COLLINGWOOD Magpies claimed their first win over NSW Swifts since 2019 in a scintillating performance (75-68). The Pies led from the first quarter and did not look like relenting with their hustle and cleanliness across the court keeping the Swifts on the back foot.

It was turnover central to start the game with both sides throwing away ball as Ash Brazill showcased her athleticism around circle edge and Sarah Klau impressing with her aerial capacity for the Swifts. But it was the Magpies that drew first blood with Shimona Nelson finding good space and hitting the scoreboard. Everything was falling the way of the Pies as they opened up a handy three goal lead with the pocket ball into Kelsey Browne causing all sorts of trouble for the Swifts early. Nelson was not the only one doing damage on the scoreboard with Gabby Sinclair also chiming in to keep the Magpies’ nose in front. Helen Housby was struggling to find her radar missing her first two goals of the game before landing a settler. The Magpies frontend was firing on all cylinders as the Swifts were forced into making a couple of uncharacteristic errors. Klau was up and about early notching up another intercept but Browne was not about to be outdone with the wing attack doubling down in defence to win ball back to maintain that four goal buffer.

Geva Mentor was out hunting for Collingwood, getting up nice and high to win ball back and put Sam Wallace under all sorts of pressure. The Swifts frontend as a whole were struggling to find their rhythm as the deficit ballooned out to six goals. Browne was proving to be a maestro as was Brazill in wing defence as Collingwood connected seamlessly across the court. Their confidence was riding high as the Magpies extended out to a whopping 10 goal lead with Nelson dominating under the post. The Swifts were forced to rely on the super shot with Housby knocking down back to back shots to keep themselves in the contest but Collingwood was in complete control heading into the break up by six goals.

The Swifts made a much needed change after quarter time with Sophie Garbin coming on in goal shooter and making an impact. But Collingwood were not about to give in with Jodi-Ann Ward coming screaming through for an intercept and Maddy Proud getting called for a held ball moments later. But the Pies were unable to capitalise on all their turnovers as the Swifts ate into the margin reducing it to four goals.  The dynamic in the circle changed for the Swifts with Garbin controlling the airwaves with Mentor and Ward taking a while to adapt to the moving circle. The Swifts started to up the ante in defence with Maddy Turner coming through for an intercept and claiming front space against Nelson while Ward was doing the same down the other end of the court.

It was turning into a shootout with both sides converting off their centre pass before Mentor once again showed her class to pickpocket Garbin. Collingwood re-established their six goal lead after the Swifts got to within three as Molly Jovic kicked things up a gear to lead the charge for the black and white. With Browne dominating around circle edge, Lauren Moore was replaced by speedster Tayla Fraser but it did not seem to upset the Pies who were firing on ally cylinders. Collingwood were going along swimmingly in all areas of the court with Nelson presenting strongly as they went into half time up by seven goals.

The Swifts landed the first blow in the second half while Nelson continued her merry way under the post for the Pies. Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley made the change through the midcourt with Hadley switching to centre and Proud into wing attack. Sinclair was having a field day in the attacking third releasing the ball with ease into Nelson. The Magpies seemed to be in cruise control as they pushed out to a 10-goal lead winning ball back off the Swifts’ centre pass. Looking for a spark in defence Moore re-entered the contest but this time in goal defence as the Magpies continued to motor along.

With the super shot in play Housby wasted no time sinking making her presence felt but Nelson was more than up to the task down the other end of the court. The Pies were playing with pace and precision in attack as Browne was just taunting the defence with her bullet like passes as was Sinclair as they went into the final change up by a whopping 11 goals.

It was goal for goal to start the first few minutes before the Swifts kicked things up a gear to cull the margin from 11 goals to nine. Fraser moved into centre while Hadley moved to the bench. Garbin was on fire for the Swifts inside the circle while Nelson was up and about. Fraser turned herself inside out to reel in an intercept but they simply could not capitalise on their chances. Wallace made her way back onto the court and while she missed her first super shot made amends on her second to reduce the margin to nine. But Collingwood were happy to just back themselves in and play that traditional style of netball as they recorded a seven goal win.

Nelson had her eye in breaking her own individual record slotting 69 goals from 71 attempts at 97 per cent. Although Sinclair did not have an influence on the scoreboard with her five goals she racked up the goal assists with 24 as Browne also got busy with her 22 and two intercepts. Jovic starred with her 15 goal assists as Ward and Mentor combined for 10 gains including four intercepts as Mentor also managed eight deflections. Garbin had a hot hand for the Swifts with her 33 goals from 35 attempts as Housby finished with 16 from 21. Proud had the most goal assists for the Swifts with 24 while Moore and Klau combined for eight intercepts in the loss.

COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES 19 | 18 | 21 | 17 (75)
NSW SWIFTS 13 | 17 | 17 | 21 (68)

Magpies:

GS: Shimona Nelson
GA: Gabby Sinclair
WA: Kelsey Browne
C: Molly Jovic
WD: Ash Brazill
GD: Jodi-Ann Ward
GK: Geva Mentor

Swifts:

GS: Sam Wallace
GA: Helen Housby
WA: Paige Hadley
C: Maddy Proud
WD: Lauren Moore
GD: Maddy Turner
GK: Sarah Klau

Photo credit: Collingwood Magpies