Maddy proud to lead NSW Swifts into new Super Netball era as captain

Six years after she captained Australia to a silver at the world youth championships Maddy Proud has been given a shot at leading a team all the way to the top of Super Netball in 2019.

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Six years after she captained Australia to a silver at the world youth netball championships Maddy Proud has been given a shot at leading a team all the way to the top of Super Netball.

The published author and Masters student has replaced rehabilitating stalwart Abbey McCulloch as captain of a NSW Swifts outfit with the talent and drive to win the most elite annual netball competition in the world.

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And Proud, who admits she is usually the funster of the team, has vowed not to shy away from making the tough decisions if and when required as the club strives for a place in its first Super Netball finals series and ultimately the competition title.

Maddy Turner and Maddy Proud, with Paige Hadley, will lead the swifts this season.

“I am often the person who likes things to be smooth sailing and to have a lot of fun but if things are going to crap I need to say it’s going to crap and address it,’’ said Proud, whose Swifts leadership group includes vice-captain Paige Hadley and defender Maddy Turner.

“It won’t all be nice Maddy but I’m hoping mean Maddy won’t come out much.’’

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Proud, who moved from her home in South Australia to join the Swifts three years ago, plans to lead by example and has already set high goals for the club that has yet to make the semi-finals in two previous seasons of Super Netball.

Swift's Maddy Proud will lead by example in Super Netball 2019.

“We are no longer that young, inexperienced team in the competition. We have no excuses any more,’’ she said.

“The majority of us have been together the whole time. We’ve discussed it already. The only thing stopping us this year is ourself.

“We have set the bar high, to win the title.’’

This year Super Netball boasts an extended competition due to a four week break mid-season to accommodate the World Cup in Liverpool in July.

The Swifts open their season with a backbone testing local derby with the Kim Green lead Giants on April 28.

The 17-week season, followed by a final series, will end in mid-September, avoiding a clash with both the NRL and AFL grand finals.

The draw will see the Swifts play their first four games of the season in Sydney.