Swifts coach Briony Akle has delivered some harsh truths to her side after they were demolished in the most one-sided final in Super Netball history on Sunday.
The Swifts finished 32-goal losers in a wild major semi-final that never looked like first versus second place at RAC Arena in Perth.
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Akle’s players had no answer for the rampaging Fever who, led by star Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard (66 goals), won every quarter to blow out their record scoreline to 77-45 and book themselves a grand final spot.
Along with biggest winning margin, the Fever now own the record for highest score in a final and highest-scoring quarter in a final (26 goals in the second term).
Despite missing co-captains Maddy Proud (maternity leave) and Paige Hadley (injury) and rising star Teigan O’Shannassy (ruled out for the year), Akle said there were no excuses for the Swifts’ performance.
Swifts star midcourter Allie Smith. Picture: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“We just weren’t good enough,” she said. “We didn’t turn up against them so hats off to them.”
Describing her side’s turnover count (30-15) as “not good enough”, Akle said players needed to be accountable, regardless of experience.
“It is what it is,” she said.
“You can’t shy away from the fact they’ve got to do their job out there as well.
“I don’t take any excuses.
“I feel like players that were out there should have done their job – and didn’t. And hopefully we rectify that moving forward.”
Akle threw everything at the Fever, using all 10 players to try and find the right combination.
But staring down a brutal 46-20 deficit at half time, the match was already effectively over.
It was a first SSN final for the likes of Freddie Schneideman and Grace Whyte, while Kiwi import Grace Nweke was in her first final Down Under.
Swift Sharni Lambden endured a tough match. Picture: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Despite winning three straight titles in New Zealand, that remarkable success didn’t translate on Sunday as Nweke finished with 23 goals at 82%.
“She’s 23 – I think people forget she’s a 23-year-old out there,” Akle said.
“She’s not 33, she’s not 28 – she’s 23 playing in her first season of SSN.
“She wouldn’t be happy with her performance – she wants 50-goals plus but that’s not reality in the world’s best netball sometimes.
“There’s nothing physically wrong with her.
“I think watch out next week because she’ll come back.”
Off the back of the blowout loss, the Swifts will now host the preliminary final against the Melbourne Vixens who claimed knocked out the dual premiers Adelaide earlier on Sunday.
Akle remains confident her side can respond and stay alive in 2025.
“Every team is going to have a game like that somewhere in a career – it’s how you respond, how we get back up and we fight again,” she said.