2008 New South Wales Swifts season explained

Year:	2008
Team:	New South Wales Swifts
Asst Coach:	Tracey Robinson
Manager:	Jan Troy
Main Venue:	Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre Acer Arena Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Wins:	12
Losses:	3
Placing:	2nd
Finals:	Champions
Pattern B1:	anzcswifts1
Pattern Sk1:	anzcswifts1

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]}

Players

Player movements

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Losses
Erin Bell (Sydney Swifts) Rebecca Bulley (Melbourne Kestrels)^[10] ^[11] ^[12] Catherine Cox (Sydney Swifts) Selina Gilsenan (Sydney Swifts) Kimberlee Green (Sydney Swifts) Adelaide Johnson (Sydney Swifts) Emma Koster (Hunter Jaegers) Tiffany Lincoln (Hunter Jaegers) Susan Pratley (Sydney Swifts) Kimberley Purcell (Sydney Swifts) Leah Shoard (AIS Canberra Darters)^[13] Vanessa Ware (Sydney Swifts)	Megan Dehn (Southern Steel)

Notes

• 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.
• Megan Dehn was originally a member of the 2008 Swifts squad but subsequently withdrew and joined Southern Steel.^{[3] [4] [14]}

Roster

Regular season

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.^[6]

Fixtures and results

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9 received a bye.

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Final table

Playoffs

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

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Major semi-final

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Grand final

Award winners

Australian Netball Awards

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

Swifts awards

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: NSW Netball boss speaks up. www.newstalkzb.co.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20080315030637/http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=113953. 15 March 2008. 13 March 2007. 3 April 2008.
2. Web site: Southern Steel faces plenty of travelling in the early rounds. www.pressreader.com. The Southland Times. 12 December 2007. 16 September 2020.
3. Web site: NSW SWIFTS; red hot and ready to take on world. nswswifts.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20090915150140/http://nswswifts.com.au/newsitem.asp?id=6075&orgid=2420&year=2007&month=12. 15 September 2009. 8 March 2009. 8 December 2007.
4. Web site: New South Wales team announced. www.sportsaustralia.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20071209124805/http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=2714. 9 December 2007. 8 March 2009. 8 December 2007.
5. Web site: NSW Swifts - 2008 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 7 September 2020. 29 November 2008.
6. Web site: Teams // Swifts - ANZ Championship 2008. www.anz-championship.com. 9 October 2021.
7. Web site: Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 56–57 New South Wales Swifts. anz-championship.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20081014032331/http://anz-championship.com/game.asp?game=213584&comp=4999&orgid=2344. 14 October 2008. 4 December 2020. 13 July 2008.
8. Web site: New South Wales Swifts 65–56 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. anz-championship.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20081014032321/http://anz-championship.com/game.asp?game=213581&comp=4999&orgid=2344. 14 October 2008. 4 December 2020. 28 July 2008.
9. Web site: 2008 Annual Report - Netball Australia. netball.com.au. 11 June 2020.
10. Web site: Bulley moves to Swifts after Vixens snub. www.theage.com.au. 5 December 2007. 6 September 2020.
11. Web site: Swift relocation means Bulley has all the right moves. www.smh.com.au. 20 March 2010. 6 September 2020.
12. Web site: Bulley nets MVP award. www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au. 22 June 2010. 6 September 2020.
13. Web site: 2007 AIS Netball Program . https://web.archive.org/web/20200611130208/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball/2007 . 11 June 2020 . 11 June 2020 . Clearinghouse for Sport . Australian Sports Commission.
14. Web site: Dehn crosses ditch to play for Southern Steel. www.brisbanetimes.com.au. 24 November 2021. 26 January 2008.