By Stephanie Smarrelli
We’re only a few rounds into the season, but already the clock is ticking and the stakes are rising.
While the contenders lead the charge, the rest of the league are at risk of falling too far behind.
A lot can change in a year.
At this point last season, the NSW Swifts were flying high but now they’re staring down the possibility of the wooden spoon.
Is it a dramatic call four rounds in? Absolutely. But it’s not out of the question if things don’t turn around.
With pressure building, this weekend looms large and it doesn’t get any easier for the Swifts who face the Melbourne Vixens.
But the Swifts can take some comfort in the fact that last year’s premiers were slow to start last year, and this season is far from over.
The Swifts will need to be at their best this weekend though because the Vixens are confident, undefeated, and in sync.
The Vixens are at the top of their game.
They head to Sydney with momentum and they won’t show any mercy.
Still, the Swifts have the firepower to rise to the occasion. They just need to deliver and the time for them to stand up is now.
Plus, if there’s one thing that can spark a team, it’s revenge.
The last time these two sides met was a blockbuster preliminary final, one that could go down as the best in SSN history.
The Vixens trailed by 10 heading into the final quarter, then, something clicked.
They stormed home, flipped the script, and surged through to the Grand Final.
That loss will have haunted the Swifts throughout the offseason but now, they have their chance.
A shot at redemption, a chance to reset their season with a statement win before it’s too late.
The Swifts will face the Vixens for the first time since last year's prelim heartbreak.
With Helen Housby set to spend a lengthy stint on the sidelines all eyes will be on the battle between Grace Nweke and the Vixens defenders.
Emily Mannix and Rudi Ellis are likely to rotate between the goal keeper bib meaning Nweke will have to adjust her game depending on which player she lines up against.
While she'll be in the hot seat to perform she will be joined by young guns Grace Whyte and Nicola Barge who are both comfortable to shoot from range.
Barge only debuted for the Swifts last weekend and will have another opportunity to make her mark and stake a claim in the goal circle while Whyte who has spent a lot of time dominating in wing attack is likely to move into the goal circle throughout the match as well.
Kate Eddy will be a key player for the Vixens this week, the wing defender will be tasked with shutting down the Swifts attack before it reaches the goal circle.
Then the question of what happens in the Swifts defensive end remains this week.
Sarah Klau was a late out last weekend due to a quad complaint leaving Maddy Turner and Teigan O’Shannassy under an immense amount of pressure.
She’ll miss this week’s game again and while they’re bringing in the experience of former Silver Fern Katrina Rore it won’t get any easier for them with the Vixens’ Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin in premiership-winning form.
Austin’s clutch ways have continued in 2026 with 19 Super Shots and Turner will likely be tasked with keeping her out of the two-point zone.
But if that doesn’t work Briony Akle may look to former Vixens training partner Sharni Lambden.
While on paper this game looks like the Vixens should win and do so convincingly you can never rule out a side with the star power of the Swifts.
With their season slipping away and the first clash of the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup on the line expect this one to be fiery.
REST OF THE ROUND
After the Swifts host the Vixens, attention will shift to Adelaide.
The Thunderbirds will face the GIANTS this weekend.
The Thunderbirds will be looking to add another win to their streak when the GIANTS come to town, but the visitors will be eyeing a major upset against the ladder leaders.
Then on Sunday the Sunny Coast is set to ignite.
The Lightning and Mavericks have shown they can match it with the top teams but they’re yet to topple the big three.
The Mavericks have got what it takes to go all the way; we’ve seen it in patches of play but with only one win on the board in the opening rounds they're running out of chances.
All eyes will be on them this weekend to see if they can sustain the heat on the Sunny Coast against a Lightning side yet to reach their full potential.
Then closing the round, the Firebirds take the dreaded trip west to Fever’s RAC Arena.
But coming off the back of last week’s win, they might be quietly confident they can take it to last year’s runner ups.
Don’t miss a second of the action, tune in live or on demand on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and BINGE.
