New South Wales Swifts Explained
New South Wales Swifts are an Australian professional netball team based in Sydney, New South Wales. Since 2017 they have represented Netball New South Wales in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. The team was formed in 2007 when Netball New South Wales merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Sydney Swifts and Hunter Jaegers. In 2008, Swifts were the inaugural ANZ Championship winners. Swifts were also grand finalists in 2015 and 2016. They won their second and third premierships in 2019 and 2021.
History
ANZ Championship
Between 2008 and 2016, Swifts played in the ANZ Championship.[1] [2] [3] [4] 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.[5] [6] [7] [8] During the 2008 regular season Swifts won 10 of their 13 matches and finished second behind Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. With a team coached by Julie Fitzgerald and captained by Catherine Cox, Swifts subsequently defeated Magic in both the major semi–final and the grand final to become the inaugural ANZ Championship winners.[9] [10] Swifts went through the entire 2010 regular season home and away undefeated, winning 13 consecutive matches and finishing as minor premiers. They were the first team in the history of the ANZ Championship to do this. However they subsequently lost both the major semi-final and the preliminary final to Adelaide Thunderbirds and Magic respectively and finished the season in third place.[11] [12] [13]
)The 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons proved to be a turbulent time for Swifts. After fifteen seasons as Sydney Swifts/New South Wales Swifts head coach, 2011 was the last season that Julie Fitzgerald served as head coach. Following a controversial "internal review", Fitzgerald was replaced as head coach by Lisa Beehag. The review was conducted during the 2011 season. Catherine Cox and Liz Ellis publicly criticized Netball New South Wales for distracting players with the review and even alleged that it was responsible for Swifts losing the 2011 minor semi-final. Beehag subsequently informed Cox that she would not be needed as a captain or player the following season. Cox subsequently departed for West Coast Fever. Other senior and emerging players including Rebecca Bulley, Courtney Tairi and Ashleigh Brazill also left. It was also alleged that the controversy led to some emerging New South Wales players, including Verity Simmons, Gabi Simpson and Kim Ravaillion, taking up contracts with rival teams. Under the leadership of Fitzgerald and Fox, New South Wales Swifts had been champions in 2008 and had reached the final series/play-offs in 2010 and 2011. Under Beehag's two-year reign, the team failed to make the finals. In 2013, the Swifts finished eighth. At the end of 2013 Beehag's contract was not renewed.[14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]
Beehag was subsequently replaced by Rob Wright.[20] [21] [22] Wright guided Swifts to two successive grand finals in 2015 and 2016. However, on both occasions they lost out to Queensland Firebirds.[3] [4] [23] [24]
- Regular season statistics
Suncorp Super Netball
Since 2017, Swifts have played in Suncorp Super Netball.[1] [36] [37] In addition to Swifts, the new league featured a second Netball New South Wales team, Giants Netball. Two veteran members of the 2016 Swifts roster, Kimberlee Green and Susan Pettitt, subsequently switched to the Giants, who were coached by former Swifts head coach, Julie Fitzgerald.[38] [39] The 2018 season saw Rob Wright replaced by Briony Akle.[40] [41] In 2019, Akle guided Swifts to their second premiership when they won the Suncorp Super Netball title. Despite losing their new captain, Maddy Proud, to injury early in the season, Swifts finished the regular season in second place. In the major semi-final, they lost to Sunshine Coast Lightning. However, they then defeated Melbourne Vixens in the preliminary final. In the grand final they faced Lightning again but time defeated them 64–47 to emerge as champions.[42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] In 2021 with a team coached by Briony Akle and co-captained by Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley, Swifts won their second Suncorp Super Netball title. In the grand final they defeated Giants Netball 63–59.[48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54]
- Regular season statistics
Grand finals
- ANZ Championship
- Suncorp Super Netball
Home venues
Between 2008 and 2019, Swifts played the majority of their home games at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre. In 2020, together with Giants Netball, Swifts were due to start to playing their home games at the Ken Rosewall Arena.[70] However these plans were put on hold until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[71] [72]
- Notes
Notable players
Internationals
Captains
Award winners
- ANZ Championship MVP
- Notes
- ANZ Championship Player of the Year
- ANZ Finals Series MVP
- Holden Cruze ANZ Championship Player of the Year
- QBE NSW Swifts Most Valued Player
- NSW Swifts Members' Player of the Year
- NSW Swifts Players' Player of the Year
- NSW Swifts Coaches' Award
AFLW players
Several Swifts player have also played women's Australian rules football in the AFLW
Coaches
Head Coaches
Assistant coaches
Premierships
NNSW Waratahs
See main article: article and Netball New South Wales Waratahs.
Netball New South Wales Waratahs are the reserve team of New South Wales Swifts. They play in the Australian Netball League. In 2011 Waratahs became the first team other than Victorian Fury to win the ANL title. In the grand final they defeated Fury 55–46.[29]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: History. nswswifts.com.au. 9 January 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2008 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 7 September 2020. 29 November 2008.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2016 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 15 December 2020. 29 November 2016.
- Web site: Netball NSW – 2016 Annual Report. Netball NSW. https://web.archive.org/web/20200630013613/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/10/06143231/2016-NNSW-Annual-Report.pdf. 30 June 2020. 28 June 2020.
- Web site: NSW Netball boss speaks up . www.newstalkzb.co.nz. 13 March 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20080315030637/http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=113953. 3 April 2008. 15 March 2008.
- Web site: Southern Steel faces plenty of travelling in the early rounds. PressReader. The Southland Times. 12 December 2007. 16 September 2020.
- Web site: NSW SWIFTS; red hot and ready to take on world. nswswifts.com.au. 8 March 2009. 8 December 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20090915150140/http://nswswifts.com.au/newsitem.asp?id=6075&orgid=2420&year=2007&month=12. 15 September 2009.
- Web site: New South Wales team announced . www.sportsaustralia.com. 8 March 2009. 8 December 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071209124805/http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=2714 . 9 December 2007 .
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2008 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 7 September 2020. 29 November 2008.
- Web site: 2008 Annual Report - Netball Australia. netball.com.au. 11 June 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2010 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 10 June 2020. 29 November 2010.
- Web site: 2010 Netball NSW Annual Report. https://web.archive.org/web/20210110202235/http://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/10/06155445/2010-Netball-NSW-Annual-Report.pdf. 10 January 2021. 28 June 2020. Netball NSW.
- Web site: Netball Australia Annual Report 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20201029171008/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/27094535/2010-Annual-Report.pdf. 29 October 2020. 28 June 2020 . Netball Australia.
- News: Review that resulted in Fitzgerald's dumping put Swifts off their game: Cox. www.smh.com.au. 3 June 2011. 18 January 2012.
- News: Cox goes west after losing top job. www.smh.com.au. 18 August 2011. 16 December 2020.
- News: Swifts departure for shooter Catherine Cox. www.stuff.co.nz. 16 August 2011. 16 December 2020.
- News: Netball: Team-by-team guide. www.nzherald.co.nz. 29 March 2012. 16 December 2020.
- News: Cox refusing to dwell on history. www.newcastleherald.com.au. 17 May 2012. 16 December 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts: an unhappy history and a fresh start. www.theguardian.com. 20 February 2014. 14 December 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts: an unhappy history and a fresh start. www.theguardian.com. 20 February 2014. 14 December 2020.
- Web site: Wright was simply best candidate for Swifts. www.stuff.co.nz. 9 December 2020. 28 July 2013.
- Web site: Swifts' Rob Wright at home in a woman's world. www.stuff.co.nz. 27 June 2020. 14 March 2014.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2015 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 14 December 2020. 29 November 2015.
- Web site: 2015 Annual Report – Netball NSW. nsw.netball.com.au. 14 December 2020.
- Web site: Teams // Swifts - ANZ Championship 2008. www.anz-championship.com. 9 October 2021.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2009 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 10 June 2020. 29 November 2009.
- Web site: Netball NSW – 2009 Annual Report. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111140741/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/10/06155445/2009-Netball-NSW-Annual-Report.pdf. 11 January 2021. 28 June 2020. Netball NSW.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2011 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 7 September 2020. 29 November 2011.
- Web site: Netball NSW and NSW Swifts – 2011 Annual Report. Netball NSW. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111140428/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/10/06155444/2011-Netball-NSW-Annual-Report.pdf. 11 January 2021. 28 June 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2012 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 8 December 2020. 29 November 2012.
- Web site: Netball NSW and NSW Swifts – 2012 Annual Report. https://web.archive.org/web/20210110073113/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/10/06155446/2012-Netball-NSW-Annual-Report.pdf. 10 January 2021. 28 June 2020 . Netball NSW.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2013 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 10 June 2020. 29 November 2013.
- Web site: Netball NSW and NSW Swifts – 2013 Annual Report. nsw.netball.com.au. 10 December 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2014 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 12 December 2020. 29 November 2014.
- Web site: 2014 Annual Report – Netball NSW. nsw.netball.com.au. 12 December 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2017 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 15 December 2020. 29 November 2017.
- Web site: Netball NSW – 2017 Annual Report. Netball NSW. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111102825/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/10/02135948/2017-Annual-Report-ex-Financials-2MAR18.pdf. 11 January 2021. 28 June 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts departures continue as crosstown rivals announce team. www.theguardian.com. 22 September 2016. 17 December 2020.
- News: NSW Swifts unveil decimated netball roster, as Rob Wright admits huge task ahead. www.smh.com.au. 23 September 2016. 17 December 2020.
- Web site: Briony Akle named NSW Swifts Head Coach. www.nswis.com.au. 28 June 2020. 7 September 2017.
- Web site: Briony Akle named as NSW Swifts head coach. www.smh.com.au. 12 September 2017.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2019 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 15 December 2020. 29 November 2019.
- Web site: Netball New South Wales – 2019 Annual Report. nsw.netball.com.au. 1 September 2020.
- Web site: Suspected season-ending injury to Proud sours Swifts' big win. www.smh.com.au. 9 June 2019. 28 November 2020.
- Web site: Proud Swifts need no excuses in 2019's Super Netball race. www.theguardian.com. 17 June 2019. 28 November 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts stun Sunshine Coast Lighting to claim dominant Super Netball grand final victory. www.abc.net.au. 15 September 2019. 8 August 2020.
- Web site: The NSW Swifts are the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball Champions. supernetball.com.au. 15 September 2019. 2 December 2020.
- Web site: Proud, Hadley to co-captain Swifts in 2021 . nswswifts.com.au. 30 August 2021. 19 April 2021.
- Web site: NSW Swifts celebrate Super Netball grand final triumph over Giants. www.theguardian.com. 28 August 2021. 29 August 2021.
- Web site: NSW Swifts beat Giants in Super Netball grand final to win second title in three seasons. www.abc.net.au. 28 August 2021. 29 August 2021.
- Web site: NSW Swifts win 2021 Grand Final. supernetball.com.au. 28 August 2021. 29 August 2021.
- Web site: Swifts dedicate 'incredible' grand final win to locked-down NSW. www.smh.com.au. 28 August 2021. 29 August 2021.
- Web site: Swifts down Giants to secure seventh Premiership. nswswifts.com.au. 30 August 2021. 28 August 2021.
- Web site: Proud pushes through pain of broken rib to lead Swifts to grand final glory. www.smh.com.au. 30 August 2021. 31 August 2021.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2017 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 15 December 2020. 29 November 2017.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2018 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 15 December 2020. 29 November 2018.
- Web site: Netball NSW – 2018 Annual Report. Netball NSW. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111130952/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/03/08113918/Annual-Financial-Report-2018.pdf. 11 January 2021. 28 June 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts - 2020 Season. nswswifts.com.au. 9 January 2020. 1 December 2020.
- News: Swifts down Magic in grand final thriller . www.abc.net.au. 28 July 2008. 8 March 2009.
- Web site: Netball: Magic tumble to Swifts in ANZ Championship final. www.nzherald.co.nz. 28 July 2008. 2 December 2020.
- Web site: No Magic bullet in big final. www.nzherald.co.nz. 28 July 2008. 2 December 2020.
- Web site: The Swifts def Magic in ANZ Final. womensportreport.com. 29 July 2008. 2 December 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts win netball championship. www.rnz.co.nz. 29 July 2008. 2 December 2020.
- 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.
- Web site: Queensland Firebirds crowned ANZ Champions in a last minute thriller. www.theroar.com.au. 21 June 2015. 7 October 2020.
- Web site: Netball: Firebirds win thrilling grand final. www.nzherald.co.nz. 21 June 2015. 11 October 2020.
- Web site: 2015–16 Netball Queensland Annual Report. Netball Queensland. 12 August 2020.
- Web site: Allora skipper leads Firebirds to record-breaking third win. www.themorningbulletin.com.au. 31 July 2016. 3 October 2020.
- Web site: Queensland Firebirds' grand final win over NSW Swifts raises the bar for Australian netball. www.abc.net.au. 1 August 2016. 17 December 2020.
- News: Coach challenges Swifts to lift: 'I want us to make a statement'. www.smh.com.au. 14 November 2019.
- News: NSW Swifts off to Queensland for majority of 2020 season. nswswifts.com.au. 19 July 2020. 18 December 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts & Giants relocating to Queensland immediately. nswswifts.com.au. 29 July 2020. 21 October 2020.
- News: Coach challenges Swifts to lift: 'I want us to make a statement'. www.smh.com.au. 14 November 2019.
- News: Check out the full ANZ Championship fixture for 2013. www.perthnow.com.au. 16 October 2012. 18 December 2020.
- Web site: Newcastle gets slice of trans-Tasman action. www.newcastleherald.com.au. 4 December 2007. 21 December 2020.
- News: Cox set to leave Swifts after losing captaincy. www.smh.com.au. 16 August 2011. 31 August 2011.
- Web site: Swifts captain Abbey McCulloch to step away from Super Netball in 2019. www.news.com.au. 6 September 2018.
- Web site: Proud Named Swifts Captain Ahead Of 2019 Season. supernetball.com.au. 28 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190305023805/https://supernetball.com.au/2019/02/28/proud-named-swifts-captain-ahead-of-2019-season/. 1 March 2019. 5 March 2019.
- Web site: Suspected season-ending injury to Proud sours Swifts' big win. www.smh.com.au. 9 June 2019. 28 November 2020.
- Web site: Proud Swifts need no excuses in 2019's Super Netball race. www.theguardian.com. 17 June 2019. 28 November 2020.
- Web site: Proud puts injury heartache behind to lead Swifts' title charge. www.smh.com.au. 9 July 2020. 28 November 2020.
- Web site: Swifts leaders Proud and Hadley go again in 2021. supernetball.com.au. 19 October 2020. 28 November 2020.
- Web site: Kimberlee Green, Jo Harten share netball MVP honours. www.smh.com.au. 20 June 2014. 12 December 2020.
- Web site: Sharni Layton retires from all forms of netball. diamonds.netball.com.au. 18 July 2018. 14 December 2020.
- Web site: Netball star Sharni Layton takes second straight ANZ Championship honour. www.smh.com.au. 8 December 2016.
- Web site: Bulley nets MVP award. www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au. 22 June 2010. 6 September 2020.
- Web site: Green wins 2013 QBE MVP & Members' award. www.nswswifts.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221070301/http://www.nswswifts.com.au/newsitem.asp?id=43639&orgid=2420&year=2013. 17 November 2014. 21 February 2014.
- Web site: Caitlin Thwaites named NSW Swifts MVP for 2015. www.smh.com.au. 2 July 2015. 15 December 2020.
- Web site: NSW Swifts shooter Caitlin Thwaites wins club's most valuable player award. www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 3 July 2015. 14 December 2020.
- News: Klau named Swifts MVP for 2020. nswswifts.com.au. 31 October 2020. 18 December 2020.
- Web site: Wallace named Swifts MVP for 2021 season . 2022-07-05 . NSW Swifts . en.
- Web site: Sonia Mkoloma is players' pick for 2013. www.nswswifts.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129032330/http://www.nswswifts.com.au/newsitem.asp?id=43662&orgid=2420&year=2013. 17 November 2014. 29 November 2014.
- Web site: Hadley wins inaugural Coaches' Award . www.nswswifts.com.au . 17 November 2014 . https://archive.today/20141117023034/http://www.nswswifts.com.au/newsitem.asp?id=43682&orgid=2420&year=2013 . 17 November 2014 . dead.
- Web site: Lisa Beehag. diamonds.netball.com.au. 9 December 2020.
- Web site: Wright was simply best candidate for Swifts. www.stuff.co.nz. 9 December 2020. 28 July 2013.
- Web site: Swifts' Rob Wright at home in a woman's world. www.stuff.co.nz. 27 June 2020. 14 March 2014.
- Web site: Coaching comes naturally for Akle . supernetball.com.au. 28 June 2020. 22 July 2019.
- Web site: Akle's Vision Behind Swifts' Ascendance . supernetball.com.au. 28 June 2020. 16 September 2019.
- Web site: Bulley returns to Swifts as Assistant Coach . nswswifts.com.au. 10 February 2021. 19 June 2021.
- Web site: Avellino steps up for 2023 Super Netball campaign. nswswifts.com.au. 19 June 2023. 20 August 2022.
- Web site: Southland's favourite Australian returns 'home'. southlandtribune.substack.com. 19 June 2023. 1 February 2023.
- News: QBE backs NSW Swifts success. www.sportspromedia.com. 22 July 2013. 18 December 2020.
- News: A decade and counting for QBE and NSW Swifts. www.qbe.com. 4 March 2018. 27 December 2020.