NETBALL SCOOP: 2025 SSN Preliminary final preview

Cover Image: May Bailey-Ireland/Clusterpix

Writers: Ian Harkin, Jenny Sinclair, Andrew Kennedy

NSW Swifts (2) v Melbourne Vixens (4)

At Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney (2pm AEST)

Head to head this season

Played 2 – Swifts 1, Vixens 1

Round 5: Swifts 59 def Vixens 51 (Ken Rosewall Arena)

Shooting – Swifts 56/63 (89%), Vixens 48/62 (79%)

Super shots – Swifts 3/7 (43%), Vixens 3/8 (38%)

Gains – Swifts 14, Vixens 12

General play turnovers – Swifts 23, Vixens 23

Round 10: Vixens 70 def Swifts 68 (John Cain Arena)

Shooting – Vixens 67/72 (93%), Swifts 56/64 (88%)

Super shots – Vixens 3/4 (75%), Swifts 12/16 (75%)

Gains – Vixens 11, Swifts 4

General play turnovers – Vixens 12, Swifts 16

These two teams couldn’t be coming in with much more different form lines. Swifts started the season in incredible fashion, winning eight straight matches. Since then, they’ve won just two of their past seven, and have only won three quarters in their last four games.

Vixens, on the other hand, won just two of their first six, but have won seven of their last nine. All of their last four wins have been by margins lower than three points.

Vixens will be riding a wave of confidence after defeating the two-time defending champions Thunderbirds, in Adelaide. Meanwhile, Swifts have to regroup after suffering their biggest ever defeat in Perth. But this is a new contest, and Swifts will be hoping to replicate the Vixens’ accomplishment of last season. In the 2024 major semi final, the Vixens suffered a 25-goal thrashing at the hands of the Thunderbirds, only to record a great win the following week against Fever to book a place in the grand final.

This year, it is the Swifts looking to rebound, and there’s no doubt they are highly capable of doing that. But so much depends on Paige Hadley. Her absence was very noticeable in the major semi final, and hopefully she will be back for this must-win clash at home. They need the steady hand and leadership that Hadley provides, as last week, the midcourt struggled without her.

For Vixens, it’s a case of trying to repeat their winning performance of last week. They played as a team, shut out the crowd, and handled the pressure incredibly well. Can they win another big knockout game away from home?

It’s also fascinating looking at the overall track record of what happens in Suncorp Super Netball preliminary finals. The last three have all been decided by a solitary point, remarkably with the Vixens taking out two of those wins, and the Swifts one of them. So both sides, generally speaking, know how to win a close final. However, working in the Swifts’ favour, is that the last away team to win a preliminary final was way back in 2018.

Swifts will be hoping their brilliant captain, Paige Hadley, will be fit for the match. Image: Aliesha Vicars

Strengths of the Swifts

While there’s no doubt their recent form has been disappointing, Swifts find themselves in the final three because of their amazing early season performances. They won their first eight games by utilising their greatest assets; notably the dominance of Grace Nweke under the post, and the ability of the experienced duo of Paige Hadley and Helen Housby to capitalise on that strength. In recent weeks, the team has struggled to replicate that winning formula, but it’s still the Swifts’ best chance at victory. However, they will need to improve their accuracy at the post. Across the first eight rounds they shot at 91.2%, and since that time have dropped down to an average of 81.9%, almost 10% lower.

The possible return of Hadley is a huge bonus. She had been one of the most consistent performers in the competition this year, until forced to the sidelines with injury. If she and Housby can impose themselves on the game early, Swifts have a good chance to get on top, especially with a big crowd behind them. Housby is the leading super shot exponent in the competition, but she can’t wait for the final five minutes of each quarter to take control. If she asserts herself from the start, it lifts the whole team.

Also key for Swifts is their ability to safely transition a centre pass to goal. They sit 2nd in the league for converting 76.8% of their centre passes, compared to the Vixens who are 5th at 71.5%. While an additional 5% may not sound like much, if some of it happens in the supershot period, the results can be devastating to the opposition.

Sarah Klau is a vital player for Swifts’ chances. She had an enormous game in the round five clash, in one of the standout performances of the season. Klau was simply everywhere in the defensive third, getting hand to ball repeatedly. She finished with nine gains, including five intercepts, as well as 13 deflections, two rebounds, and three pickups. Anything like those numbers in this game and she is likely to be on the winning team once again.

Maddy Turner will have a massive job on her hands trying to keep Kiera Austin under wraps, and this battle will go a long way to determining the outcome of the game. Turner is known for her tight marking and ability to run with her player, and does a power of work in transition into attack. And with Sophie Garbin being far shorter than Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Turner can focus on shadowing her direct opponent rather than doubling back to the post to support Klau.

Grace Nweke’s has the elevation to make her almost unstoppable under the post. Image: May Bailey | Clusterpix

Challenges for the Swifts

Swifts will have had limited time to regroup after last weekend’s devastating 32 point loss against the Fever, and there’s a number of areas they need to address.

The first is their high turnover rate. While they generally sit a tidy 3rd in the league for the least number, they gave away a hefty 30 against the Fever, with Sharni Lambden, Grace Nweke, Sophie Fawns and Grace Whyte particularly expensive. Key to reducing this error rate is that time old cliche of treasuring possession, while if Hadley should be available she is always a safe pair of hands.

For the previous eight seasons of Super Netball, Maddy Proud was alongside Hadley in the midcourt. This season, Verity Simmons, Grace Whyte, and Allie Smith have all taken turns at that role. While all have had success at times, they haven’t quite nailed it down – the momentum needed across the transverse line isn’t quite there, and teams like the Fever and Vixens are experts at blocking up attacking flow. Wins early in the season covered over the problems in the midcourt, but cracks have shown particularly in Hadley’s recent absence.

Despite the input of assistant coach Dylan Nexhip, the defensive end has had some issues all season. They have the least effective record in the league for creating gains, and it’s at the cost of being the second most penalised side of all. For rounds one to eight, Swifts averaged 10.5 gains per match, but in the past seven matches, it is only 7 gains a game. The loss of Tegan O’Shannassy to a season-ending back injury is huge. Tough on defence, capable of flying outside the circle for ball, she also offered a significant change up if needed. Her replacement Freddie Schneiderman is still capable, but lacks big game experience.

It has also been noticeable in Swifts’ form slump that teams are finding it easier to score against them. In the first eight rounds, Swifts’ opponents scored 59.6 per game, but that has increased dramatically to 71.9 since then. While Sharni Lambden has had a strong inaugural season, she and her fellow midcourters will need to provide greater defensive support outside the circle, while limiting their penalties.

There’s also a need for Helen Housby to find some form in a hurry. She started the season with a bang, but in recent weeks has become more of a third feeder, leaving Nweke to absorb the pressure of being double defended during the one point game. While Housby is lethal from two point range, she’s been heavily and increasingly marked during the supershot period, and has struggled to get free. In a strong tactical move earlier in the year, Nweke was quite effective sitting in the two point zone, picking up a penalty and letting Housby shoot it out. If the duo can pull off a similar feat in the preliminary final, Housby may be able to close out the game. And given that the Vixens defenders are so heavily penalised, you wouldn’t bet against it, as long as Nweke stands tall and avoids giving away offensive penalties herself.

Against other top sides, Swifts have struggled to surge in the final minutes and close out tight matches. They recently lost by 1 to Lightning, 2 to Vixens, and 4 to Mavericks, and scraped through in extra time against the lowly Firebirds. Finals require the ability to step up to a new gear and dominate, and they are still working through their supershot tactics. Sophie Fawns has had limited minutes to build combinations and confidence in 2025, so her substitution during close matches could be a bit of a wildcard.

And lastly, the Swifts have lost five of their seven most recent games, so the battle will be in their minds as much as out on court. Earlier in the season, the team had great belief, which allowed them to win from tough positions, but that belief seems to have faded. However, with capable leaders, inspirational coaches and a tightly knit playing group, they have every chance of rediscovering it.

Helen Housby can be one of the greatest weapons in netball, especially if she finds her rhythm early. Image: Aliesha Vicars

Strengths of Vixens

Vixens’ strength was on full display in the major semi final. It is their attack line and in particular the shooting combination of Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin. When they are fed well by the midcourt and they play disciplined, composed netball, not allowing the opposition defenders to get into the game, they can beat anyone.

Austin is the most important member of the Vixens team, as their success (or otherwise) often rides on her performance. Last week, she played a near perfect game at goal attack, curbing Latanya Wilson’s effectiveness and creating space and opportunities for her shooting partner. Finishing with MVP, she kept Wilson to an unheard of 2 gains, while carrying out an incredibly busy workload that included 26 feeds, 20 centre pass received, 1 gain and 14/18, including 5/5 supershots.

Meanwhile, Garbin’s strength and positioning under the post proved unbeatable. If Vixens can remain just as assured in attack against the Swifts defence this week, that will go a long way towards securing victory. In Vixens’ recent run of good form, they have been finding it easier to score. Over the first six rounds this season, their average score was 56.5. Since then, it is 64.4, eight points per game higher on average.

In defence, the Vixens don’t often come up with a mountain of possession sitting 7th in the league for gains, but they still do their job particularly when it comes to starving an opposition of ball supply. Kate Eddy had an outstanding game last week, setting the tone for the rest of the match with two early intercepts. She is a relentless wing defence, who just goes about her job for 60 minutes, continually creating doubt and forcing the opposition into errors.

Along with Jo Weston, Eddy has the ability to pile the pressure on the Swifts’ attack. And with Weston, Austin, and Kate Moloney often on hand to pick up the scraps, Vixens are the leading team in the competition at scoring from turnovers.

Vixens are a happy team right now and with every game being possibly Simone McKinnis’s last in charge, they’re playing as a tight unit. It’s a solid starting seven in particular, and each player knows their role. It’s simply up to them to execute it.

Kiera Austin is credited with being the barometer of her side’s success. Image: Aliesha Vicars

Challenges for Vixens

Perhaps surprisingly, some of the Vixens’ strengths can also be their weaknesses. Their fortunes often rise and fall on the back of their two Diamonds shooters. If Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin play well, that very often leads to victory, but to counter that, if either are off their game, that spells danger. Both shooters can get rattled on occasions, and if that happens, it’s a long way back from there for Vixens. Both players have a relatively low release on their shot, and pressure over it, the likes of which Klau can apply, could impact their accuracy.

And while they have a solid starting seven that knows each other’s games inside out, they are often criticised for lacking a Plan B in tough matches. That can particularly apply to the lack of game time for the three players who spend most of their time on the bench, which could be a real issue if Vixens are struggling at any point. Shooter Lily Graham has been given very limited court time in recent weeks, despite providing great movement and supershot prowess. And while she plays with incredible confidence, if she is required in this game that will place a lot of pressure on her. It’s the same story for Maggie Caris in defence if Rudi Ellis is having a tough time against Grace Nweke.

It’s also easy to forget that Vixens are without their first choice wing attack in Hannah Mundy. To her credit, Zara Walters has been terrific so far, and she’s barely put a foot wrong in Mundy’s absence. But should things start to get messy in the Vixens’ midcourt, there isn’t an experienced player on the bench for Simone McKinnis to call on, with Tara Watson yet to play her first game.

The Vixens can also be particularly expensive at times, with Austin and Garbin sitting 1st and 3rd for turnovers in the league. One of the reasons they were so successful against the Thunderbirds last week is that Austin didn’t have a single turnover, Garbin just 2, and Walters only 1. This incredibly frugal error rate gave their opposition little opportunity to win ball, and will need to be replicated if they are to be successful.

As is the case with Swifts, Vixens’ defence has struggled to win ball this season and has also been heavily penalised. They sit 7th to the Swifts 8th for coming up with gains, and in the game against the Thunderbirds were unable to pull in a single rebound despite there being 10 missed Thunderbirds’ shots. Making the most of any such opportunities will be crucial, and if the match situation isn’t looking good, will they be able to create the gains needed to turn things around?

They are also the most penalised team in the league, although Swifts aren’t far behind them. Being able to stay in play will be crucial – both inside and outside the circle to build pressure. With Rudi Ellis and Weston capable of applying a long and rangy lean over the shot, it’s essential that they apply enough to put Housby off her game, without standing out of play and giving her a cheap second shot at a long range goal.