2008 New South Wales Swifts season

The 2008 New South Wales Swifts season was the inaugural season for both New South Wales Swifts and the ANZ Championship. Swifts were formed in late 2007 when Netball New South Wales merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Sydney Swifts and Hunter Jaegers, in order to enter a single team in the 2008 ANZ Championship.[1][2][3][4] With a team coached by Julie Fitzgerald and captained by Catherine Cox, Swifts won 10 of their 13 matches during the regular season and finished second behind Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Swifts subsequently defeated Magic in both the major semi–final and the grand final to become the inaugural ANZ Championship winners.[5][6][7][8][9]

New South Wales Swifts
2008 season
Head coachJulie Fitzgerald
Asst. coachTracey Robinson
ManagerJan Troy
CaptainCatherine Cox
Vice-captainSelina Gilsenan
Main venueSydney Olympic Park Sports Centre
Acer Arena
Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Season results
Wins–losses12–3
Regular season2nd
Finals placingChampions
Team colours
Team colours
New South Wales Swifts seasons
← 2007

Players edit

Player movements edit

  Gains   Losses
Notes
  • ^1 Eight members of the 2008 New South Wales Swifts squad had been members of the 2007 Sydney Swifts squad that had won the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league title.
  • ^2 Megan Dehn was originally a member of the 2008 Swifts squad but subsequently withdrew and joined Southern Steel.[3][4][14]

Source:[15]

Roster edit

2008 New South Wales Swifts roster
Players Coaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
  Erin Bell GA, GS, WA (1987-04-30)30 April 1987 (aged 20) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
  Rebecca Bulley GD, GK, WD (1982-08-18)18 August 1982 (aged 25) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
  Catherine Cox (c) GS, GA (1976-05-24)24 May 1976 (aged 31) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
  Selina Gilsenan (vc) C, WD (1978-05-31)31 May 1978 (aged 29) 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
  Kimberlee Green C, WA (1986-03-05)5 March 1986 (aged 22) 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
  Adelaide Johnson GK, GD (1986-10-08)8 October 1986 (aged 21) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
  Emma Koster GD, GK (1984-05-29)29 May 1984 (aged 23) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
  Tiffany Lincoln GA, WA (1985-04-07)7 April 1985 (aged 23) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
  Susan Pratley GA, GS (1984-03-23)23 March 1984 (aged 24) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
  Kimberley Purcell GD, GK, WD (1982-06-18)18 June 1982 (aged 25) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
  Leah Shoard GA, GS, WA (1986-05-23)23 May 1986 (aged 21) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
  Vanessa Ware WA, C (1985-10-26)26 October 1985 (aged 22) 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Head coach
Assistant coach
  •   Tracey Robinson

Manager: Jan Troy
Physiotherapist: Sean Mungovan
Strength and conditioning: Bryce Cavanagh


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  •   – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player

Source:[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Regular season edit

On 7 April, Swifts made their ANZ Championship debut against Southern Steel at the Acer Arena.[2][3][4] During the regular season Swifts won 10 of their 13 matches and finished second behind Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.[5][6]

Fixtures and results edit

Round 1
Monday 7 April New South Wales Swifts 53–42 Southern Steel Acer Arena  
7:00 pm Catherine Cox   28/39 (72%)
Susan Pratley   25/28 (89%)
Report
Stats
Daneka Wipiiti   34/44 (77%)
Megan Dehn   7/12 (58%)
Julianna Naoupu   1/1 (100%)
Umpires:
Sharon Kelly
Jacqui Jashari

Reserve umpire:
Collette Brennan
Round 2
Saturday 12 April Canterbury Tactix 50–44 New South Wales Swifts Westpac Arena  
2:30 pm Jodi Brown   35/41 (85%)
Anna Thompson   15/20 (75%)
Report
Stats
Catherine Cox   26/37 (70%)
Susan Pratley   18/24 (75%)
Umpires:
Mandy Nottingham
Pauline Sciascia

Reserve umpire:
David Pala'amo
Round 3
Saturday 19 April New South Wales Swifts 50–47 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Newcastle Entertainment Centre  
2:30 pm Catherine Cox   31/38 (82%)
Susan Pratley   19/22 (86%)
Report
Stats
Irene van Dyk   29/32 (91%)
Maria Tutaia   18/23 (78%)
Umpires:
Sharon Kelly
Helen George

Reserve umpire:
Collette Brennan
Round 4
Monday 28 April New South Wales Swifts 59–30 Central Pulse Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre  
7:00 pm Catherine Cox   36/43 (84%)
Susan Pratley   15/17 (88%)
Leah Shoard   8/12 (67%)
Report
Stats
Susan Tagicakibau   19/23 (83%)
Jamilah Gupwell   3/5 (60%)
Amber Bellringer   8/14 (57%)
Umpires:
Sharon Kelly
Rachael Ayre

Reserve umpire:
Helen George
Round 5
Monday 5 May New South Wales Swifts 52–53 Melbourne Vixens Newcastle Entertainment Centre  
7:00 pm Catherine Cox   36/42 (86%)
Susan Pratley   16/20 (80%)
Stats Sharelle McMahon   21/24 (88%)
Caitlin Thwaites   32/42 (76%)
Round 6
Saturday 10 May Queensland Firebirds 66–52 New South Wales Swifts Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre  
2:30 pm Romelda Aiken   58/60 (97%)
Tamsin Greenway   8/9 (89%)
Report
Stats
Catherine Cox   28/31 (90%)
Susan Pratley   24/31 (77%)
Round 7
Monday 19 May New South Wales Swifts 66–54 West Coast Fever Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre  
7:00 pm Catherine Cox   32/43 (74%)
Susan Pratley   34/37 (92%)
Stats Caitlin Bassett   49/54 (91%)
Nikala Smith   4/5 (80%)
Bianca Franklin   1/1 (100%)
Umpires:
Sharon Kelly
Annie Kloppers

Reserve umpire:
Collette Brennan
Round 8
Monday 26 May Adelaide Thunderbirds 44–50 New South Wales Swifts ETSA Park  
6:30 pm Natalie Medhurst   15/17 (88%)
Kate Beveridge   29/32 (91%)
Report
Stats
Catherine Cox   34/39 (87%)
Susan Pratley   16/18 (89%)
Umpires:
Jacqui Jashari
Collette Brennan

Reserve umpire:
Pauline Francisco
Round 9

New South Wales Swifts received a bye.

Round 10
Monday 9 June Northern Mystics 62–64 New South Wales Swifts Trusts Stadium  
7:00 pm Catherine Latu   48/52 (92%)
Grace Rasmussen   14/19 (74%)
Report
Stats
Catherine Cox   35/39 (90%)
Susan Pratley   28/28 (100%)
Umpires:
Bronwyn Meek
Mandy Nottingham

Reserve umpire:
Jonathon Bredin
Round 11
Sunday 15 June New South Wales Swifts 61–60 Queensland Firebirds Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre  
1:30 pm Catherine Cox   32/36 (89%)
Susan Pratley   29/33 (88%)
Report
Stats
Romelda Aiken   53/56 (95%)
Tamsin Greenway   3/4 (75%)
Sophie Croft   4/6 (67%)
Umpires:
Jacqui Jashari
Kate Wright

Reserve umpire:
Collette Brennan
Round 12
Monday 23 June New South Wales Swifts 51–41 Adelaide Thunderbirds Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre  
7:00 pm Catherine Cox   33/39 (85%)
Susan Pratley   18/24 (75%)
Report
Stats
Kate Beveridge   22/26 (85%)
Natalie Medhurst   17/18 (94%)
Kristen Hughes   2/4 (50%)
Umpires:
Sharon Kelly
Pauline Francisco

Reserve umpire:
Collette Brennan
Round 13
Monday 30 June Melbourne Vixens 49–62 New South Wales Swifts Vodafone Arena  
7:00 pm Sharelle McMahon   16/23 (70%)
Caitlin Thwaites   33/38 (87%)
Report
Stats
Catherine Cox   32/41 (78%)
Susan Pratley   30/33 (91%)
Umpires:
Kate Wright
Sharon Kelly

Reserve umpire:
Raechel Richards
Round 14
Monday 7 July West Coast Fever 54–63 New South Wales Swifts Challenge Stadium  
6:00 pm Caitlin Bassett   46/54 (85%)
Nikala Smith   8/9 (89%)
Report
Stats
Catherine Cox   34/45 (76%)
Susan Pratley   29/34 (85%)
Umpires:
Jacqui Jashari
Kate Wright

Reserve umpire:
Tammy Howard

Source:[6][16][17]

Final table edit

Team Pld W D L GF GA G% Pts
1   Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 13 10 0 3 687 599 114.69 20
2   New South Wales Swifts 13 10 0 3 727 652 111.50 20
3   Adelaide Thunderbirds 13 9 0 4 652 577 113.00 18
4   Melbourne Vixens 13 9 0 4 673 620 108.55 18
5   Queensland Firebirds 13 7 0 6 693 645 107.44 14
6   Southern Steel 13 7 0 6 617 616 100.16 14
7   Northern Mystics 13 5 0 8 625 637 98.12 10
8   Canterbury Tactix 13 5 0 8 607 678 89.53 10
9   West Coast Fever (Note 3) 13 2 1 10 605 697 86.80 5
10   Central Pulse (Note 3) 13 0 1 12 471 636 74.06 1
Updated: 17 February 2021

  Qualified for Major semi-final
  Qualified for Minor semi-final

  • Pld = Games played
  • W = Win (2 points)
  • D = Draw (1 point)
  • L = Loss (0 points)
  • GF = Goals For (Total goals scored)
  • GA = Goals Against (Total goals conceded)
  • G% = Goal percentage (= 100 × GF/GA)
  • Pts = Points
Notes
  • ^3 The Round 10 match between West Coast Fever and Central Pulse was called off due to a stadium leak. The match was declared a draw, with each team receiving one point. Fever were leading 33–16 when the match was called off. The goals scored by each team were included in the final table.

Source:[18][19][20]


Playoffs edit

Swifts defeated Magic in both the major semi–final and the grand final to become the inaugural ANZ Championship winners.[5][9]


Major semi-final edit

Sunday 13 July
17:30 (UTC+12)

Stats
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 56–57 New South Wales Swifts    Mystery Creek Events Centre
Umpires:
Jacqui Jashari
Bronwyn Meek
Reserve umpire:
Mandy Nottingham
FOXSports
SKYSport
Scoring by quarter: 15-16, 17-14, 9-17, 15-10
Irene van Dyk   29/29 (100%)
Maria Tutaia   27/34 (79%)
Catherine Cox   41/48 (85%)
Susan Pratley   16/19 (84%)

Sources:[21][22]


Grand final edit

Monday 28 July
19:00 (UTC+10)

Stats
New South Wales Swifts 65–56 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic    Acer Arena
Attendance: 12,999
Umpires:
Sharon Kelly
Bronwyn Meek
Reserve umpire:
Jacqui Jashari
FOXSports
SKYSport
Scoring by quarter: 19-14, 15-14, 16-17, 15-11
Catherine Cox   41/46 (89%)
Susan Pratley   24/30 (80%)
Irene van Dyk   45/46 (98%)
Maria Tutaia   11/15 (73%)

Sources:[23][24][25][26][27]

Award winners edit

ANZ Championship awards edit

Award Winner
Grand Final MVP[25] Catherine Cox

Australian Netball Awards edit

Award Winner
Australian ANZ Championship Player of the Year Catherine Cox
Australian ANZ Championship Coach of the Year Julie Fitzgerald

Sources:[9][28]

Swifts awards edit

Award Winner
QBE NSW Swifts MVP Catherine Cox
NSW Swifts Members' Player of the Year Catherine Cox
NSW Swifts Players' Player of the Year Emma Koster

Source:[29]

References edit

  1. ^ "NSW Netball boss speaks up". www.newstalkzb.co.nz. 13 March 2007. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Southern Steel faces plenty of travelling in the early rounds". The Southland Times. www.pressreader.com. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "NSW SWIFTS; red hot and ready to take on world". nswswifts.com.au. 8 December 2007. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d "New South Wales team announced". www.sportsaustralia.com. 8 December 2007. Archived from the original on 9 December 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d "NSW Swifts - 2008 Season". nswswifts.com.au. 29 November 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d "Teams // Swifts - ANZ Championship 2008". www.anz-championship.com. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 56–57 New South Wales Swifts". anz-championship.com. 13 July 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b "New South Wales Swifts 65–56 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic". anz-championship.com. 28 July 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "2008 Annual Report - Netball Australia" (PDF). netball.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Bulley moves to Swifts after Vixens snub". www.theage.com.au. 5 December 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Swift relocation means Bulley has all the right moves". www.smh.com.au. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Bulley nets MVP award". www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  13. ^ "2007 AIS Netball Program". Clearinghouse for Sport. Australian Sports Commission. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Dehn crosses ditch to play for Southern Steel". www.brisbanetimes.com.au. 26 January 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Netball NSW – Annual Report 2007" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  16. ^ "ANZ Championship - 2008 Season Fixture". www.anz-championship.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  17. ^ "(2008) ANZ Championship Draw & Results". www.anz-championship.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  18. ^ "2008 Season Statistics". www.anz-championship.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  19. ^ "ANZ Championship - 2008 Season Ladder". www.anz-championship.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Fever feel hard done by after 'washout'". www.abc.net.au. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  21. ^ "Swifts beat Magic in netball trans Tasman champs". www.rnz.co.nz. 13 July 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Swifts goal rush downs BOP Magic". The Press. www.pressreader.com. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Swifts down Magic in grand final thriller". www.abc.net.au. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  24. ^ "Netball: Magic tumble to Swifts in ANZ Championship final". www.nzherald.co.nz. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  25. ^ a b "No Magic bullet in big final". www.nzherald.co.nz. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  26. ^ "The Swifts def Magic in ANZ Final". womensportreport.com. 29 July 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  27. ^ "NSW Swifts win netball championship". www.rnz.co.nz. 29 July 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  28. ^ "Australian Netball Awards". netball.com.au. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  29. ^ "Awards". nswswifts.com.au. Retrieved 2 December 2020.