Swifts 2020 season

Looking back on the Swifts’ 2020 season it’s hard to quantify what a group as talented as this one labels success to be. 

For many making the playoffs for the second year in a row is always reason to celebrate, but when you’ve reached the mountain top, as this club has so often before, success can seem relative.

Was there be disappointment at missing out on back-to-back Premierships? Of course. But, given the age profile of Briony Akle’s squad, there remains time to create the new club dynasty the coach challenged them to do on the back of 2019’s title success.

In time the learnings from a campaign that was condensed into just 12 weeks will serve as a very important chapter in the history of the Swifts, and in the development of this current team.

Only a handful of sides in any code ever go back-to-back, and there’s a reason so few do. While successive Premierships eluded the Swifts in 2020, backing up their championship success with another Finals appearance showed the side was no flash in the pan.

When the Swifts were on in 2020 few could match them. Yet, being the hunted is a different ball game. As Maddy Proud said: “every team wants to be the hunted, this was a privilege, and another learning curve for the team, one that still has greatness within reach.” 

2020 brought with it a host of challenges for everyone. For the Swifts it meant defending their title away from home. They were denied the opportunity to run out in front of their own fans as Premiers. Lesser people and athletes would have thrown a tantrum and sunk into self-pity. But not the Swifts. They did what was needed to make the season happen: no ifs, no buts.

In their own colourful and friendly manner, the Swifts made the trip to Queensland to ensure Suncorp Super Netball would be a success in 2020 and, in the process, won the hearts and minds of people in the Sunshine State. Imagine that, Queenslanders barracking for a NSW team! Hard to believe but it happened.

There were some impressive milestones along the way too. Paige Hadley joined the likes of Liz Ellis, Cath Cox, Kim Green and Susan Pettitt as a Swifts centurion, and marked the occasion with an MVP performance against the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Sam Wallace, the lynchpin of the team in attack brought up her half century, while close friend Helen Housby did likewise in the Finals Series.

Lauren Moore arrived at the level the Swifts have always known her to be capable of, while two NSW juniors in Nicole Styles and Kelly Singleton made their debut for the team every young netballer in the state dreams of playing for.

The club, despite the global pandemic, also exceeded its greatest-ever number of members with over 3,500 fans signing up. Some even pledged their 2020 membership fees to the club when the option to play at home was taken away.

The Swifts have existed for almost two and a half decades, but have never knew a season quite like what 2020 threw up. As the most successful side in the history of elite club netball in Australia, all that’s ever asked of players and staff alike is for them to give their all to ensure the legacy of the club in strengthened year in, year out.

As reigning Premiers in 2020 the Swifts won with humility, competed with tenacity, lost with grace and did it all with the infectious team spirit that’s become their hallmark.

2020 FINAL PLACINGS

Champions: Melbourne Vixens
Runners-Up: West Coast Fever
3. Sunshine Coast Lightning
4. NSW Swifts
5. Queensland Firebirds
6. Giants Netball
7. Adelaide Thunderbirds
8. Collingwood Magpies

2020 ROSTER:

Sophie Craig, Sophie Garbin, Paige Hadley (Vice-Captain), Natalie Haythornthwaite, Helen Housby, Sarah Klau, Lauren Moore, Maddy Proud (Captain), Maddy Turner, Sam Wallace. Extended Squad Members for Super Netball Hub: Tayla Fraser, Leilani Rohweder, Kelly Singleton, Nicole Styles

TRAINING PARTNERS:

Elle Bennetts, Olivia Coleman, Tayla Fraser, Kelly Singleton

COACHING STAFF

Head Coach: Briony Akle
Assistant Coach: Anita Keelan
Team Manager: Dani Mace
Physiotherapists: Steve Naylor & Kylie Baldwin
Strength & Conditioning: Lukas Cannan & Johann Ruys
Performance Analyst: Bjorn Maddern
Team Doctor: Dr Katherine Rae
Sports Psychologist: Karen Haddad

ADMINISTRATION STAFF

Executive General Manager: Nikki Horton
Membership Manager: Faizal Mohammed
Senior Events Manger: Sarah Smith
Events Coordinator: Donna Bysouth
Communications Manager: Shane de Barra
Video & Digital Coordinator: Madeline Ibrahim

2020 AWARDS WINNERS

QBE Most Valued Player: Sarah Klau
Members’ Player of the Year: Paige Hadley
Coaches Player of the Year: Paige Hadley & Sam Wallace
Players’ Player of the Year: Sophie Garbin
Club Person of the Year: Bjorn Maddern
Marj Groves AM Scholarship: Leilani Rohweder

FIXTURES & REULTS

Minor Semi Final: West Coast Fever 67 NSW Swifts 62