2015 ANZ Championship season explained

League:ANZ Championship
Sport:Netball
No Of Teams:10
Duration:28 February – 21 June 2015
Season Champ Name:Champions
League Champ Name:Winners
League Champs:Australian Conference

New Zealand Conference

Challenge Trophy
Mvp:Romelda Aiken (Firebirds)
Jhaniele Fowler-Reid (Steel)
Top Scorer:Romelda Aiken (Firebirds)
Seasonslistnames:ANZ Championship
Prevseason Link:2014 ANZ Championship season
Prevseason Year:2014
Nextseason Link:2016 ANZ Championship season
Nextseason Year:2016

The 2015 ANZ Championship season was the eighth season of the ANZ Championship. The season began on 28 February and concluded on 21 June.[1] The 2015 season saw the introduction of several major format changes and initiatives, including a Conference system, a six-team Finals Series, drawn games and a new Ranfurly Shield-style competition, the Challenge Trophy.[2] [3] With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Laura Geitz and featuring Romelda Aiken, Clare McMeniman and Kim Ravaillion, Queensland Firebirds won the Australian Conference, the Challenge Trophy, the minor premiership and the overall championship. Firebirds narrowly defeated New South Wales Swifts in both the Australian Conference final and the Grand Final on their way to effectively winning four titles.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

New format

The 2015 season saw some major format changes. The league introduced separate Australian and New Zealand conferences, a restructured six-team Finals Series and a new competition, the Challenge Trophy. Teams continued to play 13 games – eight home-and-away matches against teams in their own conference and five alternating home or away games against teams in the other conference.[2] [14] [15] The ANZ Championship also introduced draws for the first time. During the regular season, drawn games would see both teams get a point each. Extra time will only be played during the Finals Series.[3] On 15 March, the Round 3 match between New South Wales Swifts and Queensland Firebirds finished 47–47. It was the first official draw in the eight seasons of the league.[16]

Transfers

Player 2014 team 2015 team
Eboni Beckford-Chambers
Kristina BriceNNSW Waratahs[17]
Hannah PettySouthern Force[18]
Amy Steel
Kelsey BrowneVictorian Fury[19]
Emily MannixVictorian Flames
Alice Teague-NeeldVictorian Fury
Carla Dziwoki
Jade Clarke[20] [21] Mainland Tactix
Julie Corletto[22]
Erin Hoare
Stephanie Wood[23] [24] Queensland Fusion
Rebecca Bulley[25] [26]
Beryl Friday[27] Queensland Fusion
Caitlyn Strachan[28]
Gretel Tippett
April Letton
Erena Mikaere[29] [30] Southern Steel
Chelsea Pitman[31] [32] Manchester Thunder
Jodi Brown[33]
Ameliaranne Wells[34] [35]
Demelza FellowesMainland Tactix
Erikana PedersenMainland Tactix
Bailey MesMainland Tactix
Paula Griffin
Serena Guthrie[36] [37] Team Bath
Camilla Lees
Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick
Sophia FenwickMainland Tactix
Jane WatsonMainland Tactix
Kelly Jury

Head coaches and captains

Team Head coach Captain
Jane Woodlands-ThompsonRenae Hallinan
Simone McKinnisBianca Chatfield
Rob WrightKimberlee Green
Roselee JenckeLaura Geitz
Stacey Rosman[38] [39] [40] Ashleigh Brazill
Robyn Broughton[41] Katrina Grant[42]
Mainland TactixSue Hawkins[43] Anna Thompson
[44] Debbie FullerMaria Tutaia
[45] Janine SouthbyWendy Frew[46] [47]
Julie FitzgeraldLeana De Bruin

Summer Shootout

Between 6 and 8 February, New South Wales Swifts hosted the Summer Shootout at Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park. This was the first major netball tournament to be held at the venue. All ten ANZ Championship teams participated in the three-day tournament. A total of 25 games, consisting of both full length and shortened games consisting of two 15-minute periods, were played over the weekend.[6] [48] [49] [50]

Regular season

Round 4

BYES:   and

Round 5

BYES:   and Mainland Tactix

Round 6 Easter Round

BYES:   and

Round 10

BYES:   and

Round 11

BYES:   and

Challenge Trophy

The 2015 season saw the introduction of the Ranfurly Shield-style, Challenge Trophy. The trophy was available to win every time the holder played at home. Once a visiting team defeats the title holders, the trophy is theirs to protect and hold against all challengers in every home game during the regular season until they are beaten.[2] [14] [15] A pre-season draw saw West Coast Fever declared the inaugural holder and they defended the trophy for first time on 8 March in Round 2 against Northern Mystics.[51] [52] Fever subsequently enjoyed a nine-game unbeaten run in the league. They retained the Challenge Trophy until Round 10 when they were defeated 56–48 by Queensland Firebirds.[53] [54] [55] Firebirds defended the trophy in Round 11 against Melbourne Vixens and in Round 14 against Southern Steel, finishing the season as trophy holders.[4] [7] [53] [56]

Round Holders ScoreChallengers
Round 267–51
Round 367–60
Round 555–50
Round 653–47
Round 954–49
Round 10 48–56
Round 1154–45
Round 1466–50

Finals series

The new Conference format saw the top three teams from each Conference qualify for the Finals Series. The second and third placed teams from each Conference played off in the Elimination Final. The winner then took on the first placed team in the Conference Final. The four Conference finalists will then progress to the semi-finals where the Conference Champions hosted the runner up of the other conference for a chance to compete in the ANZ Championship Grand Final.[14] [15] [2]

Australian Conference

Elimination Final
  • Conference Final

    • New Zealand Conference

    Elimination Final
  • Conference Final

    • Grand Final

    Award winners

    ANZ Championship awards

    Award WinnerTeam
    ANZ Championship MVP Romelda Aiken [57] [58] [59]
    ANZ Championship MVP Jhaniele Fowler-Reid
    ANZ Championship Finals Series MVP Sharni Layton[60]
    ANZ Championship Best New Talent Serena Guthrie[61] [62]
    Notes Romelda Aiken was the MVP player in the Australian Conference and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid was the MVP player in the New Zealand Conference.

    All Star Team

    PositionPlayerTeam
    GS Caitlin Bassett
    GA Susan Pettitt
    WA Kimberlee Green
    C Kim Ravaillion
    WD Serena Guthrie
    GD Julie Corletto
    GK Sharni Layton
    Coach Stacey Rosman

    Australian Netball Awards

    Award WinnerTeam
    Australian ANZ Championship Player of the YearSharni Layton
    Liz Ellis Diamond
    Australian ANZ Championship Coach of the YearRoselee JenckeQueensland Firebirds

    New Zealand Netball Awards

    Award WinnerTeam
    New Zealand ANZ Championship Player of the YearLaura LangmanNorthern Mystics
    New Zealand ANZ Championship Coach of the YearJulie FitzgeraldWaikato Bay of Plenty Magic

    Statistics

    Top scorers

    PlayerTeamGS/GA/G%
    Romelda Aiken[63]
    Jhaniele Fowler-Reid
    Caitlin Bassett
    Caitlin Thwaites
    Carla Borrego
    Susan Pettitt
    Karyn Bailey
    Mwai KumwendaMainland Tactix
    Cathrine Latu
    Maria Tutaia

    Top rebounds

    PlayerTeamRebounds
    Romelda Aiken110
    Jhaniele Fowler-Reid60
    Carla Borrego57
    Sharni Layton39
    Caitlin Bassett35
    Jodi Brown35
    Laura Geitz33
    Karyn Bailey28
    Mwai KumwendaMainland Tactix26

    Media coverage

    All 72 games were broadcast live on Fox Sports (Australia). Their commentary team included Liz Ellis, Sharelle McMahon, Catherine Cox and Kelli Underwood. Sunday afternoon's Match Of The Round were also broadcast live on One.[64] [65] Sky Sport (New Zealand) remained as the principal broadcast partner in New Zealand. Māori Television broadcast one full match replay on Te Reo while Prime TV showed highlights.[66]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: ANZ Championship 2015 – Results. www.flashscore.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506205716/https://www.flashscore.com/netball/australia-oceania/anz-championship-2015/results/. 6 May 2021. 10 May 2021.
    2. Web site: Netball: ANZ Championship in structure shake-up. www.skysports.com. 20 November 2014. 10 May 2021.
    3. Web site: ANZ Championship rule amendment to draws and points. www.netballnz.co.nz. 4 December 2014. 25 April 2021.
    4. Web site: 2015 Netball Queensland Annual Report. Netball Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20201007193618/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/09/06195326/2015-Netball-Queensland-Annual-Report-1.pdf. 7 October 2020. 12 August 2020.
    5. Web site: NSW Swifts – 2015 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 14 December 2020. 29 November 2015.
    6. Web site: 2015 Annual Report – Netball NSW. nsw.netball.com.au. 14 December 2020.
    7. Web site: Firebirds fine with All-Star netball snub. www.sbs.com.au. 18 June 2015. 11 May 2021.
    8. Web site: Queensland Firebirds crowned ANZ Champions in a last minute thriller. www.theroar.com.au. 21 June 2015. 7 October 2020.
    9. Web site: Netball: Firebirds win thrilling grand final. www.nzherald.co.nz. 21 June 2015. 11 October 2020.
    10. Web site: Firebirds' stunning ANZ Championship win. www.brisbanetimes.com.au. 21 June 2015. 10 May 2021.
    11. Web site: Netball Grand Final: Firebirds deliver gut-wrenching defeat to super Swifts. www.theguardian.com. 21 June 2015. 10 May 2021.
    12. Web site: ANZ Championship Grand Final: Queensland Firebirds defeat NSW Swifts, crowned 2015 champions. www.foxsports.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20190415175915/https://www.foxsports.com.au/more-sports/anz-championship-grand-final-queensland-firebirds-vs-nsw-swifts-live-netball-updates-video/news-story/925e7ee5223f19db820dfd3f078fb850. 15 April 2019. 21 June 2015. 10 May 2021.
    13. Web site: Memorable Matches: Firebirds defeat Swifts in 2015 ANZ Championship Grand Final. netball.draftcentral.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20200918100922/https://netball.draftcentral.com.au/memorable-matches-firebirds-defeat-swifts-in-2015-anz-championship-grand-final/. 18 September 2020. 29 June 2020. 10 May 2021.
    14. Web site: ANZ Championship to split into Australian-NZ Conferences. www.tvnz.co.nz. 19 November 2014. 10 May 2021.
    15. Web site: ANZ Championship introduces new initiatives. www.netballnz.co.nz. 19 November 2014. 11 May 2021.
    16. Web site: NSW Swifts grab draw with Queensland Firebirds in trans-Tasman netball. www.abc.net.au. 15 March 2015. 11 May 2021.
    17. Web site: 2014 Annual Report – Netball NSW. nsw.netball.com.au. 12 December 2020.
    18. Web site: Annual Report 2014 – Netball SA. sa.netball.com.au. 23 July 2020.
    19. Web site: Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2014. vic.netball.com.au. 28 August 2020.
    20. Web site: Signature of England captain Jade Clarke NSW Swifts experience heading into ANZ Championship. www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 15 July 2014. 15 December 2020.
    21. Web site: NSW Swifts star Jade Clarke soaking up the pressure Down Under. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 15 May 2015. 15 December 2020.
    22. Web site: Julie Corletto signs on with the NSW Swifts. www.stuff.co.nz. 27 December 2020. 11 July 2014.
    23. Web site: Stephanie Wood. nswswifts.com.au. 26 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140905165014/http://nswswifts.com.au/extra.asp?ID=17784. 23 December 2020. 5 September 2014.
    24. Web site: Netball Queensland – Annual Report 2014. Netball Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20201012141852/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/09/06195720/Netball-Qld-Annual-Report-2014-E-version-complete.pdf. 12 October 2020. 2 September 2020.
    25. Web site: Queensland Firebirds sign Australian defender Rebecca Bulley to add muscle to a strong backcourt. www.perthnow.com.au. 21 August 2014. 6 September 2020.
    26. Web site: ANZ Championship: Rebecca Bulley brings the 'animal' to Queensland Firebirds. www.couriermail.com.au. 12 December 2014. 8 September 2020.
    27. Web site: Beryl Friday joins Queensland Firebirds from Ingham. www.adelaidenow.com.au. 22 August 2014. 22 May 2021.
    28. Web site: Strachan becomes a Firebird. www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518135814/https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/2436755/strachan-becomes-a-firebird/. 18 May 2021. 23 July 2014. 19 May 2021.
    29. Web site: Netball: Kiwi defender signs with West Coast Fever. www.nzherald.co.nz. 15 July 2014. 19 November 2022.
    30. Web site: Erena Mikaere signs with the West Coast Fever. stuff.co.nz. 16 July 2014. 19 November 2022.
    31. Web site: Netball: Manchester Thunder sign Australian star Chelsea Pitman. www.skysports.com. 19 July 2014. 9 May 2021.
    32. Web site: Manchester Thunder sign Australian star Chelsea Pitman. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 19 July 2014. 9 May 2021.
    33. Web site: Netball: Brown to feel Pulse of playing for home. www.nzherald.co.nz. 22 August 2014 . 9 May 2021.
    34. Web site: Ameliaranne Wells leaves Queensland Firebirds to join Central Pulse for next netball season. www.abc.net.au. 11 August 2014. 14 February 2023.
    35. Web site: Shift across the ditch pays off for Ameliaranne Wells. www.couriermail.com.au. 23 October 2014. 14 February 2023.
    36. Web site: Netball: Mystics bolstered by English midcourter. www.nzherald.co.nz. 17 July 2014. 9 May 2021.
    37. Web site: Mystics sign England star Serena Guthrie. www.netballnz.co.nz. 17 July 2014. 9 May 2021.
    38. Web site: Former assistant Stacey Rosman named new West Coast Fever coach. www.perthnow.com.au. 20 June 2014. 25 September 2020.
    39. Web site: ANZ Championship All-Star Team announced. www.netballnz.co.nz. 18 June 2015. 25 September 2020.
    40. Web site: West Coast Fever's Stacey Rosman named All-Star team coach. www.perthnow.com.au. 18 June 2015. 25 September 2020.
    41. Web site: Central Pulse coach Robyn Broughton gets set to bring up century. www.stuff.co.nz. 15 April 2015. 11 May 2021.
    42. Web site: Katrina Grant set for ANZ Championship player first – a disciplinary hearing. www.theguardian.com. 25 May 2015. 13 May 2021.
    43. News: Netball Mainland Annual Report 2015. www.netballmainland.co.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20191218041256/https://www.netballmainland.co.nz/images/stories/zones/Mainland/Documents/2015/Netball%20Mainland%20Annual%20Report%202015.pdf. 18 December 2019. 9 May 2021.
    44. Web site: Northern Mystics Welcome SKYCITY as Principal Sponsor. www.netballnz.co.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20170420224029/https://www.netballnz.co.nz/news/detail/northern-mystics-welcome-skycity-as-principal-sponsor. 20 April 2017. 4 February 2015. 14 May 2021.
    45. News: Southern Steel 2015 Netball Team. www.southernsteel.co.nz. 9 May 2021.
    46. News: Frew to lead Southern Steel. www.rnz.co.nz. 10 December 2014. 8 September 2023.
    47. Web site: Netball: Oh so close. www.odt.co.nz. 10 June 2015. 14 May 2021.
    48. Web site: Pre-Season. www.anz-championship.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20150630210622/http://www.anz-championship.com/Fixtures-Results/Pre-Season. 30 June 2015. 8 May 2021.
    49. Web site: Sydney to host ANZ Championship Summer Shootout. www.netballnz.co.nz. 26 November 2014. 11 May 2021.
    50. Web site: Southern Steel edge Adelaide Thunderbirds in pre-season Summer Shootout in Sydney. www.stuff.co.nz. 7 February 2015. 11 May 2021.
    51. Web site: Netball: Mystics keen to bring down Fever. www.odt.co.nz. 7 March 2015. 11 May 2021.
    52. Web site: Netball: Challenge for Steel in Perth. www.odt.co.nz. 14 March 2015. 11 May 2021.
    53. Web site: Challenge Trophy. www.anz-championship.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20150629171048/http://www.anz-championship.com/Fixtures-Results/Challenge-Trophy. 29 June 2015. 8 May 2021.
    54. Web site: Netball: Romelda Aiken scores 4000th league goal as Firebirds take control of title race. www.adelaidenow.com.au. 1 May 2015. 11 May 2021.
    55. Web site: Fever Suffers First Defeat for 2015. wais.org.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315173359/https://wais.org.au/other/news_detail.php?id=2735. 15 March 2016. 7 May 2015. 11 May 2021.
    56. Web site: Netball: Queensland Firebirds to unleash double trouble on Melbourne Vixens in Challenge Cup. www.couriermail.com.au. 8 May 2015. 11 May 2021.
    57. Web site: Queensland Firebirds' Romelda Aiken claims third MVP award. www.smh.com.au. 5 June 2015. 17 February 2021.
    58. Web site: Aiken, Fowler-Reid named winners of Conference MVP awards. www.scoop.co.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20160211190247/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1506/S00100/aiken-fowler-reid-named-winners-of-conference-mvp-awards.htm. 11 February 2016. 5 June 2015. 19 April 2021.
    59. Web site: Steel shooter named MVP. www.rnz.co.nz. 5 June 2015. 19 April 2021.
    60. Web site: Sharni Layton retires from all forms of netball. diamonds.netball.com.au. 18 July 2018. 14 December 2020.
    61. Web site: Netball: Mytics' Guthrie earns acclaim. www.nzherald.co.nz. 4 June 2015. 20 April 2021.
    62. Web site: Mystics midcourter named best new talent. www.rnz.co.nz. 5 June 2015. 20 April 2021.
    63. Web site: Why you'd be mad to miss the Netball World Cup. thenewdaily.com.au. 4 August 2015. 21 April 2021.
    64. Web site: Fox Sports and Network Ten partner netball. melbournevixens.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20200918233059/https://melbournevixens.com.au/news/feature-articles/fox-sports-and-network-ten-partner-netball. 18 September 2020. 23 December 2021.
    65. Web site: Fox Sports and Network Ten announce new deal for ANZ Netball Championship. tvblackbox.com.au. 23 February 2015. 15 May 2021.
    66. Web site: ANZ Championship Netball On Free-To-Air Television. www.netballnz.co.nz. 6 March 2015. 15 May 2021.

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