Super Netball finals: Paige Hadley boost for spluttering Swifts in knockout Vixens showdown

The Swifts were schooled by West Coast Fever in last week’s major semi-final but hope the return of co-captain Paige Hadley to boost their sputtering midcourt will get the Sydney team over the Vixens.

Swifts co-captain Paige Hadley has opened up about the frustration of having to halt one of the most consistent domestic seasons of her career as she prepares to inject new life into a spluttering Swifts midcourt on her return against the Melbourne Vixens.

The Swifts were schooled by West Coast Fever in last week’s major semi-final, missing the distribution game and settling influence of the Diamonds vice-captain.

The 32-year-old is nursing a lower leg injury that kept her out of last week’s grand final qualifier against the Fever in which the Swifts struggled for penetration in the midcourt, lacking crisp delivery to their shooters and a steadying hand under pressure without Hadley there.

Paige Hadley has opened up about the frustration of having to halt one of the most consistent domestic seasons of her career. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Already missing Maddy Proud (maternity leave) this season, the Swifts struggled for depth of rotations without Hadley, who has missed the past two matches and played only a half in the one-goal round 13 loss to the Sunshine Coast.

It’s been tough for the club but also Hadley, who is expected to return for Sunday’s preliminary final showdown against the Vixens.

“The plan is to play, obviously I’ve had some time out to give me every shot to be the best I can be out there in this do or die clash,” Hadley said.

“The last few games it’s been really hard to watch from the sidelines.

“You go through waves of (frustration) but I’ve just been trying to really say this (rest) happens for a reason and you’ve got to (play) the cards that you’ve dealt sometimes.”

It’s unfortunately not a new experience for Hadley, who underwent a knee reconstruction in 2014 and was forced to sit out much of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, including the gold medal match, with a calf injury.

The Swifts were smashed by the Fever in their major semi-final. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

She was then arguably in the form of her career and has had another outstanding season in 2025, consistently among the best midcourters in the competition each round and her inclusion is crucial to the Swifts’ success.

Like longtime teammate Helen Housby, Hadley can see parallels between the 2019 season, in which the Swifts lost their major semi-final heavily before rebounding to win the preliminary final and snare a maiden Super Netball premiership as major underdogs.

“The thing I love about netball is that on any given day, you’ve got to be able to turn up and produce your best,” Hadley said.

“Obviously you can’t get worse than a 32-goal defeat and we’ve got the opportunity to go up against the Vixens who have been in form the last couple of weeks.

“We’ll obviously look to get it done this weekend but we’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season … and we’ve got to be able to find ways to evolve and adapt but it’s do or die, it’s what you train for and I can’t wait to see what we can produce.”

Both teams possess stellar circle attack and defence options choc full of international experience that all but cancels each other out and it’s likely that the game will be won and lost in the midcourt.

Paige Hadley in action for the Diamonds. Picture: George Wood/Getty Images

While Hadley has been out for the Swifts, Diamonds squad member Hannah Mundy is missing for the Vixens but their ability to bring in a player the calibre of Zara Walters to bolster their middle something Hadley acknowledged.

With so much riding on the result, there’s enormous anticipation. But Hadley said the chance for the two legacy clubs to go head-to-head at the pointy end of the season was a boon for the sport.

“Of course there’s nerves but nerves, to me, show that it means something to you,” Hadley said.

“It means that you’re able to play finals netball and to win this whole thing is a tough task but you need to be able to win those critical moments.

“The Swifts and the Vixens have always had an amazing match, we’re very skilled and it doesn’t really get any better than the Melbourne versus Sydney derby to get into that grand final.”

Originally published as Super Netball finals: Paige Hadley boost for spluttering Swifts in knockout Vixens showdown