The Swifts are looking to head to the summit of the Suncorp Super Netball table on Sunday, but they’ll need to knock over the ladder-leading West Coast Fever in big style if they are to do so.
Two of the competition heavyweights, the Swifts and Fever have enjoyed a storied rivalry in recent years with the 2023 Preliminary Final still fresh in the memory of both sides.
The Swifts were on right side of that epic contest, winning by a single goal to claim a place in last year’s Grand Final and co-captain Maddy Proud knows a similar effort will be required on Sunday.
Despite a raft of changes in the off-season, the Fever have hit their straps early and been the pacesetters so far.
“I’m not surprised they’ve gelled so quickly,” Proud says.
“Yes, they may have lost Courtney Bruce to the Lightning but that’s only given Sunday Aryang the opportunity to setup into a bigger role and I think she’s been brilliant so far.
“They also got Kelsey Browne who’s been one of the top midcourters in the competition for a long time, and Jess Anstiss has really embraced the captaincy so I knew they’d always be running near the top.
“Of course, Jhaniele Fowler is that amazing target for them in the circle and we need to stop the ball getting into her hands because if it gets there it’s going in the net.
“But we’ve won our last two games against them, and managed to get one over them on the road so we know how to it.
“What the Fever can do better than anyone is punish if you let them get dominance, even for just a few minutes.
“They can rack up a score very quickly so concentration and execution for the full 60 is a must.”
Defender Teigan O'Shannassy is close to a Super Netball return but will not play this weekend and has once again been replaced by Silver Fern Elle Temu.
The Round 4 clash will also double as the Club’s Pride Match as part of Super Netball’s Inclusion Round.
Swifts Executive General Manager Kath Tetley elaborated on why the Round was so important
“Sunday is not just about celebrating and appreciating the members of the LGBTIQA+ community who support us in the stands, but also the people from that same community who are part of our direct team here at the Swifts and about whom we care deeply.
“That is why we have chosen to celebrate Pride again in 2024.
“Working with Proud2Play again has been invaluable as they provide real-world overviews of the challenges still faced by the LGBTIQA+ community.
“With the support of Principal Partner QBE Insurance we are once again creating a Pride Seating Bowl in Ken Rosewall Arena and that will be hugely special for everyone involved.”
Match Details
- What: SSN Round 4 - Swifts v Fever
- When: 4pm (AEST), Sunday 5 May
- Where: Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
- Broadcast: Foxtel & Kayo Sports
Match Notes
- When the teams last met in 2023 Preliminary Final the Swifts defeated the Fever 65-64 in Sydney.
- The past two meetings in 2023 (Round 9 and the Preliminary Final) the score was the same 65-64 in favour of the Swifts.
- The Fever lead head-to-head with nine wins and the Swifts seven in 16 previous Suncorp Super Netball matches.
- Ten of the 16 previous Suncorp Super Netball meetings between the teams have been decided by six goals or less since 2017, including five by one goal.
- The Swifts and Fever have met 35 times since 2008 and the Swifts have won 21 matches, the Fever 13 and there has been one draw.
- The Swifts and Fever have met six previous times in Sydney in Super Netball and both teams have won three matches each.
- Three of the past four meetings between the teams have been decided by one goal.
- The Swifts are coming off a 77-73 win over the Firebirds in round three and sit in fourth place on the ladder.
- The Fever are coming off a 69-62 win over the Mavericks in round three and are undefeated and sit at the top of the ladder.
- The Swifts are sitting inside the Super Netball top four for the first time in 2024. They 7th after Round 1 and 5th after Round 2.
- The Swifts are yet to win a third quarter in 2024 losing all three, in fact they have won just one second half quarter the 17-9 fourth quarter against Firebirds in round three.
- Helen Housby played her 100th Super Netball match in round three against the Firebirds. Housby became the 12th Swifts centurion since 1997.
