The NSW Swifts are delighted to announce that Newcastle native Dakota Thomas has signed on as a Training Partner for the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season.
A New South Wales underage representative, and QBE Swifts Academy graduate, the talented defender was a Training Partner in 2022 and included in the Swifts’ Game Day Squad for the Round 14 win over the Queensland Firebirds, although she did not take the court.
She was a standout performer in the QBE Swifts Academy’s Australian Netball Championships campaign and NSW Swifts Head Coach Briony Akle said having Thomas back in 2023 was very important to her wider group.
“Dakota is one of the best defensive talents in NSW and demonstrated that in our setup last year,” she said.
“She was very close to taking the court and getting a Swifts number of her own, and learning from Sarah Klau, Maddy Turner and Teigan O’Shannassy again in 2023 will bring her closer to that dream.
“As we have seen, especially in the Swifts since 2019, Training Partners can be called into the main Swifts squad at any time so they need to be up to speed and capable of doing a job for us.
“Dakota is definitely an athlete who we feel can do this, and she’s got a proven work ethic which we really like.”
Thomas said he was very excited about the opportunity to be part of the wider senior Swifts setup in 2023.
“I loved every minute of my time as a Training Partner this year and feel like I am now able to take my game to the next level.
“Getting to play with the likes of Maddy, Sarah and Teigs is a brilliant opportunity, but also having to defend the likes of Helen Housby, Romelda and Fawnsy shows you what it takes to make it to Super Netball and I am very grateful for the opportunity.
“I am looking forward to a big 2023, and can’t wait to get started.”
