As the NSW Swifts prepare for a blockbuster Suncorp Super Netball Preliminary Final clash with long-time rivals the Melbourne Vixens, there’s one constant driving the club’s ambition: Briony Akle.
A proud New South Welshwoman, Akle is a rare figure in Australian netball – a premiership winner both on court and on the sidelines. Between 1999 and 2004, she wore the Swifts' dress with pride, winning championships in 2001 and 2004. Two decades later, she’s now chasing her third title as head coach, having led the Swifts to Super Netball glory in 2019 and 2021, and a runners-up finish in 2023.
“At the Swifts it is my belief that good people make great Swifts and the collective is always far more important than the individual,” Akle said on the eve of the Preliminary Final.
Akle’s connection to her players and ability to read the moment is key to the Swifts' success. As the pressure builds heading into the knockout final, she’s doubling down on what’s already made this squad one of the most consistent teams in the competition.
“Remembering what we’ve done to finish in the top two. We’ve lost some games recently but we’ve earned our spot in the Finals through bloody hard work,” Akle said.
“So many of our players have won SSN titles with us, and know what it takes to get the job done, at home and away. Reminding them that this is where they belong and telling them to own it!”
Akle’s rise to the top has been anything but instant. Her coaching journey began at age 15 with Baulkham Hills Netball Association. From grassroots to the elite, she’s done the work – coaching in State League (now Premier League), guiding NSW state teams to gold, leading the Waratahs in the Australian Netball League, and serving as head coach at the NSW Institute of Sport.
She steadily earned her credentials through the Netball NSW pathway and Netball Australia’s coaching accreditation program, taking no shortcuts.
“After retiring from netball as a player I worked in both netball and rugby league administration and earned my coaching stripes via the Netball NSW pathway with courses and entering the performance unit with State Teams where I was lucky enough to coach at Nationals,” she said.
“I also spent time at the NSW Institute of Sport as Head Coach when they had a netball program. I have been lucky enough to work with some amazing fellow coaches as well as NSW athletes, including those who may not be at Swifts but are still in SSN such as Amy Parmenter and Keira Austin.”
While netball continues to lead the way in promoting women coaches, Akle is passionate about broader advocacy for women in sport.
“Not just female coaches, but women in sport full stop. Look at SSN. We had almost 40,000 attend Round 13 of SSN, with some clubs getting bigger numbers than some male footy clubs. But we’re still talked about as niche. If the mainstream media won’t celebrate it, we should celebrate it ourselves until they can no longer ignore us.”
Akle’s respect for coaching goes beyond netball. She’s drawn inspiration from some of the best in world sport.
“I don’t know if I’d coach [another sport] but I have huge admiration for coaches like Trent Robinson (Sydney Roosters) in the NRL and Sir Graham Henry who was the All Blacks head coach and won the Rugby World Cup with them. I had the pleasure of meeting both of them over the course of my career and was really impressed by them.”
Behind the scenes, Akle juggles the demands of elite coaching with the realities of raising a family – something she does with humility and gratitude.
“I have an amazing husband and wider family who make this possible. I always say that raising a family takes a village, and I want that mentality at the Swifts too.”
With a coaching style that balances calm under pressure with fierce competitiveness, Akle will be calling on her players to do what they’ve done all season: execute with confidence and composure.
“I want them to be calm, remember that they have trained for the scenarios they find themselves in and follow the plan,” she said.
“We have amazing senior players who can read games brilliantly. I always want them to speak up during a game because adapting to what’s in front of you is key to success.”
“There is always a place for individual excellence to shine through, but once-in-a-generation players still need world-class talent around to help them reach their potential.
A team is a family and everyone has a role to play because you can be called on at any time. Everyone has a voice.”
Briony Akle is more than a coach. She’s a leader, a mentor, and a powerful example of what’s possible when talent is matched with tenacity and a clearly defined pathway.
Whatever happens this weekend, her legacy is already etched into the DNA of New South Wales netball.
“At a Club like the Swifts success is a Premiership and that is always the aim. We’re in the fight for it this year.”
Frances Cordaro, Netball NSW
