Winning is always nice, but player wellbeing comes before everything else in 2020. That’s what GWS Fury believe.
The franchise won their first Origin Energy Premier League title in 2019 when they took out the Under 23s Division, but providing an outlet for athletes, coaches and players from the daily trials of global pandemic was the first box that needed ticked in 2020. Whatever success may come after is a bonus.
“In 2020 the continuation of the competition is providing a vital wellbeing opportunity for the entire franchise unit,” Fury Operations Manager, Alison Sheppard, says.
“The engagement of the playing environment is also supporting our emerging talent further and providing opportunities for coach development too.
“The Premier League is a good outlet for our players in the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Academies with the playing opportunity vital to their personal progress.”
Like every other sporting team on the planet, the Fury had to think outside the box when it came to preparation for the 2020 competition.
“Pre-season program preparations were completed and then repeated with adaptions to using online S&C and skill sessions, which eventually progressed to modified face-to-face sessions,” Sheppard says.
“Welfare check-in’s, team engagement and individual player prescribed programs were the priorities in our final 2020 preparations.”
When the Fury claimed the Under 23s title last year it was sweet success after losing out in the Grand Final the year before, but that is a only a memory now.
“Winning the championship was a brilliant achievement in 2019, and we were incredibly proud,” Head Coach Kath Tetley says.
“But this year is a new season, with a new team and new focus and therefore the 2020 side motivates itself.”
The reigning champions currently sit third in their conference but Tetley knows they are in a good position to make a Finals push.
“The U23s team is focused on improving every week and we feel that it shows in their performances with some nice wins and nail-bitingly close losses - five goals or less - across the first six rounds.
“The team has five returning players from the 2019 season – which means that this is a fresh team with fresh faces and we have great opportunities every week as a team unit.”
The GWS Opens side, coached by former Swift Nardia Macdonald, are also sitting third in their conference, but are a side in transition.
“The Opens have a number of changes and additions to the team which range from 2019 U23s moving up to Opens and some experience coming back into the team,” Macdonald says. “So I think we are playing different netball this year.
“We are implementing game plans well and it is paying off for us in terms that we have only really had one undisciplined quarter so far.
“We are happy with where we are at and look forward to future games.”
While wellbeing has been the priority so far, don’t be mistaken into thinking the Fury aren’t primed to leap up the division tables for a dual premiership assault. Watch this space.
