2016 Queensland Firebirds season

The 2016 Queensland Firebirds season saw the Queensland Firebirds netball team compete in the 2016 ANZ Championship. With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Laura Geitz and featuring Romelda Aiken, Clare McMeniman and Kim Ravaillion, Firebirds won the Australian Conference, the Challenge Trophy and the overall championship. Firebirds became the first and only team to retain the title. In a repeat of 2015, Firebirds defeated New South Wales Swifts in both the Australian Conference Final and the Grand Final.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Queensland Firebirds
2016 season
Head coachRoselee Jencke
CaptainLaura Geitz
Vice-captainClare McMeniman
Main venueBrisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Season results
Wins–losses14–2
Regular season1st (Australian Conference)
Challenge Trophy holders
Finals placing1st
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Queensland Firebirds seasons
2017 →

Players

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Player movements

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Gains and losses
  Gains   Losses

Sources:[11]

2016 roster

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2016 Queensland Firebirds roster
Players Coaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
  Romelda Aiken GS, GA (1988-11-19)19 November 1988 (aged 27) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
  Mahalia Cassidy WA, C (1995-10-09)9 October 1995 (aged 20) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
  Laura Clemesha GK, GD (1992-01-21)21 January 1992 (aged 24) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
  Beryl Friday GA, GS, WA (1994-01-19)19 January 1994 (aged 22) 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
  Laura Geitz (c) GK, GD (1987-11-04)4 November 1987 (aged 28) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
  Hulita Haukinima WD, C (1995-09-14)14 September 1995 (aged 20) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
  Chelsea Lemke GA, GS
  Clare McMeniman (vc) GD, WD (1985-07-11)11 July 1985 (aged 30) 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
  Caitlyn Nevins WA, C (1987-06-01)1 June 1987 (aged 28) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
  Kim Ravaillion C, WD, WA (1993-07-26)26 July 1993 (aged 22) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
  Gabi Simpson WD, GD, C (1992-10-17)17 October 1992 (aged 23) 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
  Gretel Tippett GA,GS (1993-07-03)3 July 1993 (aged 22) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Head coach



Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  •   – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player

Sources:[11][12]

Debutants

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Milestones

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Pre-season

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Between 18 and 20 March 2016, Queensland Firebirds played in a three-day event hosted by Northern Mystics at The Trusts Arena. Other participants included Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, Southern Steel and Adelaide Thunderbirds.[21][22][23][24]

Regular season

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Fixtures and results

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Round 1
Fri 1 April Queensland Firebirds 70 - 55 Mainland Tactix Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre  
6:18 AM (AEST) Romelda Aiken   45/49 (92%)
Gretel Tippett   25/32 (78%)
Report
Mwai Kumwenda   37/39 (95%)
Bailey Mes   18/28 (64%)

Source:[25]

Round 2
Mon 11 April Queensland Firebirds 61 - 45 Central Pulse Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre  
7:18 PM (AEST) Romelda Aiken   38/41 (93%)
Gretel Tippett   22/25 (88%)
Beryl Friday   1/3 (33%)
Report
Ameliaranne Wells   22/24 (92%)
Maia Wilson   21/30 (70%)
Te Amo Amaru-Tibble   1/1 (100%)

Source:[26]

Round 3
Sat 16 April Melbourne Vixens 47 - 58 Queensland Firebirds Hisense Arena  
5.18 PM (AEST) Alice Teague-Neeld   15/22 (68%)
Kimberley Commane   10/14 (71%)
Emma Ryde   22/25 (88%)
Report
Romelda Aiken   42/45 (93%)
Gretel Tippett   16/21 (76%)

Source:[27]

Round 4
Sat 23 April Adelaide Thunderbirds 46 - 58 Queensland Firebirds Priceline Stadium  
4.48 AM (ACST) Kristina Brice   28/34 (82%)
Erin Bell   18/27 (67%)
Report
Romelda Aiken   37/46 (80%)
Gretel Tippett   21/32 (66%)
Beryl Friday   0/1 (0%)

Source:[28]

Round 5
Sat 30 April Queensland Firebirds 61 - 51 New South Wales Swifts Brisbane Entertainment Centre  
5:18 PM (AEST) Romelda Aiken   52/63 (83%)
Gretel Tippett   9/16 (56%)
Report
Susan Pettitt   19/23 (83%)
Caitlin Thwaites    32/36 (89%)

Source:[29]

Round 6
Sat 7 May Queensland Firebirds 70 - 42 Northern Mystics Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre  
5:18 PM (AEST) Romelda Aiken   52/57 (91%)
Gretel Tippett   8/10 (80%)
Chelsea Lemke   10/13 (77%)
Report
Maria Tutaia   23/33 (70%)
Cathrine Tuivaiti   9/9 (100%)
Megan Craig   10/15 (67%)

Source:[14]

Round 7
Sat 14 May West Coast Fever 52 - 61 Queensland Firebirds HBF Stadium  
3:18 PM (AWST) Caitlin Bassett   38/46 (83%)
Natalie Medhurst   14/21 (67%)
Report
Romelda Aiken   50/57 (88%)
Chelsea Lemke   11/16 (69%)

Source:[30]

Round 8
Sun 22 May Queensland Firebirds 62 - 51 Adelaide Thunderbirds Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre  
12:18 PM (AEST) Romelda Aiken   45/50 (90%)
Gretel Tippett   17/26 (65%)
Report
Carla Borrego   33/36 (92%)
Erin Bell   18/22 (82%)

Sources:[31][32]

Round 9
Sun 29 May New South Wales Swifts 58 - 54 Queensland Firebirds Qudos Bank Arena  
12:18 PM (AEST) Susan Pettitt   33/39 (85%)
Caitlin Thwaites   10/14 (71%)
Stephanie Wood   15/19 (79%)
Report
Romelda Aiken   46/51 (90%)
Gretel Tippett   8/12 (67%)
Attendance: 13,314[33]

Sources:[34][35]

Round 10
Sat 4 June Queensland Firebirds 56 - 44 Melbourne Vixens Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre  
5:18 PM (AEST) Romelda Aiken   39/43 (91%)
Gretel Tippett   17/23 (74%)
Report
Alice Teague-Neeld   11/17 (65%)
Karyn Bailey   19/25 (76%)
Kimberly Commane   14/19 (74%)

Source:[36]

Round 11
Sat 11 June Southern Steel 66 - 51 Queensland Firebirds Edgar Centre  
4:10 PM (NZST) Jhaniele Fowler-Reid   51/57 (89%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit   15/17 (88%)
Brooke Leaver   0/1 (0%)
Report
Romelda Aiken   27/32 (84%)
Gretel Tippett   16/19 (84%)
Beryl Friday   8/9 (89%)

Source:[37]

Round 12

Queensland Firebirds received a bye.

Round 13
Mon 27 June Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 47 - 71 Queensland Firebirds Claudelands Arena  
7:40 PM (NZST) Joanne Harten   32/38 (84%)
Paula Griffin   15/21 (71%)
Report
Romelda Aiken   50/59 (85%)
Gretel Tippett   21/27 (78%)

Sources:[38][39]

Round 14
Sun 3 July Queensland Firebirds 63 - 52 West Coast Fever Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre  
12:18 PM (AEST) Romelda Aiken   49/54 (91%)
Gretel Tippett   14/18 (78%)
Report
Caitlin Bassett   39/41 (95%)
Natalie Medhurst   8/10 (80%)
Kate Beveridge   5/7 (71%)

Source:[40]

Final standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD G% Pts
1   Queensland Firebirds 13 11 2 0 796 656 140 121.3% 22
2   New South Wales Swifts 13 10 2 1 828 670 158 123.6% 21
3   Melbourne Vixens 13 8 5 0 731 679 52 107.7% 16
4   West Coast Fever 13 7 6 0 756 707 49 106.9% 14
5   Adelaide Thunderbirds 13 2 11 0 660 775 -115 85.2% 4
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD G% Pts
1   Southern Steel 13 11 0 2 852 732 120 116.4% 24
2   Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 13 6 7 0 665 755 -90 88.1% 12
3   Northern Mystics 13 3 9 1 674 743 -69 90.7% 7
5   Mainland Tactix 13 2 10 1 708 825 -117 85.8% 5
4   Central Pulse 13 2 10 1 676 804 -128 84.1% 5

  Qualified for Conference finals
  Qualified for Elimination finals

  • Pld = Games played
  • W = Win (2 points)
  • D = Draw (1 points)
  • L = Loss (0 points)
  • GF = Goals For
  • GA = Goals Against
  • GD = Goals Difference (= GFGA)
  • G% = Goal percentage (= 100 × GF/GA)
  • Pts = Points

Source:[41]


Challenge Trophy

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Queensland Firebirds began their defence of the Challenge Trophy in Round 1 against Mainland Tactix.[25][42] Firebirds were unbeaten at home throughout the season and, as a result, retained the Challenge Trophy.

Round Holders Score Challengers
Round 1[25][42] Queensland Firebirds 70–55 Mainland Tactix
Round 2 Queensland Firebirds 61–45 Central Pulse
Round 5 Queensland Firebirds 61–51 New South Wales Swifts
Round 6 Queensland Firebirds 70–42 Northern Mystics
Round 8 Queensland Firebirds 62–51 Adelaide Thunderbirds
Round 10 Queensland Firebirds 56–44 Melbourne Vixens
Round 14 Queensland Firebirds 63–52 West Coast Fever

Finals

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Conference Final

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18 July 2016
7.18 (AEST)

Stats
Queensland Firebirds 63–52 New South Wales Swifts    Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Scoring by quarter: 16-12, 16-15, 15-10, 16-15
Romelda Aiken   49/55 (89%)
Gretel Tippett   14
Caitlin Thwaites   17
Susan Pettitt   30
Stephanie Wood   5

Sources:[2][43][44][45]

Semi-finals

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24 July 2016
12.18 pm (AEST)

Stats
Queensland Firebirds 67–64 Southern Steel    Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Scoring by quarter: 19 - 16, 13 - 19, 15 - 14, 20 -15
Romelda Aiken   57/68 (84%)
Gretel Tippett   10/13 (77%)
Jhaniele Fowler-Reid   51/52 (98%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit   13/20 (65%)

Sources:[46][47][48]

Grand Final

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31 July 2016
12.10 pm (AEST)

Stats
Queensland Firebirds 6967 New South Wales Swifts ET  Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Attendance: 10,312
Fox Sports
Sky Sport
Scoring by quarter: 12-15, 17-12, 12-15, 13-12, ET: 15-13
Scoring by half: 29-27, 25-27 ET: 15-13
Romelda Aiken   63/89 (71%)
Gretel Tippett   6/11 (55%)
Susan Pettitt   30/39 (77%)
Caitlin Thwaites   34/41 (83%)
Stephanie Wood   3/4 (75%)

Source:[3][4][5][6]

Award winners

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Queensland Firebirds Awards

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Award Winner
Player of the Year   Romelda Aiken
Firebirds Players' Player   Clare McMeniman
Firebirds Spirit Award   Caitlyn Nevins
Firebirds Members Award   Gabi Simpson

Sources:[16]

ANZ Championship awards

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Award Winner
ANZ Championship Finals Series MVP   Kim Ravaillion[1]

All Star Team

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Position Player
GS   Romelda Aiken
C   Kim Ravaillion
GD   Clare McMeniman

Sources:[49][50][51]

Australian Netball Awards

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Award Winner
Australian ANZ Championship Coach of the Year Roselee Jencke[1][52]
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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Netball Australia – Annual Report 2016" (PDF). netball.com.au. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Romelda Aiken calls for more after Queensland Firebirds win Australian conference". www.theguardian.com. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Firebirds win extra-time thriller to retain ANZ Championship title against Swifts". www.theguardian.com. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Allora skipper leads Firebirds to record-breaking third win". www.themorningbulletin.com.au. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Firebirds clinch victory in last minute finals stunner". www.stuff.co.nz. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b "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.
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