Super Netball 2021: Diamonds Sarah Klau, Maddy Turner, Paige Hadley, Maddy Proud with Swifts
Just four seasons ago they were the least inexperienced team in the competition. But intense loyalty will see the NSW Swifts a formidable force in Super Netball 2021
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Just a week after the 2020 Super Netball season concluded, the NSW Swifts have acted quickly to secure their top talent with their trio of Diamonds and captain already signed for 2021.
In a testament to the clubs culture, all four players have been with Swifts since the inaugural super netball season back in 2017.
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Since then they have won the title in 2019 and this year made the finals.
Key to their success is the fact the bulk of the 2017 team have remained together.
That side finished sixth in the new Super Netball competition and were written off by many pre-season due to their lack of big names.
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But the club has now come full circle with their players some of the best in the game, including the Diamonds defensive duo of Maddy Turner and Sarah Klau.
The pair, who live in Sydney’s inner west, have signed on for 2021 along with Maddy Proud and fellow Diamond Paige Hadley from Penrith.
“I think when they are both fully fit and firing Sarah and Maddy form a formidable defensive combination which is pretty hard to match across the league,” said Swifts coach Briony Akle.
“Both players are exceptionally driven to succeed and I know missing out on back-to-back titles this year will only spur them on.
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“Sarah is one of the best in the world in what is perhaps the toughest position to play when you think of the players she’s up against every week.
“Every year I think she gets better and with a home crowd behind her in 2021 she’ll continue to grow.”
We blew our chance to be in another grand final and we’ll have to live with that for the off-season
Captain Proud, recently selected in the Diamonds squad, and vice-captain Hadley will continue their mid court relationship in 2021.
Hadley is the most experienced Swifts after playing her 100th game for the club in 2020.
“I knew when I joined back in 2017 that getting to play for such a prestigious club was a huge honour and I think as a group we’ve done well but missing out on back-to-back this year means our hunger will only be greater,” she said.
“We didn’t get the chance to run out as Premiers in front of our own fans due to Covid, and that should be a massive motivation for us to win another title. Not only did we miss out but our fans and members did too. What better way to make that right than by trying to secure a title on your own patch.
“We blew our chance to be in another grand final and we’ll have to live with that for the off-season.’’