BrandWikiReturn

ANZ Championship

The ANZ Championship, also known as the Trans-Tasman Netball League, was a netball league featuring teams from both Australia and New Zealand. Between 2008 and 2016, it was the top-level league in both countries. The competition was owned and administered by Trans-Tasman Netball League Ltd (TTNL), a joint venture between Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand. It was effectively a merger of Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy and New Zealand's National Bank Cup. Its main sponsor was the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.

In 2008, New South Wales Swifts were the inaugural ANZ Championship winners. Queensland Firebirds were the most successful team during the ANZ Championship era, playing in five grand finals and winning three premierships in 2011, 2015 and 2016. They were also the only team to win back to back ANZ Championship titles. Both Melbourne Vixens (2009, 2014) and Adelaide Thunderbirds (2010, 2013) won two titles each. The most successful New Zealand team were Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic who were premiers in 2012 and were the only team in the competitions history, to contest the finals series every year.

In May 2016, Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand announced that the ANZ Championship would be discontinued after the 2016 season. In Australia it was replaced by Suncorp Super Netball and in New Zealand it was replaced by the ANZ Premiership.

Teams

2008

The ANZ Championship featured five Australian and five New Zealand teams.[1] Adelaide Thunderbirds and Queensland Firebirds of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league became founders of the new league.[2] Several other Commonwealth Bank Trophy teams were transformed to form ANZ Championship teams. Sydney Swifts and Hunter Jaegers merged to become New South Wales Swifts,[3] Melbourne Kestrels and Melbourne Phoenix merged to become Melbourne Vixens[4] and Perth Orioles were rebranded as West Coast Fever.[5][6]

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and Canterbury Flames of the National Bank Cup league also became founder members of the new league. Flames were rebranded as Canterbury Tactix.[7][8] The remaining six National Bank Cup teams were merged into three new teams. Southern Sting and Otago Rebels joined forces to become Southern Steel, Capital Shakers and Western Flyers merged as Central Pulse, while Auckland Diamonds and Northern Force became Northern Mystics.[9][10][11][12]

2016

Australian Conference

New Zealand Conference

Australian Conference

New Zealand Conference

History

Formation

The ANZ Championship was founded in 2007 and played it inaugural season in 2008. The competition was owned and administered by Trans-Tasman Netball League Ltd (TTNL), a joint venture between Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand. It was effectively a merger of Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy and New Zealand's National Bank Cup.[1][15][16][17][18][19] Its main sponsor was the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.[20][21]

Five seasons, five champions

In 2008, New South Wales Swifts became the inaugural ANZ Championship winners after defeating the minor premiers, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 65–56 in the grand final.[2][22][23][24] In 2009, Melbourne Vixens were both minor premiers and overall champions.[25][26] Swifts went through the entire 2010 regular season home and away undefeated, winning 13 consecutive matches and finishing as minor premiers. However they subsequently lost both the major semi-final and the preliminary final to Adelaide Thunderbirds and Magic respectively and eventually finished the season in third place. After defeating Swifts in the major semi-final, Thunderbirds defeated Magic 52–42 in the grand final.[27][28][29][30][31]

In 2011, Queensland Firebirds finished the season undefeated. They became the first team in the history of the ANZ Championship to go through the regular season and the playoffs without losing a single match. In the grand final they defeated Northern Mystics.[32][33][34][35] In 2012, Magic became fifth team in as many seasons to win the title. Vixens won the minor premiership after winning 10 of their 13 matches. Meanwhile, Magic lost their first four matches. However, they subsequently won 12 matches in a row to finish third during the regular season and champions overall. In the minor semi-final they defeated Thunderbirds and in the preliminary final they defeated Mystics. In the grand final they defeated Vixens 41–38. As a result, they became the first, and only, New Zealand team to win the ANZ Championship.[36][37][38][39][40][41]

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic

The most successful New Zealand team during ANZ Championship era were Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.[41][42] In 2008 they were minor premiers and overall runners up.[43][22][23][24] In 2009 they were regular season runners up.[44] In 2010 they were overall runners up and grand finalists for a second time.[31][45] In 2011 they were again regular season runners up.[46][47] In 2012 they made their third grand final appearance and, after defeating Melbourne Vixens 41–38 they finished as premiers. As a result, they became the first, and only, New Zealand team to win the ANZ Championship.[41][36][38][39][40][48][49] In both 2015 and 2016, Magic also finished as winners of the New Zealand Conference.[50][51][52]

Thunderbirds and Vixens: second titles

Having previously won the 2010 title, in 2013 Adelaide Thunderbirds became the first team to win a second championship.[53][54] Having won their first title in 2009, in 2014 Melbourne Vixens won their second ANZ Championship.[4][55][56][57]

Queensland Firebirds

Queensland Firebirds were the most successful team during the ANZ Championship era. In 2009, Roselee Jencke was appointed head coach. Between 2011 and 2016, Jencke guided Firebirds to five grand finals and three premierships in 2011, 2015 and 2016. They were the only team to win back to back ANZ Championship titles.[58][59][60][61][62] Romelda Aiken, Laura Geitz and Clare McMeniman formed the nucleus of the Firebirds squad and featured in all three Championship winning squads.[63][64][65][66][67]

Demise

In May 2016, Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand announced that the ANZ Championship would be discontinued after the 2016 season. In Australia it was replaced by Suncorp Super Netball and in New Zealand it was replaced by the ANZ Premiership.[41][68][69][70][71]

Format

2008–2014

Between 2008 and 2014, the regular season saw the five Australian teams play each other twice and the New Zealand teams once. Similarly, the New Zealand teams played each other twice and each of the Australian teams once. The ten teams played 13 games – eight home-and-away matches against teams from their country and five alternating home or away games against teams from the other country. The top four teams from the regular season subsequently qualified for the Finals Series which used a Page–McIntyre system to determine the overall champion.[1][72][73]

Conference system

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.[74][75][76] 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.[77] On 15 March 2015, 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.[78]

Grand finals

Minor premierships

Media coverage

Notable players

References

  1. About the (2009) ANZ Championship www.anz-championship.com, retrieved 8 March 2021^
  2. 2008 Annual Report – Netball Australia netball.com.au, retrieved 11 June 2020^
  3. Southern Steel faces plenty of travelling in the early rounds The Southland Times, 12 December 2007, retrieved 16 September 2020^
  4. Melbourne Vixens – Our history melbournevixens.com.au, retrieved 13 September 2020^
  5. Perth Orioles History westcoastfever.com.au, retrieved 24 August 2020^
  6. 2007 Netball Western Australia Annual Report Netball Western Australia, retrieved 6 August 2020^
  7. Netball's new faces, new name stuff.co.nz, 31 January 2009, retrieved 14 June 2022^
  8. Celebrating 25 years of elite netball anzpremiership.co.nz, 16 February 2022, retrieved 14 June 2022^
  9. Netball: Nod to all five Tasman Trophy bids www.nzherald.co.nz, 8 May 2007, retrieved 20 June 2021^
  10. New life for central netball: We have The Pulse www.nzherald.co.nz, 17 November 2007, retrieved 9 February 2021^
  11. Mystics join forces www.foxsports.com.au, 6 April 2008, retrieved 22 June 2021^
  12. Southern Steel – About us www.southernsteel.co.nz, retrieved 22 June 2021^
  13. Jill McIntosh to coach Central www.nzherald.co.nz, 11 July 2007, retrieved 8 February 2021^
  14. Lana Margaret McCarthy. A Case Study of the Northern Mystics Netball Team (2008–2014) Massey University, mro.massey.ac.nz, retrieved 22 June 2021^
  15. History www.anz-championship.com, retrieved 8 March 2021^
  16. New look trans-Tasman netball competition www.netball.asn.au, 11 March 2007, retrieved 3 April 2008^
  17. Trans-Tasman netball tournament in 2008 www.smh.com.au, 12 March 2007, retrieved 3 April 2008^
  18. Game enters new era with trans-Tasman trophy www.theage.com.au, 13 March 2007, retrieved 3 April 2008^
  19. Netball Australia – Annual Report 2007 netball.com.au, retrieved 11 September 2020^
  20. Professional era coming soon: Ellis www.theage.com.au, 9 October 2007, retrieved 3 April 2008^
  21. ANZ renews title sponsorship of elite netball league www.sportspromedia.com, 27 February 2014, retrieved 25 April 2021^
  22. Swifts down Magic in grand final thriller www.abc.net.au, 28 July 2008, retrieved 8 March 2009^
  23. Netball: Magic tumble to Swifts in ANZ Championship final www.nzherald.co.nz, 28 July 2008, retrieved 2 December 2020^
  24. No Magic bullet in big final www.nzherald.co.nz, 28 July 2008, retrieved 2 December 2020^
  25. Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2009 Netball Victoria, retrieved 14 September 2020^
  26. 2009 Annual Report – Netball Australia netball.com.au, retrieved 23 June 2020^
  27. NSW Swifts – 2010 Season nswswifts.com.au, 29 November 2010, retrieved 10 June 2020^
  28. 2010 Netball NSW Annual Report Netball NSW, retrieved 28 June 2020^
  29. Annual Report 2010 – Netball SA sa.netball.com.au, retrieved 29 June 2020^
  30. Netball Australia Annual Report 2010 Netball Australia, retrieved 28 June 2020^
  31. Thunderbirds claim victory www.abc.net.au, 11 July 2010, retrieved 16 October 2020^
  32. 2011 Annual Report – Netball Australia netball.com.au, retrieved 26 August 2020^
  33. 2011 Netball Queensland Annual Report Netball Queensland, retrieved 12 August 2020^
  34. Queensland Firebirds crowned ANZ Champions www.theroar.com.au, 22 May 2011, retrieved 7 October 2020^
  35. Queensland Firebirds burn Northern Mystics The Press, www.pressreader.com, 23 May 2011, retrieved 11 October 2020^
  36. Netball Australia Annual Report 2012 netball.com.au, retrieved 30 September 2020^
  37. 2012 Annual Report – Netball Victoria – Melbourne Vixens Netball Victoria, retrieved 22 August 2020^
  38. Netball: Magic win ANZ Championship www.nzherald.co.nz, 22 July 2012, retrieved 20 March 2021^
  39. Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic win grand final www.stuff.co.nz, 23 July 2012^
  40. Netball: At last! Magic claim win for NZ www.nzherald.co.nz, 23 July 2012, retrieved 23 July 2012^
  41. Thanks for the memories, ANZ Championship www.sbs.com.au, 3 August 2016, retrieved 4 June 2021^
  42. In the Spotlight: First Windows Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic www.anz-championship.com, 4 May 2011, retrieved 22 June 2021^
  43. 2008 Season Statistics www.anz-championship.com, retrieved 17 February 2021^
  44. ANZ Championship – 2009 Season Ladder www.anz-championship.com, retrieved 20 February 2021^
  45. Adelaide Thunderbirds (52) defeated Bay of Plenty Magic (42) womensportreport.com, 11 July 2010, retrieved 16 October 2020^
  46. Netball: Magic clinch second place www.odt.co.nz, 3 May 2011, retrieved 20 June 2021^
  47. Magic defeat Pulse in Round 12 www.netballnz.co.nz, 3 May 2011, retrieved 20 June 2021^
  48. It's a kind a Magic – 2012 ANZ Championship premiers www.womensportreport.com, 22 July 2012, retrieved 20 March 2021^
  49. 2012 In Review – Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic www.anz-championship.com, 21 August 2012, retrieved 20 March 2021^
  50. Magic win NZ netball conference www.rnz.co.nz, 9 June 2015, retrieved 14 May 2021^
  51. Fast finishing Southern Steel fall short as Magic claim New Zealand trans-Tasman netball conference stuff.co.nz, 17 July 2016, retrieved 11 June 2021^
  52. Magic crowned NZ Conference Champions www.netballnz.co.nz, 18 July 2016, retrieved 11 June 2021^
  53. Annual Report 2013 – Netball SA sa.netball.com.au, retrieved 29 June 2020^
  54. Netball in the 2010s (Part 2) netballscoop.com, 29 January 2020, retrieved 4 April 2021^
  55. Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2014 vic.netball.com.au, retrieved 28 August 2020^
  56. Melbourne Vixens win ANZ Championship grand final against Queensland Firebirds www.news.com.au, 22 June 2014, retrieved 22 August 2020^
  57. Vixens crowned 2014 Premiers vic.netball.com.au, 23 June 2014, retrieved 22 August 2020^
  58. Firebirds name new coach www.abc.net.au, 7 August 2009, retrieved 6 October 2020^
  59. Roselee Jencke firebirds.net.au, retrieved 5 October 2020^
  60. Jancke to lead the Firebirds for a decade thewomensgame.com, 14 June 2018, retrieved 5 October 2020^
  61. 'It's the right time': Roselee Jencke quits as Queensland Firebirds coach www.theguardian.com, 8 October 2020, retrieved 11 October 2020^
  62. Jencke farewells Firebirds firebirds.net.au, 8 October 2020, retrieved 11 October 2020^
  63. Allora skipper leads Firebirds to record-breaking third win www.themorningbulletin.com.au, 31 July 2016, retrieved 3 October 2020^
  64. Queensland Firebirds's 2011 final rematch with Northern Mystics revives happy memories www.couriermail.com.au, 13 June 2015, retrieved 11 October 2020^
  65. Firebirds ace Clare McMeniman opens up on death of her parents and Laura Geitz friendship www.couriermail.com.au, 26 March 2016, retrieved 2 October 2020^
  66. Geitz 'missed being part of the Firebirds family' www.news-mail.com.au, 7 July 2017, retrieved 2 October 2020^
  67. Queensland Netball Thriving At The Top Level supernetball.com.au, 25 August 2018, retrieved 2 October 2020^
  68. Netball Australia – Annual Report 2016 netball.com.au, retrieved 13 May 2021^
  69. Netball: End of ANZ Championship confirmed, new competition revealed www.nzherald.co.nz, 19 May 2016, retrieved 4 June 2021^
  70. ANZ backs new NZ Netball Elite League www.netballnz.co.nz, 29 July 2016, retrieved 22 June 2021^
  71. 'Super Sundays' main feature of new NZ national elite netball league www.stuff.co.nz, 15 November 2016, retrieved 18 January 2017^
  72. (2009) ANZ Championship Rules www.anz-championship.com, retrieved 19 February 2021^
  73. (2011) Competition Format www.anz-championship.com, retrieved 8 March 2021^
  74. Netball: ANZ Championship in structure shake-up www.skysports.com, 20 November 2014, retrieved 10 May 2021^
  75. ANZ Championship to split into Australian-NZ Conferences www.tvnz.co.nz, 19 November 2014, retrieved 10 May 2021^
  76. ANZ Championship introduces new initiatives www.netballnz.co.nz, 19 November 2014, retrieved 11 May 2021^
  77. ANZ Championship rule amendment to draws and points www.netballnz.co.nz, 4 December 2014, retrieved 25 April 2021^
  78. NSW Swifts grab draw with Queensland Firebirds in trans-Tasman netball www.abc.net.au, 15 March 2015, retrieved 11 May 2021^
  79. Vixens overpower Thunderbirds www.smh.com.au, 27 July 2009, retrieved 16 October 2020^
  80. Vixens victorious at ANZ Grand Final showdown www.express.co.uk, 27 July 2009, retrieved 16 October 2020^
  81. Adelaide Thunderbirds win second ANZ Championship title after downing Queensland Firebirds www.foxsports.com.au, 14 July 2013, retrieved 7 October 2020^
  82. Diamonds should call on T'bird Bell www.theroar.com.au, 15 July 2013, retrieved 7 October 2020^
  83. Netball: Adelaide Thunderbirds win trans-Tasman title with 50–48 win over Queensland Firebirds www.abc.net.au, 15 July 2013^
  84. National champions Adelaide Thunderbirds pretty in pink and loving it www.adelaidenow.com.au, 7 February 2014, retrieved 17 October 2020^
  85. Queensland Firebirds lose final bout in ANZ Championship grand final www.adelaidenow.com.au, 22 June 2014, retrieved 7 October 2020^
  86. 2015 Netball Queensland Annual Report Netball Queensland, retrieved 12 August 2020^
  87. Queensland Firebirds crowned ANZ Champions in a last minute thriller www.theroar.com.au, 21 June 2015, retrieved 7 October 2020^
  88. Netball: Firebirds win thrilling grand final www.nzherald.co.nz, 21 June 2015, retrieved 11 October 2020^
  89. Queensland Firebirds' grand final win over NSW Swifts raises the bar for Australian netball www.abc.net.au, 1 August 2016, retrieved 17 December 2020^
  90. NSW Swifts – 2008 Season nswswifts.com.au, 29 November 2008, retrieved 7 September 2020^
  91. Vixens vanquish Kiwis with their own magic www.smh.com.au, 13 July 2009, retrieved 19 February 2021^
  92. ANZ Championship – 2010 Season Ladder www.anz-championship.com, retrieved 28 February 2021^
  93. ANZ Championship – 2011 Season Ladder www.anz-championship.com, retrieved 8 March 2021^
  94. Adelaide Thunderbirds win trans-Tasman netball's minor premiership www.rnz.co.nz, 16 June 2013, retrieved 7 April 2021^
  95. Netball: Adelaide Thunderbirds claim minor premiership after surviving Northern Mystics scare www.abc.net.au, 16 June 2013, retrieved 7 April 2021^
  96. ANZ Championship 2015 – Standings www.flashscore.com, retrieved 10 May 2021^
  97. Steel seal top spot in trans-Tasman league with victory over Melbourne Vixens stuff.co.nz, 25 June 2016, retrieved 10 June 2021^
  98. ANZ Championship netball finals guide: NSW Swifts v Melbourne Vixens in elimination final, Firebirds, Steel finish top www.dailytelegraph.com.au, 6 July 2016, retrieved 10 June 2021^
  99. 2016 Netball South Annual Report www.silverferns.co.nz, retrieved 2 May 2022^
  100. 2008 Netball Western Australia Annual Report Netball Western Australia, retrieved 4 August 2020^
  101. 'Most comprehensive' broadcast deal for Netball Australia www.sportspromedia.com, 22 March 2013, retrieved 4 April 2021^
  102. 2013 Netball New Zealand Annual Report www.silverferns.co.nz, retrieved 8 April 2021^
  103. SBS Secures Broadcast Rights For The 2014 ANZ Championship Netball Series tvblackbox.com.au, 14 February 2014, retrieved 25 April 2021^
  104. Māori Television announces deal to screen ANZ Championship netball on Te Reo channel www.maoritelevision.com, 19 February 2014, retrieved 26 April 2021^
  105. Māori TV sub-licenses netball package from Sky www.sportspromedia.com, 19 February 2014, retrieved 26 April 2021^
  106. ANZ Championship broadens indigenous reach www.sportspromedia.com, 6 March 2014, retrieved 26 April 2021^
  107. Fox Sports and Network Ten announce new deal for ANZ Netball Championship tvblackbox.com.au, 23 February 2015, retrieved 15 May 2021^
  108. ANZ Championship Netball On Free-To-Air Television www.netballnz.co.nz, 6 March 2015, retrieved 15 May 2021^
  109. ANZ championship 2016 guide: Teams, tips, draw, TV, netball guns, player movement www.dailytelegraph.com.au, 9 May 2016, retrieved 3 June 2021^
  110. 2016 ANZ Championship fixture released www.netballnz.co.nz, 17 September 2015, retrieved 3 June 2021^