Swifts digest horror show as Fever lock in grand final
NSW were simply no match for the minor premiers, trailing 46-20 at halftime en route to the embarrassing 32-goal loss.
Sunday's result means the second-placed Swifts will now need to lick their wounds and defeat the Melbourne Vixens in next weekend's home preliminary final to stay in the title hunt.
The Vixens secured their preliminary final spot with a 58-56 win over two-time defending champions Adelaide in the minor semi-final.
West Coast, who are on a Super Netball record 13-match winning streak, have now qualified for the August 2 grand final in Melbourne.
The Swifts made a perfect 8-0 start to the season but have lost five of their past seven games since then.
Their loss to the Fever was the worst of the lot, with star goal shooter Grace Nweke simply devoid of confidence as Fever defender Sunday Aryang ran riot with seven gains and two intercepts.
Nweke finished with just 23 goals from 28 attempts, and the star NZ shooter committed a whopping nine turnovers in a performance that resulted in her benching.
But Swifts defender Maddy Turner is urging her teammates to keep their heads high, pointing out how NSW were thumped 58-48 by Sunshine Coast in the 2019 major semi-final before rebounding to win the title.
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News.com.au
11 hours ago
- News.com.au
Lismore best bets, inside mail for Friday, July 25, 2025
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets, value selection and race-by-race analysis for Lismore on Friday. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. BEST BET Race 3 No. 2: TORQUE TI AMO Castlevecchio filly who rattled home first-up in a Super Maiden. Extra trip suits. Lightly-raced mare who will win her share of races. Draw the only issue. VALUE Peter Robl trained gelding who is heading in the right direction QUADDIE Race 5: 1, 3, 4, 6 Race 6: 1, 4, 7 Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 4 Race 8: 1, 3, 5, 15 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Superstar apprentice JETT NEWMAN can rack up some points in the TAB Jockeys Challenge (before scratchings). INSIDE MAIL - LISMORE MISS UCHITEL (2) was born and raced at Gilgai Farm in Victoria. In fact. she has the same 'brand' as another Gilgai graduate in Black Caviar. To add to her value, Miss Uchitel is a daughter of the Tasmanian stakes-winner, Spinning Jenny. Ultra-consistent mare who shapes well here again. Stablemate OUR SILVER LININGS (1) really ate into the margin first-up at the Gold Coast. Has drawn well and gets 2kg off for superstar apprentice, Jett Newman. A NOTION (5) has done enough to be respected and considered. Bet: Miss Uchitel to win â– â– â– â– â– RACE 2: XXXX Gold Mdn Plate BARRON (1) is a cleverly-named son of a mare called White House Lady. Granted, the equine Barron hasn't been able to trump his rivals in 33 starts no less but he has placed 13 times and occasionally in rather good maiden company. He'll get there sooner rather than later. HAYLEY'S ROCKET (6) had trialled well behind a good horse then came out and ran a slashing debut behind a handful of good horses in that 1106m Super Maiden on the South Grafton Cup undercard. Go well. Bet: Barron each-way, quinella 1, 6 â– â– â– â– â– TORQUE TI AMO (2) is a Matthew Dunn-trained filly by Castelvecchio which goes a long way to accounting for why she seems to have such a powerful finishing burst. We saw that in plain view when she resumed at Grafton in the Super Maiden where she was getting ever closer to the winner, namely her handy stablemate, Gaylord. SASKATOON BERRY (12) has gone 29 starts without a win but she has placed nine times. She deserves one but has run into a potentially above average horse. Bet: Torque Ti Amo to win, exacta 2 to beat 12 â– â– â– â– â– RACE 4: Lismore Floor Coverings Mdn Plate NATIONAL GOAL (7) is trained by Peter Robl who will be in Darwin in 11 days' time striving for back-to-back Cups with last year's winner, Hadoukan. National Goal was in the market but never in the race first-up, taken back from a wide gate. Has trialled well since and cops a much more favourable gate today. LET'S DO IT AGAIN (4) hasn't fared as well in the barrier stakes but gets Ben Looker to assist and is a horse on an upward trajectory. BETTER BELIEVE IT (9), ANDROSS (1) and KEMAL (3) have claims. Bet: National Goal each-way â– â– â– â– â– WRITTEN FAME (1) is part of the Darby Bloodstock string. They only paid $10,000 for him at the HTBA Yearling Sale and this Matthew Dunn-trained gelding has won $76,025 in 14 starts with the promise of more to come. Written Fame has the capacity to go on all surfaces and he is most effective circa this trip. Nice alley, has a 2kg claim too. WESTERLY (6) hasn't been seen since winning at Coffs Harbour on December 14 hence the market is the guide. RYLOV (3) is in the mix and by the way, look at his damline; Rhema, Mannington, Bint Marscay, Eau D'Etoile. Bet: Written Fame to win â– â– â– â– â– GOT THE SMARTS (4) was bred at Gooree and hails from one of their most prized families of which they have had a few. Long story short, she is by Gooree's own Smart Missile, is also a half-sister to Tactical Advantage and from the same family as the iron horse, Desert War. Got The Smarts is a tidy little resume; super reliable and good enough to win better races. That said, MOFEED (1) is a genuine obstacle. He too has done by far more good than bad in his nine starts. DIZZY DEE (7) and NO RAGRETS (5) are players. Bet: Got The Smarts to win â– â– â– â– â– SO YOU CAN TORQUE (3) was a $20,000 bargain at the 2022 HTBA Yearling Sale. What a pedigree. He is by 10-time Group 1 winner So You Think out of a half-sister to the Melbourne Cup winner, Vow And Declare. It stands to reason then that this Matthew Dunn-trained racehorse is only going to get better as time goes by and he's already done some good things. GAVIN (2) is a chance (if he comes). CHAMPONNET (1), another Dunn runner, has drawn wide but the form reads well. Ditto, in fact double that, for YOUCOMPLETEME (4). Bet: So You Can Torque to win â– â– â– â– â– INSINUATE (2) was a $510,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale buy. Why? Well for starters, she is by the four-time Champion Sire Snitzel then there is the fact that her dam won the Wellington Boot. Not just any Boot winner, Sin Sin Sin, was her name and she is now known as the mother of Yes Yes Yes. Matthew Dunn has got this filly flying and box 2 with Jett Newman only seals the deal. HOTZINO (5) is a chance (if he comes). Outside of him, maybe the other Dunn runners; CALVARY (4) and LUCKY NEKO (9) are the 'threats' to Insinuate. Bet: Insinuate to win BEST BET Race 3 No. 2: Torque Ti Amo Castlevecchio filly who rattled home first-up in a Super Maiden. Extra trip suits. NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 4: Got The Smarts Lightly-raced mare who will win her share of races. Draw the only issue. VALUE Race 4 No. 7: National Goal Peter Robl trained gelding who is heading in the right direction QUADDIE Race 5: 1,3,4,6 Race 6: 1,4,7 Race 7: 1,2,3,4 Race 8: 1,3,5,15 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Super star apprentice Jett Newman can rack up some points in the TAB Jockeys Challenge (before scratchings) (for online only) LAY
7NEWS
13 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Harley Reid manager lands in WA as $24 million contract offer sends shockwaves through the AFL
As the AFL world digests the staggering number of zeros in Harley Reid's fresh contract offer, the young gun's manager has touched down in Perth for Derby week. 7NEWS AFL reporter Ryan Daniels says Nick Gieschen's trip to WA was planned 'a while back' and the player agent is expecting to meet up with 'a number of players'. 'But no doubt Harley's contract proposal to West Coast will be on the agenda,' Daniels said. The contract proposal has the entire football world talking, with Daniels (on Tuesday) calling it 'a significant development' and one that signalled the 20-year-old's 'intention to stay' in Perth. 'The proposed deal would be for two years initially, with an option for Harley to extend that to 11 years, until the end of 2037, and be worth around $2.2 million per season. The total number would likely be north of $24 million,' Daniels said. 'The deal would make it the biggest contract in AFL history, the biggest contract in domestic Australian sports. It's a somewhat overwhelming commitment, and at this stage, the Eagles haven't responded. 'But don't panic, West Coast fans. It's a lot to digest. Harley could be the AFL's best player within a few years. But a deal that long, with that kind of financial commitment, comes with risk. 'In my opinion, it's a risk worth taking. This kid is special. He wants to be here and he is box office. 'If the Eagles hesitate, the line of Victorian clubs circling will be long, and they'll pay whatever price they need to.' Daniels said West Coast's past four years had been 'disastrous' but the signature of Harley Reid would be 'a significant victory and a sign things might finally be turning around'. He said it would also end years of endless chat about a Reid move back to Victoria. 'Now the Eagles have a chance to keep their man. This is the key moment. They just need to sign on the dotted line,' he said. Meanwhile, West Coast captain Liam Duggan believes Reid will remain at the Eagles. 'I'm really eager for Harley to sign. I mean, he's going to be paid very well regardless of where it is, and he's going to get a long-term deal regardless of where it is,' he said on Triple M. 'But all I can speak of at the moment is that his investment in what we're going after at the moment is second to none. 'He has been so dialled into what we're going after as a footy club at the moment, he's been very vocal in that amongst the group, the way he's playing, you can see that in the way that he's playing, and I think our supporters would be able to see that in the way that he's going about his footy right now.'
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- News.com.au
Matthew Dunn's quest for NSW country trainers premiership gains momentum
Matthew Dunn's hunt for a first NSW Country Trainers Premiership hinges on what shapes as potential swag of winners on this Northern Rivers meeting. Dunn 's tally of winners on country tracks around the state this season is 64, five behind the current leaders Annabel and Rob Archibald. The Master of Murwillumbah and King of the Highway, hasn't been keeping score but now that the Premiership is 'in play', every winner counts for more. 'I didn't even know to be honest,' Dunn said. 'I don't think we have won one before so it would cap off a good season. 'We've had a better season than what it looks because we've had 20-odd meetings cancelled up here this season so we should be well clear of them if those meetings had of gone ahead. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'It would be fantastic if we could (win the Premiership) but I don't think we've got enough time to get five, but hopefully, fingers crossed.' The 2024/25 season ends on July 31. Aside from the sheer size of his win tally, it is Dunn's incredible strike-rate of 28.5 per cent that underpins his epic season. 'Someone else told me that the other day,' Dunn said. 'That's huge, it's getting close to one in three. 'I think that would be the best strike-rate we've had - ever. 'We obviously race a few horses in Brisbane and in Highways but country racing is the lifeblood of the stable. 'Where we're positioned, we are lucky that we've got access to a number of very good tracks on the Northern Rivers and we support those tracks as strongly as we possibly can. 'It would be great to have a stable full of city horses but we don't have that and the fact that we are able to place them so well and get through their grades, it is a real positive there for the stable.' Dunn saddles-up runners in five races here including a half-sister to an Everest winner, a 'nephew' of a Melbourne Cup winner as well as a direct descendant of the immortal Eight Carat. Dunn's 'Everest sibling' is the $510,000 Easter Yearling purchase, Insinuate, who is a Snitzel half-sister to Yes Yes Yes. Part-owned by Widden Stud, Insinuate has a win and three placings in her four runs for Dunn and will look to add another in the Country Boosted Benchmark 58. It's @MattyDunnRacing and @mallyon_andrew again... that's a treble at Murwillumbah! So You Can Torque rounds up his rivals from back in the field. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 13, 2024 'She has been really consistent since coming to me, even though she only got a couple (of runs) left in her before she will pull up stumps at the end of this prep and go and breed a foal. 'They sent her to me hoping to improve her resume a little bit and build up a bank and she's done a good job of it. 'She tries her little heart out every time she goes to the races. Dunn, meanwhile, is also bullish on the chances of Castelvecchio filly and Eight Carat descendant Torque Ti Amo in the Country Boosted Maiden Handicap who was an eye-catcher in the Super Maiden on South Grafton Cup Day. 'The stablemate (Gaylord) that beat her the other day, he obviously had good Sydney form a little while ago before I got him and she (Torque Ti Amo) was excellent,' he said. 'That track raced pretty on-pace most of the carnival she raced against that and I thought the step up in trip would help. 'She's a nice filly. She's got a future.' One of Dunn's other main winning prospects is So You Can Torque in the Class 1 Handicap whose dam is a half-sister to Melbourne Cup winner, Vow And Declare. 'I have got a bit of time for him,' Dunn said. 'He's going to get there but he is a slow learner.' â– â– â– â– â– On Monday week, Peter Robl will be trackside at Fannie Bay on a quest for back-to-back Darwin Cups with the former Sydneysider Hadouken. A one-time Randwick trainer himself and now based on the Gold Coast, Robl will be headed south with Hadouken's four-year-old stablemates National Goal and Princess Shanghai in action south of the Tweed. Bred in Queensland, National Defense's current personal best came at Lismore in February when a close and closing runner-up in a 1310m Super Maiden. His most recent performance was at Murwillumbah on June 26 when clocking in with two behind him in the 12 horse 1200m maiden. 'He's a great chance,' Robl said of the gelding in the Lismore Floor Coverings Maiden Plate. 'I thought he just wasn't ready when he ran first-up, that's why he went back to the trials. 'I think the step-up in distance suits him ideally and he's drawn to probably get a nice run in the box-seat.' ðŸ�Žï¸� Leica Pherrari bolts away late and wins at Gatton! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 9, 2025 National Goal is the fifth foal of the Eagle Farm winning Redoute's Choice mare Moore who holds sibling status to the Bendigo Cup winner, Zupacool. Robl's other runner on the card, Princess Shanghai in the XXXX Gold Maiden Plate, was placed in a 860m maiden at Gatton at her first start under his management in May. That said, the daughter of Nature Strip's sire Nicconi has been underwhelming in her subsequent two but is open to improvement, says the man who booted home four Group 1 winners back in the day. 'She had a few behavioural issues come race-day but I think the step up to 1100m will suit her,' Robl said. 'I think she needs to find the front and find it comfortably so if she can do that, it will give her a chance just to relax and breathe properly which should realistically bring on a better run from her. 'She has ability but she does herself no favours.' Robl, meanwhile, will arrive in Darwin early next week to put the final touches on the 2024 Darwin Cup winner, Hadouken, for his August 4 mission. 'He's shaping up perfectly,' Robl reported 'He'll have a little 900m trial next Tuesday just to top him off for the Cup the following Monday. 'He won the Chief Minister's Cup (last start) which is one of the main lead-ups to the Darwin Cup and he beat Cinque Torri who when we met in the Cup, we are actually going to get weight off him.'
