New South Wales Swifts are an Australian professional netball team based in Sydney, New South Wales. Since 2017 they have reresented Netball New South Wales in Sun 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.
Founded | 2007 | |
---|---|---|
Based in | Sydney | |
Regions | New South Wales | |
Home venue | Ken Rosewall Arena | |
Head coach | Briony Akle | |
Asst coach | Natalie Avellino | |
Premierships | 3 (2008, 2019, 2021) | |
League | Suncorp Super Netball ANZ Championship | |
2022 placing | 5th | |
Website | nswswifts.com.au | |
|
History
editANZ Championship
editBetween 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.[2][9] 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.[10][11][12]
- )
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.[13][14][15][16][17][18]
Beehag was subsequently replaced by Rob Wright.[18][19][20] Wright guided Swifts to two successive grand finals in 2015 and 2016. However, on both occasions they lost out to Queensland Firebirds.[3][4][21][22]
- Regular season statistics
Season | Position | Won | Drawn | Lost |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008[2][23] | 2nd | 10 | 0 | 3 |
2009[24][25] | 9th | 2 | 0 | 11 |
2010[10][11] | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
2011[26][27] | 3rd | 9 | 0 | 4 |
2012[28][29] | 5th | 8 | 0 | 5 |
2013[30][31] | 8th | 4 | 0 | 9 |
2014[32][33] | 3rd | 9 | 0 | 4 |
2015[21][22] | 2nd | 8 | 3 | 2 |
2016[3][4] | 3rd | 10 | 2 | 1 |
Premierships
Runners Up
Minor Premierships
Suncorp Super Netball
editSince 2017, Swifts have played in Suncorp Super Netball.[1][34][35] 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.[36][37] The 2018 season saw Rob Wright replaced by Briony Akle.[38][39] 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.[40][41][42][43][44][45] 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.[46][47][48][49][50][51][52]
- Regular season statistics
Season | Position | Won | Drawn | Lost |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017[34][35] | 6th | 3 | 1 | 10 |
2018[53][54] | 6th | 6 | 1 | 7 |
2019[40][41] | 2nd | 10 | 1 | 3 |
2020[55] | 4th | 8 | 1 | 5 |
2021 | 2nd | 9 | 0 | 5 |
2022 | 5th | 6 | 0 | 8 |
2023 | 1st | 10 | 1 | 3 |
Premierships
Minor Premierships
Grand finals
editSeason | Winners | Score | Runners Up | Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008[56][57][58][59][60] | New South Wales Swifts | 65–56 | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Acer Arena |
2015[61][62][63] | Queensland Firebirds | 57–56 | New South Wales Swifts | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre |
2016[64][65][66] | Queensland Firebirds | 69–67 | New South Wales Swifts | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre |
Season | Winners | Score | Runners Up | Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019[44][45] | New South Wales Swifts | 64–47 | Sunshine Coast Lightning | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
2021[47][48][49][50] | New South Wales Swifts | 63–59 | Giants Netball | Nissan Arena |
2023 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 60–59 | New South Wales Swifts | John Cain Arena |
Home venues
editBetween 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.[67] However these plans were put on hold until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[68][69]
Years | |
---|---|
Ken Rosewall Arena[67] | 2021– |
Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre (Note 1) [70] | 2008–2019 |
Sydney Super Dome (Note 2) [70] | 2008– |
Newcastle Entertainment Centre[71] | 2008– |
AIS Arena | 2014 |
- Notes
- ^1 Also referred to as the State Sports Centre and the QuayCentre.
- ^2 Also referred to as the Acer Arena, the Allphones Arena or the Qudos Bank Arena.
Notable players
edit2025 squad
edit2025 New South Wales Swifts roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | Coaching staff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Player profiles: Team website | Last updated: 5 October 2024 |
Internationals
editSource:[72]
Captains
editYears | |
---|---|
Catherine Cox[2][10][11][24][73] | 2008–2011 |
Mo'onia Gerrard[28][29][30][31] | 2012–2013 |
Kimberlee Green[3][4][28][29] | 2012–2016 |
Abbey McCulloch[34][35][53][54][74] | 2017–2018 |
Maddy Proud[46][75][42][43][76][77] | 2019– |
Paige Hadley[46] | 2021– |
Award winners
editSeason | Player |
---|---|
2014[78] | Kimberlee Green (Note 1) |
- Notes
- ^1 Award was shared with Joanne Harten (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic).
- ANZ Championship Player of the Year
Season | Player |
---|---|
2008[9] | Catherine Cox |
Season | Player |
---|---|
2015[22][79] | Sharni Layton |
Season | Player |
---|---|
2016[80] | Sharni Layton |
- Holden Cruze ANZ Championship Player of the Year
Season | Player |
---|---|
2010[10][11][81] | Rebecca Bulley |
- QBE NSW Swifts Most Valued Player
Source:[87]
- NSW Swifts Members' Player of the Year
Source:[87]
- NSW Swifts Players' Player of the Year
Season | Player |
---|---|
2008 | Emma Koster |
2009 | Kimberley Smith |
2010[10][11] | Kimberlee Green |
2011[27] | Kimberley Smith |
2012[29] | April Letton |
2013[31][88] | Sonia Mkoloma |
2014[33] | Sharni Layton |
2015[22] | Sharni Layton |
2016[4] | Amy Sommerville |
2017[35] | Claire O’Brien |
2018[54] | Abbey McCulloch |
2019[41] | Sophie Garbin/Maddy Turner |
2020[85] | Sophie Garbin |
2021[86] | Maddy Turner |
Source:[87]
- NSW Swifts Coaches' Award
Source:[87]
AFLW players
editSeveral Swifts player have also played women's Australian rules football in the AFLW
Coaches
editHead Coaches
editYears | |
---|---|
Julie Fitzgerald[13][18] | 2008–2011 |
Lisa Beehag [90] | 2012–2013 |
Rob Wright [19][20][36][37] | 2013–2017 |
Briony Akle[38][39][91][92] | 2017– |
Assistant coaches
editYears | |
---|---|
Megan Anderson[3][21][32][34] | 2014–2017 |
Rebecca Bulley[93] | 2021–2022 |
Natalie Avellino[94][95] | 2023– |
Main sponsors
editYears | |
---|---|
QBE Insurance[96][97] | 2007– |
Premierships
editNNSW Waratahs
editNetball 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.[27]
References
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- ^ a b c d "NSW Swifts - 2008 Season". nswswifts.com.au. 29 November 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "NSW Swifts - 2016 Season". nswswifts.com.au. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Netball NSW – 2016 Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "NSW Netball boss speaks up". www.newstalkzb.co.nz. 13 March 2007. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2008.
- ^ "Southern Steel faces plenty of travelling in the early rounds". The Southland Times. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2020 – via PressReader.
- ^ "NSW SWIFTS; red hot and ready to take on world". nswswifts.com.au. 8 December 2007. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ "New South Wales team announced". www.sportsaustralia.com. 8 December 2007. Archived from the original on 9 December 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ a b "2008 Annual Report - Netball Australia" (PDF). netball.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "NSW Swifts - 2010 Season". nswswifts.com.au. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "2010 Netball NSW Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Netball Australia Annual Report 2010" (PDF). Netball Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Review that resulted in Fitzgerald's dumping put Swifts off their game: Cox". www.smh.com.au. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
- ^ "Cox goes west after losing top job". www.smh.com.au. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "Swifts departure for shooter Catherine Cox". www.stuff.co.nz. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "Netball: Team-by-team guide". www.nzherald.co.nz. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "Cox refusing to dwell on history". www.newcastleherald.com.au. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
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- ^ a b c d e f "Netball NSW and NSW Swifts – 2012 Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
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- ^ a b c d e f "Netball NSW and NSW Swifts – 2013 Annual Report" (PDF). nsw.netball.com.au. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
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- ^ a b c d e "2014 Annual Report – Netball NSW" (PDF). nsw.netball.com.au. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
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- ^ a b c d e f g "Netball NSW – 2017 Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ a b "NSW Swifts departures continue as crosstown rivals announce team". www.theguardian.com. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
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- ^ a b "Suspected season-ending injury to Proud sours Swifts' big win". www.smh.com.au. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
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- ^ "Swifts down Giants to secure seventh Premiership". nswswifts.com.au. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
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- ^ a b "NSW Swifts - 2018 Season". nswswifts.com.au. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Netball NSW – 2018 Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "NSW Swifts - 2020 Season". nswswifts.com.au. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ "Swifts down Magic in grand final thriller". www.abc.net.au. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
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- ^ "No Magic bullet in big final". www.nzherald.co.nz. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
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- ^ "Lisa Beehag". diamonds.netball.com.au. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
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