2010 ANZ Championship transfer period
Encyclopedia
The 2010 ANZ Championship season was the third season of the ANZ Championship
, commencing on 20 March. The 2010 season started two weeks earlier than in previous years to accommodate the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in Delhi, in which netball is a core sport. 69 matches were played over 17 weeks, including an initial 14-week round-robin stage, followed by a three-week finals stage. Several rule changes were also implemented in the 2010 season.
After 14 weeks of round-robin competition, the Swifts emerged undefeated as minor premiers, progressing to the finals stage with the Thunderbirds, Magic and Steel. But the Thunderbirds progressed to the grand final, inflicting the first loss of the season for the Swifts, who lost the preliminary final to the Magic one week later. The grand final was contested on 11 July in Adelaide between the Thunderbirds and Magic. In front of a capacity crowd, the Thunderbirds defeated the Magic by 52–42 to emerge as champions for the 2010 season.
, the third year of the competition was expected to be the best yet. Teams organised their franchises, and then went on the hunt to poach opposition players. There was excitement on both sides of the Tasman.
New Zealand
The Northern Mystics
made the most changes to their squad from by keeping four of their twelve members from last year's squad. They were Samoan international shooter Catherine Latu
(ineligible player), Silver Fern midfielder and Mystics captain Temepara George
, Grace Rasmussen
, and Finau Pulu
. The Mystics signed Maria Tutaia
and Joline Henry
from Waikato/BOP Magic as well as Larrissa Willcox
from the Canterbury Tactix. The Mystics also signed an import player, Althea Byfield
, Jamaican international player who played for Central Pulse
in 2009. In addition, the Mystics managed to sign former Silver Ferns player Jenny-May Coffin
out of retirement and a couple of young players to their side. With these changes to their side, it also meant that eight members were not in the team including England shooter Pamela Cookey
opted not to play as she decided to play in the English Netball Superleague
and former Silver Fern and Fiji international Villi Davu.
The Waikato/BOP Magic made some changes to their side by picking up Jodi Brown
from the Tactix and Australian international and World 7 player Peta Scholz
out of retirement to replace Maria Tutaia and Joline Henry who opted to play for the Mystics. The Magic also lost Leana de Bruin
to the Steel and two other players Halana Leith
and Nicola Pettit
, both played in both 2008 and 2009 seasons. During the season, the Magic lost Peta Scholz due to knee injury and ruled her out for the remainder of the season. As a result, the team managed to replace her with England international Jade Clarke
. The team kept their Silver Ferns players Irene van Dyk
, Laura Langman
(captain). Casey Williams
and Samoan international Frances Solia
(ineligible player).
The Central Pulse
lost Althea Byfield
to the Mystics and replaced her with English import Ama Agbeze
(import player) from Melbourne Vixens
and Adelaide Thunderbirds
bench player and former Australian international Jane Altschwager
(captain and import player). They also gained Silver Fern defender Katrina Grant
from the Southern Steel
, to form a nice looking team. The team also features Silver Fern shooter Paula Griffin
, and midcourter Camilla Lees
. During the season, while Katrina Grant was out with injury, they managed to replace her with former Mystics player Rachel Rasmussen
. With Rasmussen included to their team, they managed to have close games including the infamous draw against the Mystics and their second win in ANZ Championship history against the Canterbury Tactix.
At the Canterbury Tactix, the retirement of captain Julie Seymour
left the red and black's midcourt in all sorts of trouble. In addition, they lost Jodi Brown
to the Magic and Sonia Mkoloma
to the New South Wales Swifts
. The Tactix managed to gain Southlander Hayley Crofts
, but made no impact. They initially signed out of favour Queensland Firebirds
defender Peta Stephens
, but an injury ruled her out of contention. As a result, they gained Australian player Chelsea Pitman
who previously played for the Swifts before the ANZ Championship. Unfortunately, during the season, the team had the most injuries. With these injuries, the Tactix were forced to bring back Angela Mitchell
and Megan Hutton
from retirement. They also tried to get England shooter Jo Harten to their lineup as a replacement player for Chelsea Pittman (from ACL) against the Mystics but failed.
And down south at the Southern Steel
, after the retirements of star players Donna Wilkins
, Adine Wilson
and Megan Hutton
, along with Katrina Grant
moving north, it left the Steel in trouble too. They still pulled together a play off potential side. Former Silver Fern and Sting
player Leana de Bruin
was back from pregnancy and was pulled into the backline. With the re-signing of internationals Daneka Wipiiti
, Megan Dehn
, Liana Leota, Wendy Frew and Sheryl Scanlan
, Steel still had high chances for 2010. During the season, Scanlan received an injury that ended her 2010 season.
Australia
Up north in Australia, the Queensland Firebirds
answered their shooting problems, by snaring Australian Diamonds star Natalie Medhurst
from the Adelaide Thunderbirds
. She set up a wonderful combination with returning Jamaican import Romelda Aiken
. In the Firebird's midcourt, Lauren Nourse
led the way without Tamsin Greenway
, but gained Vixens's Sarah Wall
. In the Firebird's defence, both Peta Stephens and Demelza McCloud weren't included in the 2010 season, but they did gain Vixen's Amy Steel
to partner with Australian defender Laura Geitz
. Despite Greenway choosing to not return for a third year of ANZ Championships netball, the Firebirds pleaded to have her back to the team when Sarah Wall got a knee injury (ACL) against the Magic. But their efforts failed and were stuck with 11 members for the rest of the season. This ended up costing the Firebirds a spot in the top four for the third year in a row.
At the NSW Swifts, after having their worst performance in the last season, with many critics believing Selina Gilsenan
's retirement was the reason for their weak defence, the Sydney club picked up touring, English defender Sonia Mkoloma
, to give her a third franchise to play at. Mkoloma, again along with Catherine Cox
, Susan Pratley
, Kimberlee Green
, and Rebecca Bulley
were the key players to their line-up. The Swifts also gained AIS players Courtney Tairi
and Ashleigh Brazill
to add in youth to their team. However, the team lost Erin Bell
to the Thunderbirds in hopes of gaining more court time in the ANZ Championship. Overall, the team still kept six of their seven members since the inaugural season naming them the most consistent team of them all. Before the season, Kimberley Borger was out due to injury and was replaced by former Jaegar player Lara Welham. During the season, the Swifts lost Vanessa Ware
during training from ACL and was replaced with Kristy Durheim.
The Melbourne Vixens
opted against bringing in an import, resulting in Ama Agbeze
playing for the Pulse. The 2009 champions kept consistency in their line up. Shooters Sharelle McMahon
and Caitlin Thwaites
, midcourter Natasha Chokljat
and defenders Julie Corletto and Bianca Chatfield
all inked again with the team. However, at times, injuries happened at crucial times, resulting in the lineup being changed consistently. Julie Corletto had a knee injury that had kept her out for most of the matches (especially in the second half of the season) with Queensland Firebirds defender Demelza McCloud. Also, Natasha Chokjat had a very bad ankle injury that sent her to the sidelines for half of the season, forcing the midcourt to shuffle around. In addition, Caitlin Thwaites form was questioned by the media in the article "Scratch Thwaites", written by former Australian international Eloise Southby-Halbish. Wendy Jones also returned to the team after suffering an injury in 2009.
At the Thunderbirds
, coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson returned as coach, along with stars Natalie von Bertouch
, Kate Beveridge
, Mo'onia Gerrard
and import Geva Mentor
. After the loss of Medhurst, and which speculation since has arisen Woodlands-Thompson wanted rid of her, she was replaced by former netballer, turned basketball player Carla Borrego
. The tall Jamaican would become a huge hit. The cash strapped West Coast Fever
again kept their coach Jane Searle, and the core group of players.
There were no huge changes in the Perth teams line-up, apart from Leah Shoard
returning to Australia, after a year with the Steel
. However, the team did gained Thunderbirds player Bianca Reddy
to replaced the injured Josie Janz
due to knee injury. The Fever also welcomed back tall shooter Janelle Lawson
from the Firebirds.
ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
, commencing on 20 March. The 2010 season started two weeks earlier than in previous years to accommodate the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
in Delhi, in which netball is a core sport. 69 matches were played over 17 weeks, including an initial 14-week round-robin stage, followed by a three-week finals stage. Several rule changes were also implemented in the 2010 season.
After 14 weeks of round-robin competition, the Swifts emerged undefeated as minor premiers, progressing to the finals stage with the Thunderbirds, Magic and Steel. But the Thunderbirds progressed to the grand final, inflicting the first loss of the season for the Swifts, who lost the preliminary final to the Magic one week later. The grand final was contested on 11 July in Adelaide between the Thunderbirds and Magic. In front of a capacity crowd, the Thunderbirds defeated the Magic by 52–42 to emerge as champions for the 2010 season.
Transfer Season
The 2010 ANZ Championship season2010 ANZ Championship season
The 2010 ANZ Championship season was the third season of the ANZ Championship, commencing on 20 March. The 2010 season started two weeks earlier than in previous years to accommodate the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, in which netball is a core sport. 69 matches were played over 17 weeks,...
, the third year of the competition was expected to be the best yet. Teams organised their franchises, and then went on the hunt to poach opposition players. There was excitement on both sides of the Tasman.
New Zealand
The Northern Mystics
Northern Mystics
The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was...
made the most changes to their squad from by keeping four of their twelve members from last year's squad. They were Samoan international shooter Catherine Latu
Catherine Latu
Cathrine Latu is a New Zealand netball player. Latu was a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools and New Zealand U21 teams, and debuted in the National Bank Cup with the Northern Force in 2005...
(ineligible player), Silver Fern midfielder and Mystics captain Temepara George
Temepara George
Temepara Anne George , formerly Temepara Clark, is a New Zealand international netball player. She was a member of the Silver Ferns national squad in 1996, and from 2000–2011. George retired from international duties after the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore...
, Grace Rasmussen
Grace Rasmussen
Grace Rasmussen is a New Zealand netball player. Rasmussen played in the National Bank Cup for the Auckland Diamonds from 2005–07...
, and Finau Pulu
Finau Pulu
Finau Pulu is a New Zealand netball player of Pacific Islander descent. In 2008, Pulu was signed to play in the ANZ Championship for the Northern Mystics, having previously played for the Northern Force in the National Bank Cup. In 2010, Pulu was one of only four players to remain in the Northern...
. The Mystics signed Maria Tutaia
Maria Tutaia
Solonaima Maria Tuta'ia is a New Zealand international netball player. She can play at goal attack and goal shooter, and stands at 1.88 m....
and Joline Henry
Joline Henry
Joline Henry is a New Zealand netball player. Henry is a current member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays with the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship....
from Waikato/BOP Magic as well as Larrissa Willcox
Larrissa Willcox
Larrissa Willcox is a New Zealand netball player. She played for the West Coast Fever in the 2008 ANZ Championship season, having played for the same team in Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy from 2002–07, when the team was known as the Perth Orioles...
from the Canterbury Tactix. The Mystics also signed an import player, Althea Byfield
Althea Byfield
Althea Latoya Byfield is a Jamaican international basketball and netball player. Byfield has represented Jamaica in both sports, and is a current member of the Jamaican netball team.-Early life:...
, Jamaican international player who played for Central Pulse
Central Pulse
The Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an...
in 2009. In addition, the Mystics managed to sign former Silver Ferns player Jenny-May Coffin
Jenny-May Coffin
Jenny-May Coffin is a New Zealand netball player and sports commentator. Coffin previously played for the Silver Ferns, New Zealand's national netball team, for which she was the vice-captain in 2001...
out of retirement and a couple of young players to their side. With these changes to their side, it also meant that eight members were not in the team including England shooter Pamela Cookey
Pamela Cookey
Pamela Cookey is an English netball player, usually posted to goal attack . Cookey was a surprise inclusion in the England national netball team as a seventeen-year-old, for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, but was unable to participate due to a knee injury...
opted not to play as she decided to play in the English Netball Superleague
Netball Superleague
The Netball Superleague is the elite netball competition in England, Wales and Scotland. The league, which runs from November to June, features nine teams from all areas of Britain. It is regularly shown on sports broadcaster Sky Sports, thanks to a major television deal signed in 2006. Naming...
and former Silver Fern and Fiji international Villi Davu.
The Waikato/BOP Magic made some changes to their side by picking up Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown is a New Zealand netball player. Brown was a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns from 2002–07, earning 28 caps...
from the Tactix and Australian international and World 7 player Peta Scholz
Peta Scholz
Peta Scholz is an Australian netball player. A prominent wing defence player, Scholz was a member of the Australian national team from 1999–2004, earning 54 caps. She played with the Adelaide Thunderbirds during the entire 11-year run of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, retiring after the 2007 season...
out of retirement to replace Maria Tutaia and Joline Henry who opted to play for the Mystics. The Magic also lost Leana de Bruin
Leana de Bruin
Leana de Bruin is a South African and New Zealand international netball player. De Bruin played 34 tests for South Africa before moving to New Zealand in 2000...
to the Steel and two other players Halana Leith
Halana Leith
Halana Leith is a New Zealand netball player. She played in the ANZ Championship for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic from 2008–09. A goal attack for the Waikato provincial side, Leith became increasingly used as a wing attack with the Magic. She received little court time in two ANZ Championship...
and Nicola Pettit
Nicola Pettit
Nicola Pettit is a New Zealand netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic.-References:*...
, both played in both 2008 and 2009 seasons. During the season, the Magic lost Peta Scholz due to knee injury and ruled her out for the remainder of the season. As a result, the team managed to replace her with England international Jade Clarke
Jade Clarke
Jade Clarke is an English netball player. Primarily a midcourt defender, Clarke was selected for the England national netball team in 2002, making her senior debut the following year against New Zealand...
. The team kept their Silver Ferns players Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk, MNZM is one of the world's best-known netball players and the most capped player of all time....
, Laura Langman
Laura Langman
Laura Langman is a New Zealand international netball player. Primarily a midcourt player, Langman is the captain of the New Zealand national netball team – the Silver Ferns, and also captains the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ Championship.-Early career:While still a student at Hillcrest...
(captain). Casey Williams
Casey Williams
Casey May Williams, ONZM is a New Zealand international netball player. Williams is the current captain of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ Championship.Williams has been a member of the New Zealand national netball...
and Samoan international Frances Solia
Frances Solia
Frances Solia is a Samoan netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic in New Zealand.-References:*...
(ineligible player).
The Central Pulse
Central Pulse
The Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an...
lost Althea Byfield
Althea Byfield
Althea Latoya Byfield is a Jamaican international basketball and netball player. Byfield has represented Jamaica in both sports, and is a current member of the Jamaican netball team.-Early life:...
to the Mystics and replaced her with English import Ama Agbeze
Ama Agbeze
Ama Agbeze is an English international netball player. Agbeze plays in the goal defence and goal keeper positions. She debuted in the England national squad in 2001...
(import player) from Melbourne Vixens
Melbourne Vixens
The Melbourne Vixens are an Australian netball team in Melbourne that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team were formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of the Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels from the previous Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield have...
and Adelaide Thunderbirds
Adelaide Thunderbirds
The Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was...
bench player and former Australian international Jane Altschwager
Jane Altschwager
Jane Altschwager is an Australian netballer. Altschwager started her netball career in 1994 playing for New South Wales, in the Australian State Netball League, somehow, despite being a 14 year old in South Australia. In 1997 she signed with the Sydney Swifts in the inaugural Commonwealth Bank...
(captain and import player). They also gained Silver Fern defender Katrina Grant
Katrina Grant
Katrina Grant is a New Zealand international netball player. Grant is a current member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays for the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship....
from the Southern Steel
Southern Steel
The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting...
, to form a nice looking team. The team also features Silver Fern shooter Paula Griffin
Paula Griffin
Paula Griffin is a New Zealand netball player. She is currently a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays in the ANZ Championship, signing with the Central Pulse for 2012....
, and midcourter Camilla Lees
Camilla Lees
Camilla Lees is a New Zealand netball player. Lees made her debut in the ANZ Championship with the Central Pulse in 2009, after initially being considered for the Canterbury Tactix. She made the New Zealand U21 team in 2007, and won a silver medal with the team at the 2009 World Youth Netball...
. During the season, while Katrina Grant was out with injury, they managed to replace her with former Mystics player Rachel Rasmussen
Rachel Rasmussen
Rachel Rasmussen is a New Zealand netball player. Rasmussen was signed with the Auckland Diamonds in the Coca-Cola Cup in 2000, continuing with the side until the competition's end in 2007...
. With Rasmussen included to their team, they managed to have close games including the infamous draw against the Mystics and their second win in ANZ Championship history against the Canterbury Tactix.
At the Canterbury Tactix, the retirement of captain Julie Seymour
Julie Seymour
Julie Seymour, MNZM is a New Zealand netball coach, former international netball player and former representative middle distance runner. Seymour played for the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, in 92 test matches spanning 16 years...
left the red and black's midcourt in all sorts of trouble. In addition, they lost Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown is a New Zealand netball player. Brown was a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns from 2002–07, earning 28 caps...
to the Magic and Sonia Mkoloma
Sonia Mkoloma
Sonia Mkoloma is an English international netball player. Mkoloma made her international debut for the English national team in 1999, and during her career has competed at three Netball World Championships, three Commonwealth Games and two World Netball Series...
to the New South Wales Swifts
New South Wales Swifts
The New South Wales Swifts are an Australian netball team based in Sydney that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Swifts were formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the Commonwealth Bank Trophy – the Sydney Swifts and the Hunter Jaegers...
. The Tactix managed to gain Southlander Hayley Crofts
Hayley Crofts
Hayley Crofts is a New Zealand netball player. In 2008, she was signed to play for the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship. Much of the team was replaced after a winless 2008 season, with Crofts not being re-signed for the 2009 season...
, but made no impact. They initially signed out of favour Queensland Firebirds
Queensland Firebirds
The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Firebirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested...
defender Peta Stephens
Peta Stephens
Peta Stephens is an Australian netball player. Stephens played for the Queensland Firebirds in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy and in the ANZ Championship; in 2004, she played for the Melbourne Phoenix and in New Zealand for the Canterbury Flames...
, but an injury ruled her out of contention. As a result, they gained Australian player Chelsea Pitman
Chelsea Pitman
Chelsea Pitman is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Queensland Firebirds.In 2010, Pitman played for the Canterbury Tactix playing at the Wing Attack position. However, in round 6 against the Mystics, Pitman suffered an ACL injury that ended her 2010...
who previously played for the Swifts before the ANZ Championship. Unfortunately, during the season, the team had the most injuries. With these injuries, the Tactix were forced to bring back Angela Mitchell
Angela Mitchell
Angela Mitchell is a New Zealand netball player. Mitchell played domestic netball in the National Bank Cup for the Canterbury Flames and the Otago Rebels...
and Megan Hutton
Megan Hutton
Megan Hutton is a New Zealand retired netball player. Hutton normally plays in the goal keeper position. She also played basketball for Southland....
from retirement. They also tried to get England shooter Jo Harten to their lineup as a replacement player for Chelsea Pittman (from ACL) against the Mystics but failed.
And down south at the Southern Steel
Southern Steel
The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting...
, after the retirements of star players Donna Wilkins
Donna Wilkins
Donna Wilkins is one of New Zealand's leading sportswomen, representing her country in both netball and basketball. She became married to Southland farmer Mike Wilkins on 17 March 2007...
, Adine Wilson
Adine Wilson
Adine Rachel Wilson Harper is a New Zealand international netball representative.-Personal background:...
and Megan Hutton
Megan Hutton
Megan Hutton is a New Zealand retired netball player. Hutton normally plays in the goal keeper position. She also played basketball for Southland....
, along with Katrina Grant
Katrina Grant
Katrina Grant is a New Zealand international netball player. Grant is a current member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays for the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship....
moving north, it left the Steel in trouble too. They still pulled together a play off potential side. Former Silver Fern and Sting
Southern Sting
The Southern Sting were a netball team based in Invercargill, New Zealand that competed in The National Bank Cup competition, formerly known as the Coca Cola Cup....
player Leana de Bruin
Leana de Bruin
Leana de Bruin is a South African and New Zealand international netball player. De Bruin played 34 tests for South Africa before moving to New Zealand in 2000...
was back from pregnancy and was pulled into the backline. With the re-signing of internationals Daneka Wipiiti
Daneka Wipiiti
Daneka Wipiiti is a New Zealand international netball player. She is currently in the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays with the Southern Steel in the ANZ Championship....
, Megan Dehn
Megan Dehn
Megan Dehn is an Australian international netballer from Woy Woy, New South Wales. A former Australian representative player, she currently plays in the ANZ Championship for New Zealand–based team the Northern Mystics....
, Liana Leota, Wendy Frew and Sheryl Scanlan
Sheryl Scanlan
Sheryl Scanlan is a New Zealand and Samoan international netball player. She played for the Northern Force in the National Bank Cup from 1998 until the conclusion in 2007, when the new ANZ Championship competition was announced, signing with the Northern Mystics for 2008. In 2009 though she has...
, Steel still had high chances for 2010. During the season, Scanlan received an injury that ended her 2010 season.
Australia
Up north in Australia, the Queensland Firebirds
Queensland Firebirds
The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Firebirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested...
answered their shooting problems, by snaring Australian Diamonds star Natalie Medhurst
Natalie Medhurst
Natalie Medhurst is an Australian netball player. Medhurst plays as a goal attack and goal shooter, and is a current member of the Australian national netball team....
from the Adelaide Thunderbirds
Adelaide Thunderbirds
The Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was...
. She set up a wonderful combination with returning Jamaican import Romelda Aiken
Romelda Aiken
Romelda Aiken is a Jamaican netball player. Aiken debuted for the Jamaican national team in 2005 as a replacement for regular shooter Elaine Davis. The shooter rose to international prominence during the 2007 Netball World Championships...
. In the Firebird's midcourt, Lauren Nourse
Lauren Nourse
Lauren Nourse is an Australian netball player, who plays for the Australian national netball team....
led the way without Tamsin Greenway
Tamsin Greenway
Tamsin Greenway is an English netball player and member of the England national netball team. She usually plays wing attack or goal attack....
, but gained Vixens's Sarah Wall
Sarah Wall
Sarah Wall is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens. In 2005 she played her first year of elite netball, for the Melbourne Phoenix in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. She played three years with the Phoenix until the competition was disbanded in 2007...
. In the Firebird's defence, both Peta Stephens and Demelza McCloud weren't included in the 2010 season, but they did gain Vixen's Amy Steel
Amy Steel
Amy Steel is an American film and television actress, also credited as Amy Steel Pulitzer.-Biography:She is perhaps best known for her role as Ginny Field in the 1981 horror film Friday the 13th Part 2. She was offered the chance to reprise the role for the third film in the long-running series,...
to partner with Australian defender Laura Geitz
Laura Geitz
Laura Geitz is an Australian netball player. Geitz was selected for the 2008 Australian national team, and to date has won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. In domestic netball, Geitz plays for the Queensland Firebirds in the ANZ Championship...
. Despite Greenway choosing to not return for a third year of ANZ Championships netball, the Firebirds pleaded to have her back to the team when Sarah Wall got a knee injury (ACL) against the Magic. But their efforts failed and were stuck with 11 members for the rest of the season. This ended up costing the Firebirds a spot in the top four for the third year in a row.
At the NSW Swifts, after having their worst performance in the last season, with many critics believing Selina Gilsenan
Selina Gilsenan
Selina Gilsenan is a retired Australian netball player. Gilsenan has Rotuman ancestry form her mother.-Career:After a successful year playing in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy premiership-winning team in 2001, national selectors identified Selina's talent and she received her first invitation to...
's retirement was the reason for their weak defence, the Sydney club picked up touring, English defender Sonia Mkoloma
Sonia Mkoloma
Sonia Mkoloma is an English international netball player. Mkoloma made her international debut for the English national team in 1999, and during her career has competed at three Netball World Championships, three Commonwealth Games and two World Netball Series...
, to give her a third franchise to play at. Mkoloma, again along with Catherine Cox
Catherine Cox
Catherine Cox is an Australian netball player. Cox has played regularly for the Australian national team since her first appearance in 1997 and is a member of the ANZ Championship team West Coast Fever....
, Susan Pratley
Susan Pratley
Susan Pratley is an Australian netball player, who plays goal attack or goal shooter. She has been a member of the Australian national team since 2006, replacing the likes of Eloise Southby-Halbish, Megan Dehn, and Cynna Kydd...
, Kimberlee Green
Kimberlee Green
Kimberlee Green is an Australian international netball player. Green played six years in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, for the Sydney Swifts and AIS Canberra Darters. With the start of the ANZ Championship, Green signed with Sydney franchise the New South Wales Swifts, which won the inaugural...
, and Rebecca Bulley
Rebecca Bulley
Rebecca Bulley is an Australian international netball player. A defence circle player, Bulley was included in the Australian national squad in 2005 and 2007. Previously, she was the co-captain of the Melbourne Kestrels and of the AIS Canberra Darters during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy...
were the key players to their line-up. The Swifts also gained AIS players Courtney Tairi
Courtney Tairi
Courtney Tairi is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the New South Wales Swifts.In 2009, despite Tairi not being in the New South Wales Swifts squad, Tairi was a temporary replacement player for Vanessa Ware who suffered an injury and played in one ANZ Championship...
and Ashleigh Brazill
Ashleigh Brazill
Ashleigh Brazill is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the New South Wales Swifts. She will be playing for the West Coast Fever in 2012....
to add in youth to their team. However, the team lost Erin Bell
Erin Bell
Erin Bell is a videogame and technology journalist based in Toronto, Canada. She is currently a regular contributor to The Globe and Mail, PC World Canada, Crispy Gamer and Gamezebo, and has also written for Ziff Davis’ Pocket Games magazine, the Canadian videogame magazine Total Gamer, and...
to the Thunderbirds in hopes of gaining more court time in the ANZ Championship. Overall, the team still kept six of their seven members since the inaugural season naming them the most consistent team of them all. Before the season, Kimberley Borger was out due to injury and was replaced by former Jaegar player Lara Welham. During the season, the Swifts lost Vanessa Ware
Vanessa Ware
Vanessa Ware is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the New South Wales Swifts. She was one of the seven members to help the Swifts win the 2008 ANZ Championship Grand Final over Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic...
during training from ACL and was replaced with Kristy Durheim.
The Melbourne Vixens
Melbourne Vixens
The Melbourne Vixens are an Australian netball team in Melbourne that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team were formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of the Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels from the previous Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield have...
opted against bringing in an import, resulting in Ama Agbeze
Ama Agbeze
Ama Agbeze is an English international netball player. Agbeze plays in the goal defence and goal keeper positions. She debuted in the England national squad in 2001...
playing for the Pulse. The 2009 champions kept consistency in their line up. Shooters Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
and Caitlin Thwaites
Caitlin Thwaites
Caitlin Thwaites is an Australian netball and volleyball player. In 2011 Thwaites made the move across the Tasman to join the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship, and plays in her known position of GS. . Thwaites has also represented Australia in women's volleyball. In 2009, Thwaites played her...
, midcourter Natasha Chokljat
Natasha Chokljat
Natasha Chokljat is an Australian netball player. She has played international netball as a member of the Australian national team, and currently plays in the ANZ Championship for the New Zealand side the Southern Steel....
and defenders Julie Corletto and Bianca Chatfield
Bianca Chatfield
Bianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
all inked again with the team. However, at times, injuries happened at crucial times, resulting in the lineup being changed consistently. Julie Corletto had a knee injury that had kept her out for most of the matches (especially in the second half of the season) with Queensland Firebirds defender Demelza McCloud. Also, Natasha Chokjat had a very bad ankle injury that sent her to the sidelines for half of the season, forcing the midcourt to shuffle around. In addition, Caitlin Thwaites form was questioned by the media in the article "Scratch Thwaites", written by former Australian international Eloise Southby-Halbish. Wendy Jones also returned to the team after suffering an injury in 2009.
At the Thunderbirds
Adelaide Thunderbirds
The Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was...
, coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson returned as coach, along with stars Natalie von Bertouch
Natalie von Bertouch
Natalie von Bertouch is an Australian netball player. Von Bertouch is a member of the Australian national netball team, and the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the ANZ Championship...
, Kate Beveridge
Kate Beveridge
Kate Beveridge is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, who played for the Adelaide Thunderbirds from 2008-2010. She move to the melbourne vixens for the 2011 season. Beveridge is known for her long range goal attempts, high arcing shots and very high accuracy rate...
, Mo'onia Gerrard
Mo'onia Gerrard
Mo'onia Gerrard is a Tongan-Australian netball player. Gerrard is a current member of the Australian national team, and from 2011 is playing for the New South Wales Swifts in the ANZ Championship...
and import Geva Mentor
Geva Mentor
Geva Mentor is an English international netball player. Mentor was selected for the England national team in 2000, debuting the following year against New Zealand...
. After the loss of Medhurst, and which speculation since has arisen Woodlands-Thompson wanted rid of her, she was replaced by former netballer, turned basketball player Carla Borrego
Carla Borrego
Carla Borrego is a Jamaican international basketball and netball player. Borrego grew up playing netball in Jamaica, but gave up the sport to play women's basketball, first at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale before gaining a scholarship to the University of Miami.Before her move to the United...
. The tall Jamaican would become a huge hit. The cash strapped West Coast Fever
West Coast Fever
The West Coast Fever are an Australian netball team based in Perth that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, formerly the premier domestic league in Australia. They contested every year of the...
again kept their coach Jane Searle, and the core group of players.
There were no huge changes in the Perth teams line-up, apart from Leah Shoard
Leah Shoard
Leah Shoard is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Southern Steel in New Zealand.She played for the New South Wales Swifts in the 2008 season, having previously been signed for the Sydney Swifts and AIS Canberra Darters in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy...
returning to Australia, after a year with the Steel
Southern Steel
The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting...
. However, the team did gained Thunderbirds player Bianca Reddy
Bianca Reddy
Bianca Reddy is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Adelaide Thunderbirds. In 2010, Reddy did not play in the ANZ Championship, but played for the West Coast Fever replacing the injured Josie Janz....
to replaced the injured Josie Janz
Josie Janz
Josie Janz is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the West Coast Fever.Works at the David Wirrpanda Foundation in the Dare to Dream program as the project officer....
due to knee injury. The Fever also welcomed back tall shooter Janelle Lawson
Janelle Lawson
Janelle Lawson is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship. Lawson previously played for the AIS Canberra Darters in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. In 2008 and 2009, Lawson played for the Queensland Firebirds at Goal Attack position. In 2011, Lawson currently plays for the Spinning...
from the Firebirds.
Notable Transfers
| Name | 2009 Team | 2010 Team |
|---|---|---|
| Leana de Bruin Leana de Bruin Leana de Bruin is a South African and New Zealand international netball player. De Bruin played 34 tests for South Africa before moving to New Zealand in 2000... |
Northern Mystics Northern Mystics The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was... |
Southern Steel Southern Steel The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting... |
| Megan Dehn Megan Dehn Megan Dehn is an Australian international netballer from Woy Woy, New South Wales. A former Australian representative player, she currently plays in the ANZ Championship for New Zealand–based team the Northern Mystics.... |
DNP- Retired | Southern Steel Southern Steel The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting... |
| Anna Galvan Anna Galvan Anna Galvan is a retired New Zealand netball player.- Domestic career :... |
DNP- Retired | Canterbury Tactix |
| Katrina Grant Katrina Grant Katrina Grant is a New Zealand international netball player. Grant is a current member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays for the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship.... |
Southern Steel Southern Steel The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting... |
Central Pulse Central Pulse The Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an... |
| Rachel Rasmussen Rachel Rasmussen Rachel Rasmussen is a New Zealand netball player. Rasmussen was signed with the Auckland Diamonds in the Coca-Cola Cup in 2000, continuing with the side until the competition's end in 2007... |
Northern Mystics Northern Mystics The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was... |
Central Pulse Central Pulse The Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an... |
| Jane Altschwager Jane Altschwager Jane Altschwager is an Australian netballer. Altschwager started her netball career in 1994 playing for New South Wales, in the Australian State Netball League, somehow, despite being a 14 year old in South Australia. In 1997 she signed with the Sydney Swifts in the inaugural Commonwealth Bank... |
Adelaide Thunderbirds Adelaide Thunderbirds The Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was... |
Central Pulse Central Pulse The Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an... |
| Ama Agbeze Ama Agbeze Ama Agbeze is an English international netball player. Agbeze plays in the goal defence and goal keeper positions. She debuted in the England national squad in 2001... |
Melbourne Vixens Melbourne Vixens The Melbourne Vixens are an Australian netball team in Melbourne that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team were formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of the Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels from the previous Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield have... |
Central Pulse Central Pulse The Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an... |
| Jodi Brown Jodi Brown Jodi Brown is a New Zealand netball player. Brown was a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns from 2002–07, earning 28 caps... |
Canterbury Tactix | Waikato/BOP Magic |
| Maria Tutaia Maria Tutaia Solonaima Maria Tuta'ia is a New Zealand international netball player. She can play at goal attack and goal shooter, and stands at 1.88 m.... |
Waikato/BOP Magic | Northern Mystics Northern Mystics The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was... |
| Joline Henry Joline Henry Joline Henry is a New Zealand netball player. Henry is a current member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays with the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship.... |
Waikato/BOP Magic | Northern Mystics Northern Mystics The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was... |
| Althea Byfield Althea Byfield Althea Latoya Byfield is a Jamaican international basketball and netball player. Byfield has represented Jamaica in both sports, and is a current member of the Jamaican netball team.-Early life:... |
Central Pulse Central Pulse The Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an... |
Northern Mystics Northern Mystics The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was... |
| Larrissa Willcox Larrissa Willcox Larrissa Willcox is a New Zealand netball player. She played for the West Coast Fever in the 2008 ANZ Championship season, having played for the same team in Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy from 2002–07, when the team was known as the Perth Orioles... |
Canterbury Tactix | Northern Mystics Northern Mystics The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was... |
| Carla Borrego Carla Borrego Carla Borrego is a Jamaican international basketball and netball player. Borrego grew up playing netball in Jamaica, but gave up the sport to play women's basketball, first at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale before gaining a scholarship to the University of Miami.Before her move to the United... |
DNP- Not selected | Adelaide Thunderbirds Adelaide Thunderbirds The Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was... |
| Wendy Jones | DNP- Injured | Melbourne Vixens Melbourne Vixens The Melbourne Vixens are an Australian netball team in Melbourne that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team were formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of the Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels from the previous Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield have... |
| Sonia Mkoloma Sonia Mkoloma Sonia Mkoloma is an English international netball player. Mkoloma made her international debut for the English national team in 1999, and during her career has competed at three Netball World Championships, three Commonwealth Games and two World Netball Series... |
Canterbury Tactix | NSW Swifts |
| Natalie Medhurst Natalie Medhurst Natalie Medhurst is an Australian netball player. Medhurst plays as a goal attack and goal shooter, and is a current member of the Australian national netball team.... |
Adelaide Thunderbirds Adelaide Thunderbirds The Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was... |
Queensland Firebirds Queensland Firebirds The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Firebirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested... |
| Amy Steel Amy Steel Amy Steel is an American film and television actress, also credited as Amy Steel Pulitzer.-Biography:She is perhaps best known for her role as Ginny Field in the 1981 horror film Friday the 13th Part 2. She was offered the chance to reprise the role for the third film in the long-running series,... |
Melbourne Vixens Melbourne Vixens The Melbourne Vixens are an Australian netball team in Melbourne that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team were formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of the Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels from the previous Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield have... |
Queensland Firebirds Queensland Firebirds The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Firebirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested... |
| Leah Shoard Leah Shoard Leah Shoard is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Southern Steel in New Zealand.She played for the New South Wales Swifts in the 2008 season, having previously been signed for the Sydney Swifts and AIS Canberra Darters in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy... |
Southern Steel Southern Steel The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting... |
West Coast Fever West Coast Fever The West Coast Fever are an Australian netball team based in Perth that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, formerly the premier domestic league in Australia. They contested every year of the... |