The 2008 New South Wales Swifts season was the inaugural season for both New South Wales Swifts and the ANZ Championship. 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. With a team coached by Julie Fitzgerald and captained by Catherine Cox, Swifts won 10 of their 13 matches during the regular season and finished second behind Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Swifts subsequently defeated Magic in both the major semi–final and the grand final to become the inaugural ANZ Championship winners.
Players Player movements + Gains Losses Erin Bell (Sydney Swifts) Rebecca Bulley (Melbourne Kestrels) Catherine Cox (Sydney Swifts) Selina Gilsenan (Sydney Swifts) Kimberlee Green (Sydney Swifts) Adelaide Johnson (Sydney Swifts) Emma Koster (Hunter Jaegers) Tiffany Lincoln (Hunter Jaegers) Susan Pratley (Sydney Swifts) Kimberley Purcell (Sydney Swifts) Leah Shoard (AIS Canberra Darters) Vanessa Ware (Sydney Swifts) Megan Dehn (Southern Steel)
Notes Eight members of the 2008 New South Wales Swifts squad had been members of the 2007 Sydney Swifts squad that had won the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league title. Megan Dehn was originally a member of the 2008 Swifts squad but subsequently withdrew and joined Southern Steel.
Roster
Regular season On 7 April, Swifts made their ANZ Championship debut against Southern Steel at the Acer Arena. During the regular season Swifts won 10 of their 13 matches and finished second behind Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.
Fixtures and results Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9 New South Wales Swifts received a bye. Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Final table
Playoffs Swifts defeated Magic in both the major semi–final and the grand final to become the inaugural ANZ Championship winners.
Major semi-final
Grand final
Award winners ANZ Championship awards Award WinnerGrand Final MVPCatherine Cox
Australian Netball Awards Award WinnerAustralian ANZ Championship Player of the YearCatherine CoxAustralian ANZ Championship Coach of the YearJulie Fitzgerald
Swifts awards
Award WinnerQBE NSW Swifts MVPCatherine CoxNSW Swifts Members' Player of the YearCatherine CoxNSW Swifts Players' Player of the YearEmma Koster
References