Super Netball

No matter whether you play at Centre or Wing Attack, Paige Hadley had no issues getting on with the flow for the Swifts including a huge 2nd half effort that was worth that winning comeback feeling.

She’s been a championship winner in all sorts before at all levels while experiencing the lows too like last year and a few years back when it comes to injuries but Paige is a class of her own as always right here at Netball Central.

Joining Paige was also a fellow long-time Swifts stalwart Maddy Turner who had a fine performance in the backline in between spells at her usual Goal Defense and Wing Defense. Another team player to have in this group having got the best out of her all-round capabilities that is going to be crucial when it comes to Finals time.

Gotta trust Briony Akle there as she will want to make sure Maddy Turner is there front and centre so Swifts can go on to win another National League Premiership.

And Jamie Lee Price had a great game as the Giants leading feeds and passing supplier at Centre off the back of a fantastic start & a good overall 1st half.

She does not hesitate every time when making calculated risks so she knows the Giants are working at both ends of the court in tandem. That’s why she’s captaining this side for a reason even though Jamie-Lee has a bit of a long-distance personal relationship at present.

If I was in charge of the Giants, maybe they should’ve finished games better when they were poor in the 2nd half including the 3rd quarter. Also some of the selections should’ve been a bit different right from centre pass rather than keeping the same as is and Giants simply don’t know what to do whilst leading. 

But again, just Swifts and Swifts only that Giants couldn’t come up with in the end.

The final score was Swifts 75-66 Giants at Ken Rosewell Arena with bums on seats already sold out like 7-10 days beforehand although I see some seats not being filled in but oh well, still a fantastic derby nonetheless by two Sydney Netball teams.

Last but not least, I didn’t know Whoopi Goldberg was into Netball even though she’s a famous Hollywood icon, and she also co-hosts the daytime morning talk show on USA’s ABC called The View. 

Not going to dive in on her political views or anything but she has so much passion for women’s sports in general though, who also has the All Women’s Sports Network as one of her business investments. 

The venture began back in November 2024 and fast forward to a few days ago, AWSN just acquired overseas rights to air Super Netball across 65 countries and 900 million households. Also heard another US based sports channel called Unbeaten has just started showing Super Netball content at the same time as well.

Whatever that is, happy for them that is going to be good for the US to get to know the sport of Netball just like Rugby & Cricket. There’s also another person who also previously touched base in the US for some time before moving here is former Silver Fern at Wing Attack Gina Crampton. 

She may not be able to play right now due to pregnancy and was in attendance to cheer on the Giants the other day including Casey Kopua at GK but sure she will be delighted with the news there.

Helen Housby (Goal Attack) is the bomb of all sorts of attack and defensive final third circles alongside Grace Nweke (Goal Shoot) that kept goals for Swifts ticking.

Then here comes Sarah Klau being the staple of that Swifts back two – not bad as starting Goal Keep but even better at Goal Defense that made Teigan O’Shanassy wanted to do more of the grabbing, waving & snatching from there.

Hats off to Briony Akle with her tactical masterclass as Swifts are clear victors in the best of NSW and still unbeaten.

For Giants, not so much especially when their good 30 mins start has unfortunately come into waste off the back of bench changes and even positional changes Julie Fitzgerald made at half-time. 

Not a good look on her players including Maddy Hay at Wing Attack who wished she could’ve stayed on more often to help finish things out in the other 30 with the way she cuts in and out with those feeds.

Without Maddy H, Giants were nowhere near as good as Swifts – The end.

Giants will be back here at Ken Rosewall Arena next Saturday night at 7pm and Swifts even though they were here today as the away team will be away once again to the Sunshine Coast in QLD v the Lightning also next Saturday night 5pm.