Swifts season in a nut shell

2013 was another season that the NSW Swifts will look back on and wonder what might have been. 

During the off season there were no significant personel changes and many expected with the lineup presented that they could go close to a top 4 position. Sadly it was not the case. 

The season started with a hiss and a roar at home against the West Coast Fever and after handing out an old fashioned thumping, there was no better way to start there campaign. However losing the next 5 games in succession killed off any chance of a final position. 

The defensive duo of Sonia Mkoloma and Mo'onia Gerrard had a sluggish start to the season and struggled to get out of first gear until the later half of the season. However once they clicked onto gear the Swifts started to push some of the higher placed teams of the competition and were a real dogged opponent for many.

The shooting duo of Susan Pratley and Carla Dziwoki took probably a bit longer to gel as a unit but in similar style to the defense end they pulled through and stood up against some of the competitions leading defenders. 

A memorable couple of rounds for the Swifts included a one  goal loss to the later grand final winners the Adelaide Thunderbirds, followed by a victory over the Vixens and another nail bitting loss to the Thunderbirds. 

Next year the Swifts have made changes both on and off the court with the appointment of Rob Wright as head coach, the first male to gain this role in the competitions history. I have personally had the pleasure of having coaching from Rob and the Swifts have gained a great netball mind as well as a coaching innovator. Pairing alongside him is Mo'onia Gerrard as a defensive adviser and Megan Anderson down the attacking end. Two vastly experience ex-Swifts players and they will be a great compliment to Rob's coaching. 

On court two big signings for next season is Sharni Layton from the Thunderbirds and Cailtlin Thwaites from the Pulse. Sharni brings a slightly scary prospect to the games shooting combinations, as her pairing with Sonia Mkoloma is surely to produce one of the loudest defensive circles going around. A great gain in place of Gerrard. 

Caitlin will bring her usual solid shooting performance as well as the varied attacking game she possesses. It will be a real feature of the Swifts game next year to have a goaler who is prepared to shoot from anywhere. It should be an interesting potential combination with Pratley. 

New faces, new coach and perhaps a higher finish in the competition awaits the Swifts in 2014. 

What do you think of the Swifts 2013 season?