The NSW Swifts are going back to basics, with coach Briony Akle suggesting the squad has "lost our way" in the past few weeks.
With increasing pressure on the team to maintain their top position, the Swifts' biggest challenge will be avoiding the injuries that have plagued them since the beginning of the season.
Swifts coach Briony Akle says the team is going back to basics to make sure they maintain their top positions in the Super Netball. Credit:AAP
“The focus will be on connection and lifting our standards to what we were at the beginning of the season, we think we lost our way a bit in terms of what our great things are,” Akle said. “If you dont nail the basics you are never going to win.”
Coming off a 50-48 loss against second-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning last week, the Swifts are looking to redeem themselves against the Melbourne Vixens at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday night.
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But with only four points separating the team from the third-placed Vixens, theyre under no illusion that the game is going to be easy. When asked what the biggest challenge for the hosts is, Akle smiled and said: “The whole [Vixens] team”.
“We always knew the buffer of the bonus points was helping us, but now we really need to step up and take our game to the next level,” she said. “They [Lightning, Vixens and Giants] are at our feet, so we need to play well to stay there or in those top two spots.”
“Were taking the game as it comes, but we know what we are doing here at training is the precious stuff. Weve got to nail it in training so when the game comes around, our mind is purely in the game.”
New Zealands Katrina Rore, who joined the team following a season-ending ankle injury for Kate Eddy, said while its strange playing for a team who would usually be her trans-Tasman competitor, shes enjoying every minute of it.
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Australian Breaking News Headlines
The NSW Swifts are going back to basics, with coach Briony Akle suggesting the squad has "lost our way" in the past few weeks.
With increasing pressure on the team to maintain their top position, the Swifts' biggest challenge will be avoiding the injuries that have plagued them since the beginning of the season.
Swifts coach Briony Akle says the team is going back to basics to make sure they maintain their top positions in the Super Netball. Credit:AAP
“The focus will be on connection and lifting our standards to what we were at the beginning of the season, we think we lost our way a bit in terms of what our great things are,” Akle said. “If you dont nail the basics you are never going to win.”
Coming off a 50-48 loss against second-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning last week, the Swifts are looking to redeem themselves against the Melbourne Vixens at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday night.
Advertisement
But with only four points separating the team from the third-placed Vixens, theyre under no illusion that the game is going to be easy. When asked what the biggest challenge for the hosts is, Akle smiled and said: “The whole [Vixens] team”.
“We always knew the buffer of the bonus points was helping us, but now we really need to step up and take our game to the next level,” she said. “They [Lightning, Vixens and Giants] are at our feet, so we need to play well to stay there or in those top two spots.”
“Were taking the game as it comes, but we know what we are doing here at training is the precious stuff. Weve got to nail it in training so when the game comes around, our mind is purely in the game.”
New Zealands Katrina Rore, who joined the team following a season-ending ankle injury for Kate Eddy, said while its strange playing for a team who would usually be her trans-Tasman competitor, shes enjoying every minute of it.
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