She may have had to lead the NSW Swifts from the sidelines for the second half of 2019's Premiership-winning campaign, but Maddy Proud is back and raring to go as the team gears up for the revised 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season.
The 26-year-old, who ruptured an ACL in the Swifts' Round 7 win over the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane last year, will reprise the role of club captain in 2020 and she is determined to pick up where she left off.
"The Covid-19 lockdown and season delay has been very trying on everyone but for me that cloud actually had a silver lining," Proud says.
"When the season was originally due to start in early May I was really racing to be fit but the extra time off has allowed me to get my knee fully right.
"It's been a year since I have hit the court in a competitive game but the support I've had from everyone at the Swifts - on the court, off the court and in the stands - has been wonderful.
"I'm also delighted to have Paige Hadley and Maddy Turner with me in the leadership team again. Paige was brilliant leading on the court last year, especially in the Grand Final, as was Maddy, so having them by my side again is a huge boost.
Australian Diamond Hadley will continue as club vice-captain in 2020 while fellow Aussie international Turner reprises her role in the leadership team.
Head coach Briony Akle said she was looking forward to seeing what her leaders can bring when Super Netball starts in early August.
"This group led the Swifts to a sixth Premiership last year but it was the first in a while," Akle said.
"Our team is hungry and I know our leadership team has what it takes to drive the group forward.
"Each of them will have their own individual targets, but they will also be looking out for the collective and that's vital - they need to push everyone else as hard as they push themselves.
"Good teams win a Premiership but great teams win multiple. That's the goal and I these are the leaders who can take us in the direction we need to go."
