2009 ANZ Championship season

The 2009 ANZ Championship season was the second season of the ANZ Championship. The 2009 season began on 4 April and concluded on 26 July. Melbourne Vixens were minor premiers. With a team co-captained by Bianca Chatfield and Sharelle McMahon, Vixens subsequently defeated Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 58–43 in the major semi-final and Adelaide Thunderbirds 54–46 in the grand final to finish as overall premiers. The grand final was played on Sunday 26 July at Hisense Arena.

Transfers Player 2008 team 2009 team Jane Altschwager RetirementAdelaide Thunderbirds Laura von Bertouch RetirementAdelaide Thunderbirds Joanna SuttonRetirementAdelaide Thunderbirds Ama Agbeze West Coast FeverMelbourne Vixens Kathleen KnottVictorian FuryMelbourne Vixens Chelsey NashVictorian FuryMelbourne Vixens Brooke ThompsonVictorian FuryMelbourne Vixens Sarah Wall Melbourne Vixens Ashlee MannNNSW Blues/NSW WaratahsNew South Wales Swifts Jessica Mansell New South Wales Swifts Samantha MayAustralian Institute of SportNew South Wales Swifts Courtney TairiAustralian Institute of SportNew South Wales Swifts Amy Wild New South Wales Swifts Madison BrowneMelbourne VixensWest Coast Fever Shae Bolton West Coast Fever Johannah CurranMelbourne VixensWest Coast Fever Sonia MkolomaCentral PulseCanterbury Tactix Larrissa WillcoxWest Coast FeverCanterbury Tactix Althea Byfield Central Pulse Paula GriffinNorthern MysticsCentral Pulse Pamela CookeyTeam BathNorthern Mystics Debbie WhiteSouthern SteelNorthern Mystics Donna WilkinsRetirementSouthern Steel Adine WilsonRetirementSouthern Steel Sheryl ScanlanNorthern MysticsSouthern Steel Leah ShoardNew South Wales SwiftsSouthern Steel Leana de BruinNorthern MysticsWaikato Bay of Plenty Magic Frances SoliaCentral PulseWaikato Bay of Plenty Magic Jessica TukiSouthern SteelWaikato Bay of Plenty Magic

Head coaches and captains Team Head coach Captain Adelaide ThunderbirdsJane Woodlands-ThompsonNatalie von Bertouch Melbourne VixensJulie HoornwegSharelle McMahonBianca Chatfield New South Wales SwiftsJulie FitzgeraldCatherine Cox Queensland FirebirdsVicki WilsonPeta Stephens West Coast FeverJane SearleStacey RosmanJohannah Curran Canterbury TactixHelen Mahon-StroudJulie Seymour Central PulseYvette McCausland-DurieCushla Lichtwark Northern MysticsTe Aroha KeenanTemepara George Southern Steel Robyn BroughtonAdine Wilson Waikato Bay of Plenty MagicNoeline TauruaJoline HenryIrene van Dyk

Pre-season tournaments Tournament Date Winner Score Runners-up VenueQueenstown Pre-Season Tournament20–22 FebruaryNorthern Mystics58–53New South Wales SwiftsQueenstown Events CentreSOPA Cup6–8 MarchNew South Wales SwiftsAdelaide ThunderbirdsSydney Olympic Park Sports CentreWaipa Pre-Season Tournament20–22 MarchWaikato Bay of Plenty Magic53–37Northern MysticsTe Awamutu Events Centre

Notes No final. Played as a round-robin tournament.

Regular season During the regular season the Australian teams played each other twice and the New Zealand teams once. The New Zealand teams also played each other twice and each of the Australian teams once. Melbourne Vixens won 12 of their 13 matches during the regular season. Their only defeat came in Round 10 against Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, their main challengers for top spot. Vixens had to win their final two home matches with plenty of goals to guarantee top place. After a 63–35 win against Canterbury Tactix in Round 13, Vixens' defeated Central Pulse 80–39 in Round 14 to secure the minor premiership.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

BYES:  Queensland Firebirds and Southern Steel

Round 6

BYES:  Canterbury Tactix and Melbourne Vixens

Round 7

BYES:  Adelaide Thunderbirds and Central Pulse

Round 8

BYES:  Northern Mystics and West Coast Fever

Round 9

BYES:  New South Wales Swifts and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13: Rivalry Round Round 13 featured five Australia verses New Zealand matches. Goals scored by Australian and New Zealand teams were added together and the country with the most goals won the Rivalry Round Trophy. During the round, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic became the first New Zealand team to win in Australia, defeating West Coast Fever 49–38. After 24 games, Central Pulse won their first match, defeating the reigning champions New South Wales Swifts 53–52. Southern Steel became the third New Zealand team to secure a win when they defeated Adelaide Thunderbirds 58-49. Despite New Zealand teams winning three of the five matches, Australia won the Rivalry Round Trophy 261–252.

Round 14

Final table

Playoffs

Major semi-final

Minor semi-final

Preliminary final

Grand final

Award winners ANZ Championship awards Award Winner TeamMost Valuable Player Romelda AikenQueensland FirebirdsGrand Final MVP Sharelle McMahonMelbourne Vixens

Australian Netball Awards Award Winner TeamLiz Ellis Diamond Julie CorlettoMelbourne VixensAustralian ANZ Championship Player of the Year Natalie von BertouchAdelaide ThunderbirdsAustralian ANZ Championship Coach of the Year Julie HoornwegMelbourne Vixens

Media coverage In 2009 the ANZ Championship TV partners included Network 10 and One HD in Australia and Sky Sport (New Zealand). Television audiences were up 52% across Australia and New Zealand, from 5.8 million to 8.8 million. During the season, an average of 229,000 viewers watched per game. The grand final TV audience peaked at 354,329 viewers and the cumulative audience across both countries was over 11 million. Before the Round 12 match between New South Wales Swifts and West Coast Fever, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre hosted a charity match, billed as Netball's Festival of Stars. The match was viewed by a television audience of 345,164 viewers.

Gallery

References