A friendship spanning two decades will be put to one side for 60 minutes as Julie Fitzgerald and Briony Akle square off in the battle for netball’s ultimate prize.
Their journeys were already intertwined after leading the Swifts to their first national netball league title almost exactly 20 years ago.
Now, Julie Fitzgerald and Briony Akle square off in the ultimate master and apprentice battle as their teams vie for the netball world’s most prestigious domestic title.
Fitzgerald is the legendary former Swifts mentor and Giants foundation leader who has racked up more national league games – and premierships – than any coach in history.
Akle may be the apprentice in this scenario but in just four years as a head coach, she already has a Super Netball premiership to her name and has steered her team into another grand final in the face of extraordinary obstacles.
For 60 minutes on Saturday, the pair will be fierce rivals when the Giants and Swifts go head to head for the Super Netball title at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.
But until the opening centre pass – and immediately after the final whistle – there is nothing but mutual respect and friendship between the pair, who have done so much to shape netball in NSW.
Former Diamonds captain Liz Ellis, who skippered that first Swifts premiership side, marvelled at the pair’s journey over the past two decades.
“It took us years to win that first premiership and it was so special for us,” Ellis said of the win against the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
“We had a team full of big names who played for the Diamonds but if I had to point to someone who embodied what the Swifts were, it was Briony.
“She just played so above herself in that grand final against one of the best wing defenders in the world in Peta Scholz and was just outstanding and ruthless in the way she went about things.”
Ellis believes one of the reasons Akle was able to play that way was the confidence and trust instilled in her by Fitzgerald.
The veteran mentor has a special relationship with her players and Akle has followed suit, caring about the players as people first.
“She cares about the person first and the athlete second,” Ellis said.
“Because you know she cares about you and she’d never ask you to do something that wasn’t good for you (she engenders a real trust).
“She trusts her players, so they trust her.
“When you’re coached by someone who would run through brick walls for you, you’d do the same for them and that’s what that relationship is built on.
“And I would argue that Briony is pretty similar.”
Akle said the legacy of the Swifts’ premiership win two decades ago was the current health of the elite game in NSW.
“I think that team 20 yeas ago probably set up what netball looks like for NSW,” Akle said.
“The success we’ve had and the fact that we have two SSN (Suncorp Super Netball) teams in the grand final is a testament to Jules (Fitzgerald) for her hard work back in those days setting up the success of this club and what it looks like now.”
Fitzgerald, who will be bidding to add to her tally of five premierships as the Giants seek a maiden title, agreed.
“It did set us up. When we first started out, we had years when we were really, really battling to compete at that level and when we got into that grand final, we were never ever going to lose it,” Fitzgerald said.
“From there on in, the Swifts have always been a champion team and always capable of winning.”
While Fitzgerald has been, and remains, a great mentor for Akle, Ellis said Akle’s 2019 premiership win with the Swifts meant she “does stand on her own two feet” in the coaching world.
“She and Julie are definitely first among equals in that regard,” Ellis said.
“Julie’s had huge success in the past, Briony more recently and I think it just adds such a great subplot.
“But their relationship now is just one of mutual respect, mutual regard but they both want to win and that’s what I love about it.
“Neither of them are trying to be nice in terms of giving the other one an inch, they are both desperate to win and they’ve both got a ruthless streak about them which you’ve got to have to be as successful as they’ve both been.”
Originally published as Super Netball Grand final 2021 Swifts v Giants: The ultimate master and apprentice battle