Bianca Chatfield on what’s gone wrong with the Swifts ahead of their Super Netball prelim against the Melbourne Vixens

From big-name recruits and runaway premiership favourites at the start of the year to a crushing semi-final defeat, things have turned very ugly for the Swifts. But how can they fix it?

The story of the NSW Swifts’ 2025 season reads like a classic sporting drama. Soaring highs, crushing lows, and ultimately, humbling lessons that may well shape their championship destiny.

When the Swifts entered 2025, they were applauded by many, including myself, around their strategic and savvy recruitment – even over and above the obvious signing of superstar shooter Grace Nweke.

Verity Simmonds and Sharni Lambden were two key players that started the season in red-hot form, alongside many of their seasoned campaigners.

Before they knew it, they had eight straight victories and were sitting pretty at the top of the ladder, two wins clear, – and we were all wondering not if they’d make the grand final, but who could possibly stop them.

Since that point of the season though It’s been a slow capitulation from the team in red with all the heavy lifting early on in the season meaning that the results that haven’t gone their way perhaps didn’t hurt as much.

Helen Housby reacts during the Swifts heavy semi-final defeat to the Fever. Picture: Getty

It would be a heavy exercise to trawl the stats and highlight where all the deficiencies lie for this side.

And to be honest, other than a heavy penalty count and turnover rate, they are producing some similar numbers from the first half of the season (semi-final aside).

But something stats can’t show, and won’t show, is simply how things feel out on court. Connection with each other and confidence within those connections.

From the outside great teams make it look easy – West Coast Fever sure did on the weekend. And when it’s not there it makes some of the best players in the world look mechanical.

Connection is the spiritual team stuff, for lack of a better word. It’s hard to explain but let me have a go. It is the moment when your eyes meet your teammate’s across the court and an entire play unfolds without a word being spoken.

The intuitive knowledge that if you drive hard left, your teammate will instinctively create the space you need on the right. That deep, gut confidence that allows you to take risks because you know that someone has anticipated your next move and positioned themselves to support it.

New South Wales Swifts head coach Briony Akle talks to her players during a timeout. Picture: Getty

When a defender leaves their player for a split second to attempt an intercept, knowing their teammate will somehow cover their back and the next ball.

It’s ultimately what all the training hours on court endeavour to unearth within a side. It’s often what takes a lot of time to develop, yet when it clicks, it’s magic to watch.

Perhaps even the Swifts were pleasantly surprised by how well it clicked from the first whistle this season. They appeared to have already found the calmness amongst the chaos of the first few rounds.

We applauded this side for their use of their bench as well, how the rotations through their 11th player Grace Whyte had been smart and seemed quite strategic, having the options of Paige Hadley, Allie Smith, Lambden and Simmonds appeared to be quite the luxury.

Yet, here we are 14 rounds and one final later, and you can’t help but think – at what stage do multiple rotations and changes to your list each week become costly?

Two big factors above and beyond connection are the injuries to Hadley and Teigan O’Shannassy.

The NSW Swifts have missed captain Paige Hadley while she has been out injured. Picture: Getty

Hadley makes a significant difference to everyone around her; the leader out on court; the one who appears to seamlessly connect the dots for everyone else. I feel they will be a different side with her back, perhaps not a 32-point better side.

O’Shannassy has also been a huge permanent loss. Defensively this rotation was one that had instant impact and gave this side the ability to disrupt momentum with extra height and intercept power.

Helen Housby has copped some criticism in recent weeks. As one of the league’s best goal attacks, she hasn’t been hitting her usual shooting stats and seems to be trying to do almost too much, more than just her position.

It can’t be easy for her with the constant changes working with different midcourters and always having to reset her timing pending who is playing around her. Yes she is experienced, but seems to be shouldering more of a load than she should without Hadley.

The constant changes of the list each week with a significant midcourter being put to the secondary bench has to be a factor for those involved.

English international Helen Housby in action for the Swifts. Picture: Getty

Perhaps it subconsciously lives rent free in their minds as they are out on court – unsure if to take the risky pass into Nweke or play it safe in case they play themselves out of the side.

Yes it’s elite sport, and some would say they need to be able to cope with that mental pressure. I’d beg to differ. It’s not how many teams have used their 11th player position.

And I’m also aware, you just never really know what goes on behind closed doors and perhaps there are more injury concerns than we are aware of, or training performances that have counted for more than what we have seen on the Super Netball court.

Much of the spotlight has fallen on Nweke and how she is being fed the ball, which again comes down to who has the best connection with her, who can see where she wants the ball and where the defender is all in the matter of a second.

The physicality of Super Netball defenders has rattled her at times, a clear strategy to get her emotions overflowing. Something that I’m sure has surprised no one.

Grace Nweke’s form has dipped after a hot start. Picture: Getty

Whatever tensions have been simmering beneath the surface at the Swifts may have finally boiled over in recent weeks, but the chemistry they showcased in the first half of the season can’t have vanished entirely.

The thing about connection is that it can ignite in an instant.

If everyone is reading from the same script with the confidence in the connections they have, and the belief in the blueprint then the chance for success is still there, waiting to be rediscovered – perhaps when it matters the most.

Preliminary finals are arguably the hardest game of any season – the pressure of sudden-death elimination combined with the prize of a grand final berth.

The team that wins on Sunday will be the one with the strongest connection and confidence in each other. The one that can handle all the moments, not just the final one the best.

And the team that exemplifies that connection and confidence in spades – West Coast Fever are already sitting pretty in the grand final, waiting to see who will join them.

Originally published as Bianca Chatfield on what’s gone wrong with the Swifts ahead of their Super Netball prelim against the Melbourne Vixens