Super Netball 2024: Not just for bragging rights why the Sydney derby could shape finals

Despite it being just round six of the Super Netball season, both the Giants and Swifts know a win in Sunday’s derby will go a long way to making the finals after a disappointing start to the year.

A derby match, a sellout crowd and a result that could determine whether a team makes the Super Netball finals this season - nothing much on the line in the NSW rivalry round then.

It’s a big call to say a game six rounds into the year could determine the outcome of the season.

But in the case of the NSW Swifts and Giants Netball, their opening month has been so testing, any victory could prove momentous.

Despite having just two wins from five rounds this season, including one in extra-time, the Swifts sit in the top four heading towards the halfway point of the season.

After a tumultuous start to the year, positions five to eight on the ladder are held by teams with just one win, including the Giants, who posted their first victory with a controversial extra-time win over the Lightning last week.

Both Swifts defender Maddy Turner and Giants shooter Sophie Dwyer, who could go head-to-head at times on Sunday, are well aware how crucial the match is for their respective teams.

“I feel like in a 14 round season, you can’t have too many errors so every win is crucial and I fell like every team is very aware of that,” Turner said.

Grand finalists last year and winners of the pre-season Team Girls Cup, the Swifts were among the early competition favourites and have been below their own lofty standards to start the year.

“I feel like we hold ourselves to very high standards and obviously there’s disappointment in (our performances so far),” Turner said.

The Swifts and Giants are playing for the Carole Sykes Trophy. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Even (the games) that we have won, we still know that we could have won by a lot more and we could have been better from the start or in certain patches, it’s all about consistency.

“We can’t let a five minute patch determine a game - again, boring but consistent.

“It’s about going back to what we’re good at: playing that possession game and passing to another person in red; keeping it simple, I don’t think it’s about like over-complicating things.”

Like the Swifts, Dwyer said the Giants did not need to over-complicate things but build on a performance last week that showed they can take their game to any team in the league.

“We definitely want to take that momentum going into the next few rounds to try and kick start our season,” Dwyer said.

Sophie Dwyer get the better of Maddy Turner. Picture: Getty Images

“Half the league is only on one win, so we know that every win is really important and you can jump up that ladder so quickly.

“(The derby) is such an important game for both of us. The Swifts, if they get another win have really cemented themselves in that top four and if we get that win, which is what we’re obviously going for, all of a sudden we’re up in the top four so anything can happen.”

After a winless month to start the season, Dwyer said the Giants had gained plenty of confidence from last week’s victory to take into the derby.

Rivalries aside, there’s one thing both Turner and Dwyer could agree on.

With the match looking as though it would be a sellout heading into the weekend, both were excited at the prospect of playing in front of a crowd of 10,000 and how good it was for the sport.

“I think it’s always one that we are waiting for in anticipation, the derby … there’s so much hype surrounding it and we just can’t wait to get out here in front of a packed Ken Rosewall Arena,” Dwyer said.

“Obviously, there’ll be a lot more Swifts fans, I guess, in the stands this week with it being their home game but I think it’s so good for netball to have a packed (arena).

“We want to embrace the atmosphere and really play in front of a sellout.”

Who wins this weekend? Picture: Getty Images

For all the negatives that have surrounded the sport over the past couple of years, the enthusiasm fans are showing this season for the Super Netball product is thrilling players and both the Swifts and Giants are embracing the mantra of “joy” as they attempt to climb up the premiership ladder.

It was that element that had kept the Giants together through the tough times of the past month. Dwyer said.

“We did have some really good conversations around just really enjoying ourselves when we’re out there, “ Dwyer said.

“We probably hadn’t been playing and enjoying ourselves and actually having fun, which is why we all play netball, I guess, in the first place.”

Turner said the Swifts had the word “joy” written on a whiteboard at training sessions and games to remind them of why they play.

“Joy is a massive part of why we play and remembering that little girl that started out playing netball on those bitumen courts and we’ll be bringing it out there at KRA (Ken Rosewall Arena) this weekend.”