Super Netball NSW Swifts guide: fixture, player movement, stars, and goals for 2019

Netball’s team in waiting, a side now with both the talent and experienced to make big waves in the Super Netball competition this year. NSW SWIFTS SEASON GUIDE.

The NSW Swifts are chasing a place in their first finals series of Super Netball in 2019.

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The NSW Swifts are netball’s team in waiting, a side now with both the talent and experienced to make big waves in the Super Netball competition this year.

But the pressure is on this side to perform with the club yet to even make an appearance in a Super Netball finals series.

LOCAL DERBY: Teams to fire up

AUSSIE SKIPPER: Armed and dangerous for Super Netball

FEAR FACTOR: Swifts early season goal

Built from scratch when they entered the first Super Netball competition back in 2017 with the youngest and most inexperienced line-up in the event, the Swifts are now one of the most settled with the majority of players together for the past two seasons.

They are also crowd pleasers with their exciting, often unpredictable style and creativity a hit with fans.

Sophie Garbin of the Swifts and Kate Shimmin of the Thunderbirds contest the ball during the sixth round of competition last year.

BRUISING: Players bracing for rough and tumble

TEAM GUIDE: The Giants

The Swifts failed to live up to their own expectations last season, finishing a disappointing sixth at the end of the preliminary rounds with just six wins and a draw.

But they have worked overtime in the offseason to ensure things are different in 2019.

Their shooting circle is headed by Helen Housby, the woman who broke Australian hearts at the Commonwealth Games with her last minute winning goal for England, exciting Carribean talent Sam Wallace, English star Natalie Haythornthwaite and Australian gun Sophie Garbin.

ROUND ONE: Local derby to kick off comp

SWIFTS: Maddy Proud to be leading side

At the opposite end are the twin towers of Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner, two players who could well be in Diamonds uniforms in the future, and fellow defenders Kate Eddy and Lauren Moore.

New captain Maddy Proud and Diamonds squad member Paige Hadley will rally the midcourt.

This season there are no excuses with the Swifts coached by the respected former player Briony Akle and entering season three of Super Netball bolshie and ready for battle.

Sam Wallace of the Swifts is one of the most exciting shooters in the Super netball competition.

EXPANSION: Plans on ice

GIANTS: Future is bright says Kim Green

TEAM LIST

KATE EDDY, SOPHIE GARBIN, PAIGE HADLEY (VC), NATALIE HAYTHORNTHWAITE, HELEN HOUSBY, SARAH KLAU, LAUREN MOORE, MADDY PROUD (C), MADDY TURNER, SAM WALLACE

TRAINING PARTNERS

TAYLA FRASER, SOPHIE HALPIN, MATISSE LETHERBARROW,

CLAIRE O’BRIEN, KELLY SINGLETON

Kim Ravallion of the Magpies fights for the ball against Maddy Proud who is the new swifts captain this season.

TEAM GUIDE: NSW Swifts

OFF-SEASON MOVEMENT

New faces: Natalie Haythornthwaite (UK), Lauren Moore (former training partner).

Losses: 2017, 2018 captain Abbey McCulloch (injury).

CLUB HISTORY

Last season the team finished sixth.

In 2017 they also finished sixth.

THE LEADERS

Maddy Proud has been elevated to captain in the absence of Abbey McCulloch who lead the Swifts with passion for two seasons before being forced to the sidelines with injury.

Affable and articulate, Proud says she is also tough and will have no issues telling it like it is to her teammates.

The addition of Paige Hadley as vice makes this a formidable leadership group.

Helen Housby (right) passes to Paige Hadley, Housby will be a key figure for the Swifts in their shooting circle.

INTERNATIONAL STARS

A pair of Commonwealth Games gold medallists add edge to the Swifts again this season with shooter Helen Housby joined for season by Natalie Haythornthwaite.

Crowd favourite Sam Wallace adds flair and a little unpredictability to the shooting end for the Swifts.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE

More of young Australian shooter Sophie Garbin. She’s the future of netball in Australia and will need to bring her best to nudge a trio of internationals out of the shooter’s circle for match play.

THE NEWCOMER

Lauren Moore goes from training partner to the playing roster this season.

Tall and athletic this young defender will be out to make a mark.

Kelsey Browne of the Lightning and Kate Eddy of the Swifts. Eddy is expected to make a big mark this season.

NSW SWIFTS SUPER NETBALL 2019 FIXTURE

APR 28: v GIANTS NETBALL, 1pm, Sydney, Qudos Bank Arena

MAY 5: v ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS, 3pm, Sydney, Quaycentre

MAY 12: v WEST COAST FEVER, 1pm, Quaycentre

MAY 18: v SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING, 3pm, Sydney, Quaycentre

MAY 26: v MELBOURNE VIXENS, 1pm, Melbourne, Margaret Court Arena

JUN 2: v MAGPIES NETBALL, 1pm, Sydney, Qudos Bank Arena

JUN 9: v QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS 1pm, Brisbane, QSNC

JUN 16: v GIANTS NETBALL 3pm, Sydney, Qudos Bank Arena

JUN 23: v ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS, 12.30pm, Adelaide, Entertainment Centre

Happy players after the Swifts won their opener of the 2018 season.

JUL 27: v WEST COAST FEVER, 6pm, Perth, RAC Arena

AUG 3: v SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING, 7pm, Sippy Downs, USC Stadium

AUG 10: v MELBOURNE VIXENS. 7pm, Sydney, Quaycentre

AUG 17: v MAGPIES NETBALL, 3pm, Launceston, Silverdome

AUG 24: v QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS, 5pm, Sydney, Qudos Bank Arena