The NSW Swifts may be close to securing a third successive Suncorp Super Netball Finals Series appearance, but they'll have to approach tomorrow afternoon's Round 12 clash against the Collingwood Magpies without head coach Briony Akle.
The Premiership-winning coach is set to finish her COVID-19 isolation period in Adelaide tomorrow with both Super Netball and the Swifts working on reuniting Akle with the team in Queensland later this week.
Due to the extenuating circumstances, the League’s Integrity Department has approved and put protocols in place for Akle to connect with the team via zoom pre-match and during half time of the clash at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena (3.30pm AET).
In Akle’s absence assistant coach Bec Bulley will oversee proceedings.
As things stand a win for the Swifts over the Magpies and a loss for the fifth-placed Firebirds (who play Fever in Round 12) would mean the six-time Premiers couldn’t finish any lower than fourth at the end of the regular season, thus qualifying for the Semi Finals with two rounds to play.
The Swifts currently sit second on the Super Netball ladder, just behind the Giants on goal percentage and well in the hunt for a top-two finish.
Swifts Executive General Manager Nikki Horton said the clash with Collingwood came a few days too early for Akle.
"It's just bad luck and bad timing that Briony's isolation period ends on the day that we play our next game but she has every confidence in Bec and the team to get the job done," Horton said.
"We have a week until our next clash so the focus after the Magpies game is to get Briony and our physio reunited with the Swifts travelling party.
"We are hopeful that South Australia's border with Queensland will reopen in the coming days, however, we are also working on exemptions should there be any delay on that front."
NSW Swifts co-captain Maddy Proud said the team knew what they had to do.
“Obviously not having Briony courtside is a blow but she has been instrumental in our build-up and very busy on performance analysis,” Proud said.
“She has sacrificed more than anyone to keep the Super Netball season and our campaign alive, and there comes a time when we as players have to step up.
“We’ve won a title together, we are a really tight-knit unit and Briony has taken us to this point. It’s our responsibility to keep the show on the road until we get her back in our environment.
“Bec Bulley is a pretty inspiring person to have on the sidelines. She’s a World Cup winner and multiple Premiership champion and knows what it takes to win so we won’t be short of inspiration.
“The Magpies are a tough outfit and really put it up to us in Sydney and it was only the last quarter that we got away from them. They’ll be out to remedy that so we have to perform.”
The Round 12 clash will be broadcast live on Nine Gem and Telstra's Netball Live App.
