Super Netball
R5: NSW Swifts v Melbourne Vixens
Led by a superb performance from Australian goalkeeper Sarah Klau, the NSW Swifts improved to a 5-0 record in 2025 with victory over Melbourne Vixens at Ken Rosewall Arena on Sunday afternoon.
While it was far from a free flowing game at times, the clash was physical from the start as both sides employed aggressive defence, requiring patience in attack. It meant every pass was under pressure, every shot on goal significant. Swifts defensive superstar Klau looked in ominous form from the start, amassing four deflections in the first 10 minutes alone (for context, Klau had seven for the entire game a week earlier).
The teams traded goals but neither was able to maintain momentum for extended periods in the opening quarter. With the Swifts holding a two goal lead heading into the final couple of minutes, Vixens goal attack Kiera Austin pressured the Swifts in the midcourt, forcing a turnover which resulted in a goal to the visitors. Melbourne then closed out the quarter strongly to lead by three goals.
Swifts coach Briony Akle made a change during the first break, bringing on veteran Verity Simmons at Goal Attack for teen star Grace Whyte. It was an unconvincing start to the second quarter by both teams, as the defensive pressure by both sides continued to result in passing errors and intercepts.
After a couple of wayward passes which missed Goalshooter Grace Nweke, the Swifts coach again looked to her bench midway through the quarter and introduced the in-form Allie Smith, who took the Centre bib as skipper Paige Hadley moved to Wing Attack.
The move paid off for the Swifts as they began to reclaim the ascendancy, and when international star Helen Housby found her range with a couple of Super Shots late in the second stanza, the home side found themselves in the lead heading into the break on the back of an 18-12 quarter.
The third quarter was another grinding, physical quarter, with the popular Swifts’ ‘Mop Man’ called on several times, much to the delight of the crowd, as bodies ended up on the court with regularity. A lineup change in the Vixens shooting circle saw Sophie Garbin replaced by Lily Graham, and they managed to get their nose in front for the quarter by a score of 13-12, but the home side clung to a two goal lead at the final break.
NSW edged further in front in the opening minutes of the final quarter as the Vixens continued to tinker with their lineup to try and disrupt the Swifts’ defence. Garbin returned to the game in place of Austin, but the Swifts midcourt continued to put the Vixens defence end under pressure with their precision passes to the athletic Grace Nweke, who kept the scoreboard ticking over.
The reintroduction of Kiera Austin shortly before the final Super Shot period was a move designed to help claw back the growing deficit, but it wasn’t until three minutes to go until the Diamonds star was able to connect with one, and when Sophie Garbin followed it up with another goal shortly after, the margin was four with under three minutes to go.
But the combination of scoreboard pressure and a clock against them forced the visitors into more Super Shots which didn’t hit the target in the final minutes, while Housby’s own long range attempt in the final seconds found the bottom of the net and brought the big crowd to its feet as the Swifts celebrated a fifth straight win.
Klau finished with a career best performance - 13 deflections, 9 gains, 5 intercepts for the match and a massive 149 Net Points, and was an easy choice for player of the game.
Asked about the goalkeeper’s outstanding performance against a World Class shooting end, Swifts coach Briony Akle said:
“We’ve had one-on-ones with Sarah this week, and she said she wanted to get more hand on ball, and I certainly think she did her homework. I’m super proud of her.”
After not featuring on court in the Swifts’ opening three games of 2025, Allie Smith had been important in the last two victories. HER WAY asked Akle about the way in which the midcourter has forced her way back into the lineup and play some crucial minutes:
“ I think that’s the thing with high performance sport. You go away and you work harder and she’s certainly done that. She offers something a little different in that Centre role - she offers depth down the court and she’s aggressive onto the ball, and for her to come out and play the minutes that she did, I’m really happy for her.”
While the Vixens were unable to get the win for mentor Simone McKinnis in her 200th game as coach, captain Kate Moloney was upbeat about the team’s performance which saw them win two of the four quarters:
“To be honest, it’s probably some of the best netball we’ve played all year. The disappointing thing is we’ve let ourselves down at times. It’s probably execution that killed us in the end.”
Next week the Swifts will take on NSW archrivals Giants next week in Sydney, while the Vixens welcome their ex-superstar Liz Watson and her Sunshine Coast Lightning to Melbourne.