Maddy Proud has enjoyed plenty of glory days with the NSW Swifts but she knows her team’s campaign for more silverware in 2024 will face a serious litmus test in their Round 1 Suncorp Super Netball clash against the Sunshine Coast Lightning on Sunday (4pm AEST).
The Swifts travel to Queensland to face a rejuvenated Lightning side eager to return to Finals after missing out in 2023. Premiers of Super Netball in 2017 and 2018, the Lightning have recruited big in the off-season with Australian Diamonds Liz Watson and Courtney Bruce added to a squad that also includes decorated internationals Steph Fretwell (nee Wood) and Cara Koenen.
Briony Akle’s Swifts have been Premiers twice since the Lightning last lifted the trophy, but Proud knows the Championship DNA of this weekend’s opponents means they are going to be a huge threat in what’s shaping up to be the most competitive season of Super Netball to date.
“This is the ideal way to start because a test against Lightning will really show where you’re at,” she says.
“They’ve done some massive recruitment in the off-season in getting the Diamonds captain and a Diamonds leader so they are going to be a pretty formidable force added their already existing Diamonds line-up in attack.
“We played up there a few months ago in pre-season and it was a really tough hit-out but we used the time since to reflect and look at where the gaps were.”
The Swifts will be chasing Premiership No.8 in 2024 having just missed out on a third title of the Super Netball era in last year’s extra-time Grand Final thriller against the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Having re-signed the core of the playing group which has contested three of the last five Grand Finals (winning Premierships in 2019 and 2021), Proud says the team’s dynasty dream remains the ultimate goal.
While the majority of the Swifts taking the court on Sunday are already double champions of the Club, they are determined to equal the record-breaking era of Liz Ellis, Catherine Cox and Selina Gilsenan.
“When you look at the fact we’ve re-signed about 90% of our list it is a real statement that the Swifts and what we’re about is a place where people want to stay," Proud added.
“The core has been together for seven or eight seasons. We started out as an inexperienced group to being at the forefront of winning titles and playing last year’s Grand Final too.
“What we have here is pretty special but what we’ve done in the past is the past. You can’t look at what you did last year and expect that to work again the next season.
“You can’t step into the river at the same place twice and every year is about being new and exciting and evolving.”
O'SHANNASSY OUT, TEMU IN
In injury news Swifts defender Teigan O’Shannassy has been ruled out of the Round 1 clash with Lightning as she rehabs a hip injury with the coaching team hopeful she will return for the Round 2 game against the Mavericks.
In O’Shannassy’s place, Training Partner and Silver Ferns international Elle Temu will join the Game Day squad this weekend.
Match Details
- What: SSN Round 1 - Lightning v Swifts
- When: 4pm (AEST), Sunday 14 April
- Where: USC Arena, Sippy Downs
- Broadcast: Foxtel & Kayo Freebies
Match Notes
- The teams last met in a competitive game in Round 8 last season when the Swifts defeated the Lightning 67-63 in Sydney.
- In 16 previous competitive meetings the Lightning lead with nine wins and the Swifts seven.
- The Swifts have won the past three meetings between the teams, their best run against the Lightning only having won single matches previously.
- The Swifts and Lightning have met eighth times on the Sunshine Coast and the Lightning hold a 6-2 record over the Swifts, however the Swifts have won the past two meetings.
- The past seven meetings between the Swifts and Lightning have been decided by seven goals or less.
- Helen Housby is just three matches away from playing her 100th match for the Swifts and becoming the 12th Swift centurion since 1997.
