Nothing was going to stop the NSW Swifts from booking their spot in the 2021 Super Netball Grand Final.
They’ve already survived four state relocations, numerous quarantines and months on the road – with five children in tow.
On Saturday, Briony Akle’s Swifts stepped up to edge the gritty Giants 62-61 in an epic Super Netball semi final showdown in Brisbane.
Everything came down to the dying minute.
Separated by just one point with seconds to go, the Swifts attempted to hold possession and chew the clock down.
But Giants midcourter Maddie Hay (2 intercepts, 1 deflection) came up with a blinding intercept that almost gave her side a chance to shoot before the final whistle.
In the end, Swifts goal Keeper Sarah Klau (3 intercepts, 7 deflections) responded with her own brilliant game-saving intercept to secure the victory and her team’s place in the grand final.
“(For Klau) to come up with that winning intercept at the end, it showed guts. She has a lot courage, it certainly won that game for us” Akle said.
It was a tough loss for Julie Fitzgerald’s Giants, but they’ll get another chance next week.
Young shooter Sophie Dwyer was clinical under pressure and sunk clutch Super Shots to get her side back in the game.
Four other Giants – Hay, Amy Parmenter, Tilly McDonell and Matisse Letherbarrow – also got their first taste of finals.
There’s little doubt that the Giants will be back better and ready to go next weekend.
Wallace unstoppable
Swifts’ goal shooter Wallace was fearless under the post.
The Trinidad and Tabago star was awarded Player of the Match after shooting at an incredible 98 per cent goal accuracy (45 from 48).
What made Wallace’s performance even more courageous was that she was dealing with the recent passing of her Aunt.
The shooter’s father passed away just two days before the Swifts won the Super Netball Championship back in 2019.
“It’s not only for my Aunt who just passed away two days ago, it’s also for my father. To have the support from the girls is just awesome” Wallace said.
“It’s definitely sweeter (beating cross-town rivals the Giants), I can’t thank the girls enough for all the effort they put into training prior to this game. Giants are a top side, they’re physical as well. We just went out and stuck to our game plan.”
Finish it Swifts
The Swifts have no problems starting strong, but they’ve struggled to win final quarters in 2021.
Of the 14 rounds of the regular season, Akle’s side have lost their fourth quarters in an alarming nine matches.
While the Swifts ended up winning six of those nine matches, if they want to lift the Super Netball trophy in two weeks time, they’ll have to work on their finishes.
The Giants demonstrated this on Saturday, winning the third quarter (20-15) and drawing with their opponents in the fourth (13-13).
NSW shines bright
Australian Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich selected a combined total of eight Swifts and Giants for her Constellation Cup squad last week. The seven who played on Saturday gave fans plenty to get excited about. Maddy Proud and Jamie-Lee Price had an epic battle at centre – their physicality, strength and effort-rate will no doubt come in handy against New Zealand’s micourt in October.
Giants’ date with Fever
The Giants might be wounded, but they’re still alive.
After suffering a heartbreaking one-point loss to the NSW Swifts in their Super Netball major semi final, Julie Fitzgerald’s side has one last chance to book its spot in the big dance.
On Saturday, the Giants will take on powerhouse West Coast Fever in the elimination preliminary final – the winner of which, will play the NSW Swifts in the Grand Final.
Fitzgerald is adamant that her minor premiers will bounce back.
“Obviously bitterly disappointed to go down by one goal and give up that spot in the grand final but we’re still alive and we’re grateful that we have that second chance,” Fitzgerald said.
“It might be an advantage for us to back up again next week, We are young and developing … I don’t think it’ll hurt us to have another match in the middle, rather than having two weeks off.”
The Giants have faced plenty of adversity this season – from losing their starting shooter Kiera Austin (ACL) in Round 1 and four relocations, to getting stuck in the middle of WA’s strict border rules.
Fitzgerald lauded her youngsters – four of whom are playing Super Netball finals for the first time – for continuing to step up.
“It’s obvious we’re resilient, we’ve had a lot thrown at us and we’ve overcome it. I’m so proud of the development of the youth in this team,” Fitzgerald said.
“We’re quite a new combination that’s come together, we’ve got a few years to build on that, our senior players have led them beautifully.”
Fever will head into the sudden death clash on a high after outmuscling the Sunshine Coast Lightning 75-67 in the minor semi final.
But the Giants will be confident, given they beat the West Australian side just two weeks ago.
Shooter Sophie Dwyer and midcourter Maddie Hay made significant impact against the Swifts – inspiring a second half comeback that almost saw the Giants pip their cross-town rivals.
“(Dwyer) is that calm head, for a 19-year-old, the development we’ve seen from her across the season that will be invaluable experience for her,” Fitzgerald said.
“Once (Hay) did get into the game, she made the impact we needed. She gave us the intercept to almost give us an opportunity to win it.”
NSW Swifts coach Briony Akle welcomed the week off to prepare for next fortnight’s grand final.
“Knowing that we’re straight through to the grand final, it’s now about us as a performance team managing what that week looks like. It’s a relief to be able to say we’re in the grand final and now we can focus on working hard and whoever our opposition is, we’ll be prepared” Akle said.
“It was a gutsy win, we set it up in that first half, obviously the Giants came back at us. To be able to finish it off, even though it was only one point, I’m really proud of the girls. It was always going to be a tough, physical game, and come down to the wire.”
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