NSW Swifts head coach Briony Akle will take charge of her 100th Suncorp Super Netball game on Saturday night when the team travels to Adelaide for a Grand Final rematch with the Thunderbirds.
She may have contested three Grand Finals over the past five years – and won two of them – but it was achieving success in her first-ever game that stands out as her most special memory to date.
While the Club has always been a competitive powerhouse of Australian netball, back in 2018 the Swifts had gone without a Premiership for over a decade; a huge drought for fans who’d known so much success in the eras of Liz Ellis, Catherine Cox and Selina Gilsenan.
The onset of Suncorp Super Netball in 2017 coincided with the departure of a host of Swifts stalwarts including Kim Green, Susan Pettitt, Caitlin Thwaites and Sharni Layton, and when then head coach Rob Wright also flew the coup Akle inherited a young group looking to find their way.
In Round 1, 2018, the new-look Swifts faced a Firebirds outfit that still contained many of the players who’d broken NSW hearts in the heart-stopping Grand Finals of 2015 and 2016.
“Winning that first game in charge was a huge moment because it gave me the confidence to believe in myself and believe I was good enough to coach a Club like the Swifts," Akle says.
“I was lucky to win Premierships as a player with the Club in 2001 and 2004 but I wasn’t always starting in those teams and having that experience allowed me to empathise with the whole squad.
“The Firebirds had so many winners in their team in that game and getting over the line in that first one was really important to what came after.
“Reflecting now on this weekend it’s really exciting and it’s amazing to have been in charge for 100 games at this great Club.”
When quizzed about Saturday night’s blockbuster meeting with the Thunderbirds, Akle admitted the extra-time loss in last year’s decider still stings.
“I try not to,” she responds when asked if she thinks about it.
“But you have to draw strength from these things. If those losses don’t hurt, you’re in the wrong game.
“I don’t talk about last year’s Grand Final to the playing group as it’s important that they move on, however, I do look at it from a coaching perspective to examine the strengths of the Thunderbirds and the players they have at their disposal.”
One of those players this weekend will be Romelda Aiken-George who played for the Swifts in last year’s Grand Final but now finds herself in the attack circle for the South Australians.
“We know Romelda really well and what she’ll bring to the Thunderbirds,” Akle added.
“As we saw ourselves last year, Romelda is still one of the greatest attack weapons in our game and she’s a brilliant person to have in your camp.
“I’m not surprised that the Thunderbirds have looked so impressive so far because despite some player movement in the off-season they are still littered with talent.
“We haven’t played our best netball so far this year, but we’ll need to down in Adelaide. Last weekend against the Giants was good, but this will require a bigger effort again.”
In injury news, Swifts co-captain Maddy Proud has again been ruled as she recovers from a knee injury. She will be replaced again this week by Grace Whyte.
Match Details
- WHAT: Suncorp Super Netball Round 7: Thunderbirds v Swifts
- WHERE: Adelaide Entertainment Centre
- WHEN: Saturday 25 May, 7pm AEST
- BROADCAST: Foxtel and Kayo Sports
Match Notes
- When the teams last met in the 2023 Grand Final the Thunderbirds defeated the Swifts 60-59 at John Cain Arena in Melbourne
- The Swifts hold a 10-win, four loss and two draw record in 16 previous Super Netball matches against the Thunderbirds.
- This will be the 70th meeting between the Swifts and Thunderbirds since 1997. In 69 meetings across the Commonwealth Bank Trophy (1997-2007), the Trans-Tasman ANZ Championship (2008-2016) and Suncorp Super Netball (2017-present), with the Swifts have winning 34, the Thunderbirds 33 and there have been two draws.
- The Swifts and Thunderbirds met four times in 2023 with the first meeting being drawn when the match was abandoned at half-time due to issues with Netball SA Stadium and the Thunderbirds won the other three in Round 14, the Major Semi-Final and Grand Final.
- Prior to 2023 the Thunderbirds had only won once in Super Netball, there was one draw and the Swifts won 10 matches.
- Two of the four meetings in 2023 were decided after extra time; the Major Semi Final and Grand Final.
- Prior to this this the teams played out two extra time matches, both in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2000 and 2001.
- Swifts Head Coach Briony Akle will coach the team for the 100th time against the Thunderbirds in Adelaide.
