Abbey McCulloch has declared she wants to be a Swift for life ahead of Friday night's tantalising grand final replay against the Queensland Firebirds.
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During the most turbulent off-season in the club's history, when more than half of the playing roster sought pastures new, McCulloch was a stoic pillar of loyalty and re-signed before deservedly being awarded the captaincy.
That was after fending off interest from multiple interstate clubs following the formation of Super Netball, including knocking back a lucrative offer from a rival team.
"It wouldn't be a lie to say that we got offers from other clubs to go elsewhere," McCulloch said. "I did talk to the other teams, but I was never really wanting to leave, I always wanted to stay.
"When Rob [Wright, coach] told me that I would have a contract this year that was it for me, I cut off all contact with the other teams and just said, 'Sorry, but I'm staying.' This is where I wanted to be.
"It's always been about the Swifts for me since I was a young girl. Just to be able to play here again, it's just so exciting for me, and this is where I plan on finishing my career."
Just three players who featured in the double-overtime, two-point loss to Queensland in July are still at the NSW Swifts – McCulloch, vice-captain Paige Hadley and Maddy Turner.
Kim Green and Susan Pettitt crossed over to the Giants, Stephanie Wood and Laura Langman are now at the Sunshine Coast Lightning, while Sharni Layton and Caitlin Thwaites call themselves Magpies.
The Firebirds also experienced their share of player turnover, with three who played in the grand final win – Kimberley Ravaillion (Magpies), Clare McMeniman (retirement) and Laura Geitz (pregnancy) – not playing there this year.
"Both teams are completely different this year and we're both just going to be going out there to get two points on the board and cement our spots on the ladder," McCulloch said.
"I'll be excited to beat them finally, but it's not necessarily the key thing, it's just about getting those two points.
"I do respect what the Firebirds do up there. They're a quality team and they obviously have very good culture and very good systems, because they've been probably the most successful team in the history of professional netball that we've seen so far.
"I love going up against them. They are a quality side and it will be a really good game, and we'd better bloody win those two points."
The Swifts came from behind against the Vixens to snare a thrilling draw in Melbourne last weekend, following their 10-point win against Adelaide in round two.
"We didn't play our best did we?" McCulloch said. "We were down for the majority of the game and we managed to pull it back. Really proud of the girls for doing that, because obviously the last couple of weeks we've been the ones in the lead and then let it slide, so to be on the opposite side of that and to bring it back to a draw's pretty exciting. We'll take one point over zero."
