The NSW Swifts are aiming for their third Super Netball crown – but they’ll face a determined Adelaide Thunderbirds outfit in Saturday’s sold out grand final.
The Thunderbirds were the first side through to the decider off the back of their thrilling extra time semi final win over the Swifts last month.
But they head into Saturday’s clash with their superstar Shamera Sterling under an injury cloud, after the defender went down clutching her ankle at training on Tuesday.
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QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
Thunderbirds captain Hannah Petty got the nod to start in the grand final ahead of young Tayla Williams and took the first centre pass.
Swift Maddy Turner had two quick deflections but it was the England international Eleanor Cardwell who sunk the first goal in the decider.
“She’s worth every single penny,” commentator Catherine Cox said.
In front of fans including the Melbourne Vixens players in the stands, the two sides traded goals in the opening five minutes.
And then Thunderbirds superstar Shamera Sterling got involved and had two quick gains to ensure the Thunderbirds hit an 11-6 lead.
“She’s awake early!” commentator Sue Gaudion said.
“A little bit of a shoulder to put the exclamation mark on it,” Cox added.
Swifts coach Briony Akle was forced into the first change, dragging Helen Housby after nine minutes for young gun Sophie Fawns.
And it was Turner who got the first intercept of the match for the Swifts – but they couldn’t convert as the Thunderbirds locked down the midcourt, leaving the Swifts with nowhere to go.
Fawns attempted her first super shot but couldn’t convert, leaving Tippah Dwan to open up a seven-goal advantage down the other end.
But with Housby returning to the court, she nailed her first two super shots to close her side within two.
“Within the blink of an eye!” Gaudion praised.
At quarter time, it was Adelaide leading 16-12.
Thunderbird Latanya Wilson pulled in a miracle, one-handed intercept on the circle’s edge to start the second term as her side opened up a seven-goal advantage.
“It’s the Swifts under enormous pressure,” Gaudion said.
“They are toying with the NSW Swifts now… Georgie Horjus with a ball on a string!” Cox added.
Lili Gorman-Brown was brought on for the Swifts at WA as Paige Hadley switched into centre and Maddy Proud left the court.
A timely tip from Tayla Fraser ensured the Swifts won back possession – but again they couldn’t convert their gain with Cardwell left all alone under the post.
Tayla Williams was injected into the Adelaide midcourt to add some fresh legs as the margin remained at seven before the Swifts’ time out was called.
Akle switched up her back end, with Teigan O’Shannassy brought on at keeper, Klau pushed out to GD and Turner into WD.
“They look much hungrier than you in attack,” Akle told her team in a flat huddle.
And it was the Thunderbirds who opened up a nine-goal buffer before Housby could land her third super shot.
Fawns and Housby dropped back to back super shots to bring the crowd to life and narrow the margin to five.
But what the Swifts could do at one end, Cardwell matched at the other. A late tip from Wilson led to another Thunderbirds gain, as they headed into the main break leading 35-27.
Cardwell had 19/19 and 2/3 in super shot range while Tippah Dwan landed 10/11 and Lucy Austin 2/2 late in the second term.
For the Swifts, Housby had 5/5 and a whopping five super shots to the main break, Romelda Aiken-George was 9/9 and Sophie Fawns 1/1 plus 1/3 in super shot range.
STARTING LINE UPS
NSW SWIFTS
GS Romelda Aiken-George
GA Helen Housby
WA Paige Hadley
C Maddy Proud
WD Tayla Fraser
GD Maddy Turner
GK Sarah Klau
ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS
GS Eleanor Cardwell
GA Tippah Dwan
WA Georgie Horjus
C Hannah Petty
WD Latanya Wilson
GD Matilda Garrett
GK Shamera Sterling
SWIFTS BELIEVE ‘THIRD TIME’S A CHARM’ IN DECIDER
Australian netball great Liz Ellis predicted a “blowout” Swifts win when speaking to Fox Netball pre-game.
“I think they’ll win by eight or 10 – it’ll be a bit of a blowout,” she said.
Ellis was full of praise for Swifts’ defender Sarah Klau and the entire “versatile” backline taking on the Thunderbirds.
“What I like about Sarah is she’s proven she’s there in the clutch moments – when the game is there to be won,” she said.
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“I think she gets really good protection from Maddy Turner in front of her.
“I think the Swifts have got a really versatile defence end and they’re going to need it.”
For the Swifts, there is plenty of confidence within the squad that they can secure a third Super Netball title, after wins in 2019 and 2021.
Captain Maddy Proud said despite losing their last two matches to Adelaide – including that semi final, she believed her side learnt their lessons.
“The games that we’ve played against each other, even in the past few years, I think have always been so exciting. I think we match up really well against each other all the way down the court,” Proud said.
“I think that every game has been up and down, and has always been fought to the death … We think third time’s a charm for the Swifts.”
It’s worth remembering 11 of the Swifts’ 16 matches this season have been decided by five goals or less – including four matches by a single goal.
Swifts eye third title in five years | 02:07
Saturday night’s decider will be broadcast live on Fox Netball (Channel 505) and free on Kayo Sports.
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