The NSW Swifts will open the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season when they travel to Melbourne to face the Collingwood Magpies on Saturday 18 March.
The first of back-to-back away clashes for the seven-time Premiers, who face the Thunderbirds in Adelaide one week later, the Swifts’ first home game of the year will be a blockbuster Round 3 clash with long-time rivals the Queensland Firebirds at Ken Rosewall Arena (KRA) on Saturday 1 April.
In a mouthwatering tie, which will see former Swifts champion Bec Bulley return to Sydney as Firebirds coach, 2023 Swifts Members will be treated to one of game’s biggest rivalries for their first netty fix of the year.
One week later, in Round 4, it gets even bigger with the reigning champions rolling into to town on Easter Monday (10 April). It will be a huge game for Briony Akle’s troops against the team that took their crown in 2021.
The Swifts hit the road to Queensland in Round 5 to do battle with the Sunshine Coast Lightning before returning to Sydney to face the Melbourne Vixens for Game 1 of the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup in Round 6 (Saturday 22 April).
The team will remain in Sydney for Round 7, but it will be an away game for the Swifts with next-door rivals Giants Netball hosting the first local Derby of the year under the Saturday night lights of KRA on April 29.
The Lightning are the next visitors to KRA when they travel from the Sunny Coast to face the Swifts in Round 8 (Sunday 7 May) with NSW facing a quick turnaround for the trip west to play the Fever in Round 9 (Saturday 13 May).
The Magpies land in Sydney for Round 10 on Sunday 21 May with Game 2 of the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup headlining Round 11 in Melbourne the following weekend.
The Swifts host the Giants in the second local Derby of the year at KRA on Sunday 4 June, a Round 12 clash which also doubles as the Club’s First Nations Round celebration.
In Round 13 the Swifts make the trip to Brisbane for the return clash with the Firebirds before they finish off the regular season at home against the Thunderbirds on Saturday 17 June.
The Finals Series gets underway with the Major Semi-Final on Saturday 24 June with the Grand Final to take place on Saturday 8 July.
NSW Swifts Executive General Manager Kath Tetley said it was a great draw for the team, as well as Members and Fans alike.
“We are delighted to have our home games balanced across the season, which is fantastic for the team, our players, our Members and fans alike,” she said.
“What’s great about playing our first home game in Round 3 is that we have the opportunity to build momentum before hitting the court for the first time in Sydney. Make no mistake, they are very tough away trips, but it’s nice to have the chance to create some flow before stepping out at home in front of our huge Swifts home crowds.
“Our Round 3 Firebirds game will be a cracker to kick off what we hope will be a really good home campaign for us.
“We will have our First Nations Derby against our cross-town rivals the Giants in Round 12, on Sunday 4 June – so save the date now and secure your Membership if you haven’t already!
“Plus, we will have the chance to finish the regular season at home in Round 14 which will be pretty special.”
2023 NSW Swifts Fixture
- Round 1: Magpies v Swifts (Sat 18 March, 5pm AEDT, John Cain Arena)
- Round 2: Thunderbirds v Swifts (Sat 25 March, 7pm AEDT, Netball SA Stadium)
- Round 3: Swifts v Firebirds (Sat 1 April, 5pm AEST, Ken Rosewall Arena)
- Round 4: Swifts v Fever (Mon 10 April, 1pm AEST, Ken Rosewall Arena)
- Round 5: Lightning v Swifts (Sun 16 April, 4pm AEST, UniSC Stadium)
- Round 6: Swifts v Vixens (Sat 22 April, 7pm AEST, Ken Rosewall Arena)
- Round 7: Giants v Swifts (Sat 29 April, 7pm AEST, Ken Rosewall Arena)
- Round 8: Swifts v Lightning (Sun 7 May, 4pm AEST, Ken Rosewall Arena)
- Round 9: Fever v Swifts (Sat 13 May, 7pm AEST, RAC Arena)
- Round 10: Swifts v Magpies (Sun 21 May, 2pm AEST, Ken Rosewall Arena)
- Round 11: Vixens v Swifts (Sun 28 May, 2pm AEST, John Cain Arena)
- Round 12: Swifts v Giants (Sun 4 June, 2pm AEST, Ken Rosewall Arena)
- Round 13: Firebirds v Swifts (Sun 11 June, 4pm AEST, Nissan Arena)
- Round 14: Swifts v Thunderbirds (Sat 17 June, 5pm AEST, Ken Rosewall Arena)
2023 Finals Series
- Major Semi Final (Sat 24 June, 7pm)
- Minor Semi Final (Sun 25 June, 4pm)
- Preliminary Final (Sat 1 July, 7pm)
- Grand Final (Sat 8 July, 7pm)
