Nothing to lose for Swifts after finals 'nightmare'
The Swifts will be out for redemption - and a spot in the 2025 decider - when the 13-times finalists host the Melbourne Vixens in a do-or-die prelim at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday.
Housby and her teammates were left reeling after a disastrous 77-45 semi-final mauling to grand final-bound West Coast in the RAC Arena "dungeon".
After a perfect 8-0 start to the season, NSW have lost five of their past seven games.
Meanwhile, the Vixens are riding high after sensationally ending Adelaide's bid for a third-straight title with a 58-56 win last week.
The road to grand final glory works favourably for the Vixens, who will enjoy home-court advantage - despite finishing fourth - if they reach the decider.
Despite the Fever finishing on top of the table, Rod Laver Arena will host the grand final on August 2 under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider.
NSW can't look that far just yet, with Housby saying her side was taking a nothing-to-lose approach against Melbourne.
"It kind of feels like we've lived our nightmare but, in saying that, the sun came up the next day," Housby said.
"I don't want to say it was a relief but to get that game out of the way but still have a game to play, it almost feels like it can't go any worse than what it was (against West Coast).
"We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain going into this game."
Housby has seen this movie before too, saying NSW have never had it easy on the way to a grand final.
The Swifts were thumped 58-48 by Sunshine Coast in the 2019 major semi-final before rebounding to win the title.
Housby also points to their 2023 run, where the Swifts eliminated the Fever by one point in the dying seconds.
They later lost the grand final by one point to Adelaide.
"It does feel like a bit of deja vu," Housby said.
"It always seems like there's a bit of adversity in our wins and in our premierships, so I quite like that.
"I love to be on the edge of performance. This group is itching for it. Just itching for another chance to prove ourselves and to show the netball world that that's not what we stand for."
Swifts co-captain and mid-courter Paige Hadley is expected to return from a leg injury in a massive boost for coach Briony Akle's team.
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It didn't matter who she was coming up against. 'To give away nine errors individually is really uncharacteristic. The shooting was fine, but I just think there is a bit of work to do when under the pressure in a pressured environment … we didn't see her at her best.' The penalty count across the board for the Swifts was costly with 76 for the match, including 24 for goal keeper Sarah Klau. The Swifts will need to rein that in against the Vixens, who they have a 1-1 record against this season. KIPPA KEY How far the Vixens progress in this year's Super Netball finals series, one player in particular is certain to be pivotal. Cool-as-you-like goal attack Kiera Austin proved to be the difference-maker in the Vixens' semi-final and hoodoo-breaking win over the Thunderbirds in a match-winning performance that lifted the whole team. The Diamonds' goaler is a barometer for the Melbourne side, not just in attack, but for the entire group. More often than not, when she fires – the team gets up. And so it was against the Thunderbirds, who the Vixens had not beaten in five games, when she was 'on' from the opening whistle. An uber-calm Austin finished as the top-ranked player on the court by a country mile, nailing all five of her super shots to keep the Vixens' title-chase alive for another week. She also had 20 goal assists and 26 feeds in the win, ensuring her damaging combination with fellow Diamonds' goaler Sophie Garbin was on song. It's a rare day when an opponent has star Thunderbirds defender Latanya Wilson's measure, but it is fair to say Austin took the honours over the Jamaican ace. Austin can make the game look easy when she's firing and the composure -and confidence to go to the post for the long shot – that she showed against the Thunderbirds is going to be crucial for the Vixens if they are to progress to a second straight grand final. 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Eddy finished the match with three intercepts and three gains and it was only Horjus' super shots against her which blotted her stats sheet. At 28, Eddy is yet to get a Diamonds' call-up, but wouldn't be out of place in the squad with her height and long reach an asset outside of the circle. THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO. … NE The three-peat dream is over for the Adelaide Thunderbirds and now attention will turn to the future of one of the game's all-time goaling greats. Out of contract at the end of this season, will Romelda Aiken-George play on again in 2026? Turning 37 in November, Aiken-George has been a rock under the post for the T-Birds since being offered a career lifeline by the Adelaide team for season 2024. She helped steer the team to a second straight premiership last season and continues to be among Super Netball's most dominant shooters, sitting fourth in scoring at the end of the regular season. Aiken-George finished as the Thunderbirds' top-ranked player in their semi-final loss with 37 goals from 42 attempts when she took to the court again, as she has done throughout the season, with heavy strapping on her right knee. The Thunderbirds have 23-year-old goal shooter Lucy Austin, who has been starved of on-court opportunities this season, waiting in the wings and whatever happens with the tall Jamaican could also impact the emerging South Australian's next move. The Thunderbirds are already investing heavily in their future with midcourt young guns Sophie Casey and Kayla Graham backed in during the final quarter against the Vixens when the match was on the line. Netball Super Netball's eliminated teams must confront harsh truths about their failed campaigns. But there is a road back to the top. We assess what's next for the six teams to miss the grand final. Netball From big-name recruits and runaway premiership favourites at the start of the year to a crushing prelim-final defeat, things turned very ugly for the Swifts. So how did it all fall apart?
