Swifts’ Paige Hadley busts eye open in pre-season #TeamGirls Cup

Super Netball’s pre-season Cup left Paige Hadley bloodied and bruised, but it was an important hit out for the Swifts as they hunt top four in 2019.

Paige Hadley of the Swifts. Pic: AAP

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There is literally blood on the floor as Super Netball teams battle for early ascendancy in the 2019 season.

Last weekend’s pre-season tournament was not even a day old when NSW Swifts midcourter Paige Hadley added a splash of her own crimson to her red dress.

A head clash when going in to take an intercept in the side’s first-up 47-33 win over cross-town rivals the Giants left her with a split eye and four stitches.

Giants player Jamie-Lee Price also needed stitches during the weekend, hers inside her upper lip.

Neither player was slowed down by their injury. Hadley had a quick stitch-up and clearance for concussion and was back on court for the Saturday matches.

The Swifts Paige Hadley showed the tough side of netball on the weekend when she shrugged off her head being split open to take the court again. Picture: Netball Australia

“I think it was the most talked about one to say the least. The photo on Instagram, everyone was talking about and showing and I know the whole weekend I had people coming up to me and trying to look at my eye,” Hadley said, referencing the Swifts’ Instagram post that has had nearly 5,000 likes, making it their most liked photo ever.

“It was four stitches I had straight away in my eye, literally when the girls were still playing the game, underneath the stadium. I was back out playing the next day.”

It is the first time since Super Netball began that a pre-season competition has been played.

The Swifts finished the #TeamGirls Cup in fifth place but were in the tougher pool and managed three wins and one loss overall.

The team was pleased with the results, but more importantly they have learnt where they need to improve before their season proper starts against Giants on Sunday, April 28.

Paige Hadley in action for the Swifts. Picture: AAP Image/George Salpigtidis)

“I know we have a lot of work to do and we take a lot away from the weekend, especially that Collingwood game, they came out and showed how to use the ball with absolutely speed and their defence is on point,” said Hadley, who was called into the Diamonds training camp after her performances at the weekend.

“That was a big test for us. I think we took a lot of learnings. I’m really excited to see what this team can do.

“For us, the goal is to make the top four and from there it’s anyone’s game. You have to be in the top four to contest that title.”

This year is one of their best chances to do so, having again made minimal changes to their squad.

There will be no excuses.

“That top four for us is a must,” Hadley said.

“We don’t want to be sitting in sixth like the last two years going ‘we’ve improved’ but everyone else has improved as well.

“For us it’s about making the top four and really challenging that title at the end of the season.”