If a Hollywood producer ever decides to make a movie about the netball career of Romelda Aiken-George, you’d imagine this weekend would take up a big chunk of the storytelling.
On Saturday the Jamaican superstar, who has made Australia her home since 2008, will take the court to make her 200th National League appearance, a monumental milestone that few have achieved in the blood and thunder world of the modern game.
“If she can keep this up for a long time, she will undoubtedly be one of the greatest players ever,” former Swifts and Diamonds champion Liz Ellis noted when she first saw Aiken-George hit the court in the early days of the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship.
All those years later, the shooting icon is still at the top of the game. She may have three Premierships to her name but the fire burns brighter than ever. Greatness is already comfortably secured, but the hunger has not dissipated.
However, to say Aiken-George has a mixed history with the Swifts’ passionate fanbase would be an understatement. Her brilliance, for many years, resulted in heartache for thousands of NSW netball fans whose Premiership dreams were ended by 1.92 metres of shooting prowess.
For the Firebirds, Aiken was a colossus. In 2015 and 2016 she went toe-to-toe with perhaps the greatest Swift sides to never win a Premiership and came out on top, twice!
In fact, it’s not a stretch to say that if the Jamaican hadn’t been on the scene, the Swifts’ unprecedented title drought (which went from 2008 to 2019) would never have lasted 11 long years. It’s not often that Swifts teams consisting of Kim Green, Sharni Layton, Laura Langman, Susan Pettitt, Caitlin Thwaites, Julie Corletto, Paige Hadley, Abbey McCulloch and Maddy Turner are denied Premiership success.
When Aiken-George hits the double-ton this weekend it will mark her third game for the Swifts, who she is representing as a temporary replacement player for the rehabbing Sam Wallace.
That’s three games for NSW, 197 for the Queenslanders. And who do the Swifts play on Saturday? You got it: Queensland!
Sometimes the universe works in mysterious ways.
Hadley, who put the disappointments of 2015 and 2016 behind her to lead the Swifts to Premiership success in 2019 and 2021, enjoyed some friendly banter when her old rival – turned teammate – arrived at Swifts HQ in Sydney.
“I’ve always been the enemy, and now I’m joining,’’ is how Aiken-George described her move to CODE Sports. “As Paige (Hadley, Swifts co-captain) said, ‘Welcome to the good side!’’’
It is a mark of the player and the person that she is happy to fulfill whatever role is required to help the Swifts’ campaign for a record eighth Premiership.
The move was a huge one, especially for a new mother who had only ever known one Club environment since making the move to Australia.
While the attacker’s time at the Firebirds didn’t end the way she envisioned, time and opportunity have made the transition easier.
“I always sit on that side of everything happens for a good reason,” she told Fox Sports recently.
“When Briony reached out to me I was like, ‘girl you sure? What’s going on?’
“Just having someone else tell you ‘we believe in you, you’re not done yet’ – it’s like, OK let’s go.
“I’m not going to be bitter about it – I’m just going to be better and move on.
“I want to be the best version of myself.”
A change, they say, can often be as good as a holiday, and in this instance it’s starting to ring through.
“The Swifts have been so super supportive from day one,” Aiken-George added.
“Being in the environment you’re like, you guys are amazing. Nothing feels fake. Everything feels organic and natural. Everyone wants to help each other.
“I love being in this environment and I feel like it’s an opportunity for me to grow my netball.
“I was in a spot where I guess I got bored… I think I got really complacent.
“Having someone say to me, you’ve still got so much more, we’re going to challenge you … it really put fire in my belly.”
She an athlete built for the big stage, and they don’t come much bigger than Saturday.
TICKETS:
The Swifts' Round 3 Suncorp Super Netball clash with the Firebirds takes place on Saturday 1 April at 5pm. Secure your tickets HERE
