Mobil Superleague Explained

Mobil Superleague
Founded:1985
Folded:1996
Replaced:Commonwealth Bank Trophy
Owner:All Australia Netball Association
Teams:6/8
Country:Australia
Champion:Melbourne Pumas
Most Champs:Sydney Tigers/Sydney Pulsars (3 titles)
Sponsor:Esso
Mobil
Tv:ABC

The Mobil Superleague, originally known as the Esso Superleague, was the top level national Australian netball league between 1985 and 1996. The league was Australia's first national netball league. It was organized by the All Australia Netball Association and featured the state league champions from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia plus a team from the Australian Institute of Sport. Between 1990 and 1996, the winners of the league were also awarded the Prime Minister's Cup and this is sometimes used as an alternative name for the competition. Its main sponsors were Esso and Mobil. In 1997 it was replaced by the Commonwealth Bank Trophy.

History

Format

The league initially featured the state league champions from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia plus an Australian Institute of Sport team. However on several occasions composite teams, including Sydney Tigers and Melbourne City were entered. Teams were permitted to "import" up to two players for the duration of the tournaments. This saw Shelley O'Donnell and Vicki Wilson play for Adelaide Contax and Simone McKinnis play for Adelaide Garville. During the history of the league, several formats were used. The 1985 and 1986 tournaments featured eight teams, divided into two groups or zones. Two teams from each group then qualified for semi-finals. The 1989 and 1990 seasons both featured six teams playing a single round of matches. The top two then qualified for the final. The 1991 and 1992 seasons each featured two divisions with three teams, both playing two rounds of matches. The three teams from Division 1 and the winners from Division 2 qualified for the semi-finals. By 1993 the competition had evolved into an eight team league with the top four qualifying for the semi-finals. This format remained in place for the final three seasons.[1] [2] [3]

Esso Superleague

The Esso Superleague was formed in 1985 as a partnership between the All Australia Netball Association and the Australian Institute of Sport. The league was Australia's first national netball league. With a team coached by Wilma Shakespear and featuring Shelley Oates-Wilding and Vicki Wilson, AIS subsequently won the first two tournaments in 1985 and 1986. AIS also played in the 1987 and 1989 finals, losing to Melbourne Blues and Sydney Tigers respectively. Other AIS players from this era included Natalie Avellino, Sharon Finnan and Shelley O'Donnell.[1] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Contax Garville rivalry

During the early 1990s, two of the most prominent teams in the league were Adelaide Contax and Adelaide Garville. Between 1986 and 1996, Contax and Garville contested every South Australia state league grand final. The rivalry saw the two clubs compete in nine consecutive state league grand finals, plus one controversial Mobil Super League grand final. With teams that included Kathryn Harby, Michelle Fielke and Julie Nykiel, a former Australia women's basketball international, Contax played in three successive grand finals between 1990 and 1992. In 1990 they lost to 52–42 to Melbourne City. Contax then lost out to Sydney Pulsars in both 1991 and 1992. Then in 1993 Garville, in their debut season, with a team coached by Patricia Mickan and featuring Natalie Avellino, Jenny Borlase and Michelle Fielke defeated Sydney Electricity 56–49 in the grand final and finished as champions.[1] [2] [11] [12] [13] [14]

In 1994 the two South Australia rivals met in the Mobil Super League grand final, with Contax winning the title after defeating Garville in controversial circumstances. A Contax team captained by Kathryn Harby and featuring Vicki Wilson and Tania Obst, took on a Garville team that again featured Avellino, Borlase and Fielke. Wilson was the top scorer and the closely fought match finish 47–47 at full time. However, Garville claimed they had actually won the match 48–46. It was alleged that during the third quarter, the official scorer accidentally gave one of Garville's goals to Contax. Despite protests from Garville, extra time was played and resulted in a 61–58 win for Contax.[2] [3] [12] [13] [15] [16]

Sydney dominance

Teams from Sydney and New South Wales won four titles. With a team coached by Anne Sargeant and featuring five Australia internationals – Nicole Cusack, Keeley Devery, Sue Kenny, Catriona Wagg and Lisa Wilson – Sydney Tigers won the 1989 title after defeating the Australian Institute of Sport 57–36 in the grand final. The final was attended by Bob Hawke, the Prime Minister of Australia. Tigers subsequently played the 1990 season as Sydney Panthers and finished in third place.[1] [9] During the 1991 and 1992 seasons they played as Sydney Pulsars and finished as champions after defeating Adelaide Contax in two successive grand finals. The 1993 season featured two Sydney teams, Sydney Pulsars and Sydney Electricity. With a team featuring Nicole Cusack, Keeley Devery, Sharon Finnan and Sue Kenny, Sydney Electricity finished as minor premiers and grand finalists. The 1994 season again saw two Sydney teams, this time Sydney Electricity and Sydney Cenovis Ku-ring-gai. The latter team featured a young Liz Ellis and were coached by Julie Fitzgerald. They later evolved into Sydney Swifts.[2] [17] [18] [19] With a team featuring Sharon Finnan and Joanne Morgan, Sydney Electricity were 1995 champions, defeating Melbourne Pumas 53–37 in the grand final. For the 1996 season Sydney Electricity became Sydney Energy and finished as minor premiers and grand finalists.[3] [20] [21]

Melbourne

After Sydney, Melbourne were the league's most successful city, producing three winners. In 1987 Melbourne Blues won the title after defeating Australian Institute of Sport in the final. In 1990 Melbourne City, a composite team coached by Norma Plummer and featuring Roselee Jencke, Simone McKinnis and Shelley O'Donnell defeated Adelaide Contax 52–42 in the grand final. Melbourne City were also the first winners to receive the Prime Minister's Cup. Melbourne Pumas played in the final two grand finals, losing the first to Sydney Electricity and winning the second against Sydney Energy. In both finals, their starting seven included McKinnis, Janine Ilitch, Eloise Southby and Ingrid Dick.[1] [2] [3] [8] [20] [21] [22]

1996 teams

Teams State Debut
Adelaide ContaxSouth Australia1989
Adelaide GarvilleSouth Australia1993
Australian Institute of Sport New South Wales1985
Fremantle PumasWestern Australia1996
Melbourne Pumas Victoria1992
Queensland Mac-Attacks Queensland1994
Sydney Energy New South Wales1993
Sydney CenovisNew South Wales1994

Grand finals

Esso Superleague
SeasonWinners ScoreRunners Up Venue
1985 Australian Institute of Sport52–46Manly-Warringah (NSW)
1986 Australian Institute of Sport61–35East Doncaster (Victoria)
1987 Melbourne BluesAustralian Institute of Sport
1989 Sydney Tigers57–36Australian Institute of SportState Sports Centre
1990Melbourne City52–42Adelaide ContaxState Sports Centre
Mobil Superleague
SeasonWinners ScoreRunners Up Venue
1991 Sydney Pulsars59–36Adelaide ContaxBruce Stadium
1992Sydney Pulsars59–45Adelaide ContaxState Sports Centre
1993 Adelaide Garville56–49Sydney ElectricityState Sports Centre
1994 Adelaide Contax61–58Adelaide Garville
1995 Sydney Electricity53–37Melbourne PumasState Sports Centre
1996 Melbourne Pumas59–39Sydney EnergyAdelaide Powerhouse

Minor premierships

Seasons Team
1989Sydney Tigers
1990Melbourne City
1991Sydney Pulsars
1992
1993Sydney Electricity
1994Adelaide Contax ?
1995Sydney Electricity
1996Sydney Energy

Premiership winning coaches

SeasonHead coaches Team
1985 Wilma ShakespearAustralian Institute of Sport
1986 Wilma ShakespearAustralian Institute of Sport
1987 Melbourne Blues
1989Anne SargeantSydney Tigers
1990Norma PlummerMelbourne City
1991Carol SykesSydney Pulsars
1992Margaret CorbettSydney Pulsars
1993Patricia MickanAdelaide Garville
1994 Margaret AngoveAdelaide Contax
1995 Carol SykesSydney Electricity
1996 Norma PlummerMelbourne Pumas

Main sponsors

Years
Esso1985–1990
Mobil1991–1996

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Esso/Mobil Superleague 1985-1996 (page 1). netballscoop.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20210205094213/https://netballscoop.com/forums/topic/esso-superleague-1985-1990/. 5 February 2021. 30 October 2020.
  2. Web site: Esso/Mobil Superleague 1985-1996 (page 2). netballscoop.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130164759/https://netballscoop.com/forums/topic/esso-superleague-1985-1990/page/2/. 30 November 2020. 30 October 2020.
  3. Web site: Esso/Mobil Superleague 1985-1996 (page 3). netballscoop.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130163412/https://netballscoop.com/forums/topic/esso-superleague-1985-1990/page/3/. 30 November 2020. 30 October 2020.
  4. Web site: A History of Netball – Part 2 of 4. www.wispsports.com. 14 July 2016. 17 January 2021.
  5. News: Institute wins as a team . The Canberra Times. 59 . 18,172 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 1 July 1985 . 29 October 2020 . 28 . National Library of Australia.
  6. Web site: 1985 AIS Netball Program . https://web.archive.org/web/20190324161342/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball/1985 . 24 March 2019 . 15 August 2020 . Clearinghouse for Sport . Australian Sports Commission.
  7. Web site: 1986 AIS Netball Program . https://web.archive.org/web/20190324161428/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball/1986 . 24 March 2019 . 15 August 2020 . Clearinghouse for Sport . Australian Sports Commission.
  8. Web site: 1987 AIS Netball Program . https://web.archive.org/web/20201011171040/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball/1987 . 11 October 2020 . 15 August 2020 . Clearinghouse for Sport . Australian Sports Commission.
  9. Web site: 1989 Netball ESSO League Grand Final - SYD TIGERS vs AIS. www.youtube.com. 14 April 1989. 3 November 2020.
  10. Web site: 1989 AIS Netball Program . https://web.archive.org/web/20190324163558/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball/1989 . 24 March 2019 . 15 August 2020 . Clearinghouse for Sport . Australian Sports Commission.
  11. Web site: 1991 Netball Mobil Superleague Grand Final SYD PULSARS v ADEL CONTAX. www.youtube.com. 3 October 2014. 14 January 2021.
  12. Web site: Club History. www.contax.net.au. 26 October 2020.
  13. Web site: 60 Years of "Netball at its best!". www.contax.net.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20201106035909/https://www.contax.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ETSA-Contax-60th-Year-History-Booklet-5-August-2012-final-27072012-2.pdf. 6 November 2020. 5 August 2012. 28 October 2020.
  14. Web site: 1993 Mobil Netball League Grand Final SYD Elecricity v ADEL Garville. www.youtube.com. 10 November 2015. 3 November 2020.
  15. Web site: 1994 Mobil Superleague Grand Final – Contax v Garville. netballscoop.com. 18 August 2020. 22 October 2020.
  16. Web site: 1994 Mobil Netball Grand Final ADEL Contax v ADEL Garville. www.youtube.com. 11 November 2015. 3 November 2020.
  17. Web site: 2008 Annual Report - Netball Australia. netball.com.au. 11 June 2020.
  18. Web site: NSW Swifts: an unhappy history and a fresh start. www.theguardian.com. 20 February 2014. 14 December 2020.
  19. Web site: A true giant: Julie Fitzgerald set to coach 300th game. www.smh.com.au. 28 April 2018 . 20 January 2021.
  20. Web site: Netball 1995 Mobil Superleague Grand Final SYD Energy vs MEL Pumas. www.youtube.com. 14 November 2018. 3 November 2020.
  21. Web site: Netball 1996 Mobil Superleague - Semi Final & Grand Final. www.youtube.com. 14 November 2018. 3 November 2020.
  22. Web site: The Prime Minister's Cup awarded to the Mobil Super League Champions, 1991-96. Australian Sports Museum. australiansportsmuseum.org.au. 17 January 2021.
  23. Web site: 1996 AIS Netball Program . https://web.archive.org/web/20190324163902/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/people/ais_alumni/netball/1996 . 24 March 2019 . 16 August 2020 . Clearinghouse for Sport . Australian Sports Commission.