swifts righted those results, beating the Minor Premiers and three of the competition’s top four in the process.
While bonus points didn’t fall in their favour, the Swifts’ remained in the Finals race right up until the penultimate round of regular season, proving the harsh lessons of last year had been heeded, the growth in the team unquestionable.
Under the leadership of captain Abbey McCulloch and deputies Paige Hadley and Maddy Proud, the NSW Swifts became a force again. Sarah Klau earned selection for the Australian Diamonds, Maddy Turner grew as a leader, Helen Housby brought her Commonwealth Gold winning form back to Super Netball and Sam Wallace thrilled with stylish flamboyance.
A new wave of talent showed they could cut it at this level too. Sophie Garbin and Kate Eddy fitted in seamlessly while Claire O’Brien, whose season was sadly cut short by injury, continued to star when given more opportunities to do so.
When injury struck, training partner Sophie Halpin fought the Giants at the ICC before England star Natalie Haythornthwaite joined to add more international clout to the team to see the season out.
The played for NSW, they played for the Club, they played for themselves, and won and lost together.
Kate Eddy, Sophie Garbin, Paige Hadley (Vice-Captain), Natalie Haythornthwaite (Permanent Replacement Player), Helen Housby, Sarah Klau, Abbey McCulloch (Captain), Claire O’Brien, Maddy Proud (Vice-Captain), Maddy Turner, Sam Wallace.
Training Partners: Nikki Deegenars, Sophie Halpin, Ali Miller, Lauren Moore
Head Coach: Briony Akle Assistant Coach: Anita Keelan Team Manager: Nikki Welsford
Physiotherapist: Steve Naylor Strength & Conditioning: Lukas Cannan Performance Analyst: Zoe Tsimos
2018 Awards Winners
QBE Most Valued Player: Sam Wallace
Members’ Player of the Year: Sarah Klau
Coaches Player of the Year: Maddy Turner
Players’ Player of the Year: Abbey McCulloch
Club Person of the Year: Anita Keelan
2018 FIXTURES & RESULTS
| RD |
DATE |
MATCH |
HOME/AWAY |
W-L-D |
| 1 |
Sun 29 April, 3pm |
NSW Swifts 54 Queenlsand Firebirds 53 – REPORT |
Home – QBA |
1-0-0 |
| 2 |
Sun 6 May, 3pm |
Melbourne Vixens 63 NSW Swifts 61 – REPORT |
Away – Margaret Court Arena |
1-1-0 |
| 3 |
Sun 13 May, 1pm |
NSW Swifts 55 GIANTS Netball 54 – REPORT |
Home – QBA |
2-1-0 |
| 4 |
Sun 20 May, 3pm |
West Coast Fever 63 NSW Swifts 54 – REPORT |
Away – HBF Stadium |
2-2-0 |
| 5 |
Sun 27 May, 1pm |
NSW Swifts 64 Collingwood Magpies 54 – REPORT |
Home – Quaycentre |
3-2-0 |
| 6 |
Sun 3 June, 1pm |
NSW Swifts 51 Adelaide Thunderbirds 49 – REPORT |
Home – Quaycentre |
4-2-0 |
|
BYE WEEKEND
|
| 7 |
Sun 17 June, 3pm |
NSW Swifts 59 Sunshine Coast Lightning 56 REPORT |
Home – QBA |
5-2-0 |
| 8 |
Sun 24 June, 3pm |
Queensland Firebirds 60 v NSW Swifts 57 REPORT |
Away – BEC* |
5-3-0 |
| 9 |
Sat 30 June, 3pm |
NSW Swifts 58 Melbourne Vixens 65 REPORT |
Home – Quaycentre |
5-4-0 |
| 10 |
Sun 8 July, 5pm |
GIANTS Netball 66 NSW Swifts 56 REPORT |
Away – ICC, Sydney |
5-5-0 |
| 11 |
Sat 14 July, 7pm |
NSW Swifts 68 West Coast Fever 74 REPORT |
Home – Quaycentre |
5-6-0 |
| 12 |
Sat 21 July, 3pm |
Collingwood Magpies 57 NSW Swifts 57 REPORT |
Away – Hisense Arena |
5-6-1 |
| 13 |
Sat 28 July, 3pm |
Sunshine Coast Lightning 61 NSW Swifts 51 REPORT |
Away – USC** |
5-7-1 |
| 14 |
Fri 3 August, 7.30pm |
Adelaide Thunderbirds 41 NSW Swifts 69 REPORT |
Away – Priceline Stadium |
6-7-1 |
|
FINALS SERIES: Swifts finished 6th on the ladder, missing out on the 2018 Finals Series
|
2018 Suncorp Super Netball Final Placings:
Champions: Sunshine Coast Lightning
Runners-Up: West Coast Fever
3. Giants Netball
4. Queensland Firebirds
5. Melbourne Vixens
6. NSW Swifts
7. Collingwood Magpies
8. Adelaide Thunderbirds
