The 2015 ANZ Championship season was the eighth season of the ANZ Championship. The season began on 28 February and concluded on 21 June. The 2015 season saw the introduction of several major format changes and initiatives, including a Conference system, a six-team Finals Series, drawn games and a new Ranfurly Shield-style competition, the Challenge Trophy. With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Laura Geitz and featuring Romelda Aiken, Clare McMeniman and Kim Ravaillion, Queensland Firebirds won the Australian Conference, the Challenge Trophy, the minor premiership and the overall championship. Firebirds narrowly defeated New South Wales Swifts in both the Australian Conference final and the Grand Final on their way to effectively winning four titles.
New format 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.
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. On 15 March, 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.
Transfers Player 2014 team 2015 team Eboni Beckford-ChambersWest Coast FeverAdelaide Thunderbirds Kristina BriceNNSW WaratahsAdelaide Thunderbirds Hannah PettySouthern ForceAdelaide Thunderbirds Amy SteelMelbourne VixensAdelaide Thunderbirds Kelsey BrowneVictorian FuryMelbourne Vixens Emily MannixVictorian FlamesMelbourne Vixens Alice Teague-NeeldVictorian FuryMelbourne Vixens Carla DziwokiNew South Wales SwiftsMelbourne Vixens Jade ClarkeMainland TactixNew South Wales Swifts Julie CorlettoNorthern MysticsNew South Wales Swifts Erin HoareMelbourne VixensNew South Wales Swifts Stephanie WoodQueensland FusionNew South Wales Swifts Rebecca BulleyAdelaide ThunderbirdsQueensland Firebirds Beryl FridayQueensland FusionQueensland Firebirds Caitlyn StrachanMelbourne VixensQueensland Firebirds Gretel TippettNew South Wales SwiftsQueensland Firebirds April LettonNew South Wales SwiftsWest Coast Fever Erena MikaereSouthern SteelWest Coast Fever Chelsea PitmanWest Coast FeverManchester Thunder Jodi BrownSouthern SteelCentral Pulse Ameliaranne WellsQueensland FirebirdsCentral Pulse Demelza FellowesQueensland FirebirdsMainland Tactix Erikana PedersenNorthern MysticsMainland Tactix Bailey MesNorthern MysticsMainland Tactix Paula GriffinCentral PulseNorthern Mystics Serena GuthrieTeam BathNorthern Mystics Camilla LeesCentral PulseNorthern Mystics Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick Northern Mystics Sophia FenwickMainland TactixSouthern Steel Jane WatsonMainland TactixSouthern Steel Kelly Jury Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Head coaches and captains Team Head coach Captain Adelaide ThunderbirdsJane Woodlands-ThompsonRenae Hallinan Melbourne VixensSimone McKinnisBianca Chatfield New South Wales SwiftsRob WrightKimberlee Green Queensland FirebirdsRoselee JenckeLaura Geitz West Coast FeverStacey RosmanAshleigh Brazill Central PulseRobyn BroughtonKatrina Grant Mainland TactixSue HawkinsAnna Thompson Northern MysticsDebbie FullerMaria Tutaia Southern SteelJanine SouthbyWendy Frew Waikato Bay of Plenty MagicJulie FitzgeraldLeana De Bruin
Summer Shootout Between 6 and 8 February, New South Wales Swifts hosted the Summer Shootout at Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park. This was the first major netball tournament to be held at the venue. All ten ANZ Championship teams participated in the three-day tournament. A total of 25 games, consisting of both full length and shortened games consisting of two 15-minute periods, were played over the weekend.
Regular season
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
BYES: Queensland Firebirds and Southern Steel
Round 5
BYES: Melbourne Vixens and Mainland Tactix
Round 6 Easter Round
BYES: New South Wales Swifts and Central Pulse
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9 ANZAC Round
Round 10
BYES: Adelaide Thunderbirds and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Round 11
BYES: West Coast Fever and Northern Mystics
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Final standings
Challenge Trophy The 2015 season saw the introduction of the Ranfurly Shield-style, Challenge Trophy. The trophy was available to win every time the holder played at home. Once a visiting team defeats the title holders, the trophy is theirs to protect and hold against all challengers in every home game during the regular season until they are beaten. A pre-season draw saw West Coast Fever declared the inaugural holder and they defended the trophy for first time on 8 March in Round 2 against Northern Mystics. Fever subsequently enjoyed a nine-game unbeaten run in the league. They retained the Challenge Trophy until Round 10 when they were defeated 56–48 by Queensland Firebirds. Firebirds defended the trophy in Round 11 against Melbourne Vixens and in Round 14 against Southern Steel, finishing the season as trophy holders.
Round Holders Score Challengers Round 2West Coast Fever67–51Northern Mystics Round 3West Coast Fever67–60Southern Steel Round 5West Coast Fever55–50Adelaide Thunderbirds Round 6West Coast Fever53–47Melbourne Vixens Round 9West Coast Fever54–49 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Round 10 West Coast Fever48–56Queensland Firebirds Round 11Queensland Firebirds54–45Melbourne Vixens Round 14Queensland Firebirds66–50Southern Steel
Finals series The new Conference format saw the top three teams from each Conference qualify for the Finals Series. The second and third placed teams from each Conference played off in the Elimination Final. The winner then took on the first placed team in the Conference Final. The four Conference finalists will then progress to the semi-finals where the Conference Champions hosted the runner up of the other conference for a chance to compete in the ANZ Championship Grand Final.
Australian Conference Elimination Final
Conference Final
New Zealand Conference Elimination Final
Conference Final
Semi-finals
Grand Final
Award winners
ANZ Championship awards Award Winner TeamANZ Championship MVP Romelda Aiken Queensland FirebirdsANZ Championship MVP Jhaniele Fowler-Reid Southern SteelANZ Championship Finals Series MVP Sharni LaytonNew South Wales SwiftsANZ Championship Best New Talent Serena GuthrieNorthern Mystics
Notes Romelda Aiken was the MVP player in the Australian Conference and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid was the MVP player in the New Zealand Conference.
All Star Team Position Player Team GS Caitlin BassettWest Coast FeverGA Susan PettittNew South Wales SwiftsWA Kimberlee GreenNew South Wales SwiftsC Kim RavaillionQueensland FirebirdsWD Serena GuthrieNorthern MysticsGD Julie CorlettoNew South Wales SwiftsGK Sharni LaytonNew South Wales SwiftsCoach Stacey RosmanWest Coast Fever
Australian Netball Awards Award Winner TeamAustralian ANZ Championship Player of the YearSharni LaytonNew South Wales SwiftsLiz Ellis DiamondCaitlin Bassett West Coast FeverAustralian ANZ Championship Coach of the YearRoselee JenckeQueensland Firebirds
New Zealand Netball Awards Award Winner TeamNew Zealand ANZ Championship Player of the YearLaura LangmanNorthern Mystics New Zealand ANZ Championship Coach of the YearJulie FitzgeraldWaikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Statistics
Top scorers Player Team GS/GA/G% Romelda AikenQueensland Firebirds Jhaniele Fowler-ReidSouthern Steel Caitlin BassettWest Coast Fever Caitlin ThwaitesNew South Wales Swifts Carla BorregoAdelaide Thunderbirds Susan PettittNew South Wales Swifts Karyn BaileyMelbourne Vixens Mwai KumwendaMainland Tactix Cathrine LatuNorthern Mystics Maria TutaiaNorthern Mystics
Top rebounds Player Team Rebounds Romelda AikenQueensland Firebirds110 Jhaniele Fowler-ReidSouthern Steel60 Carla BorregoAdelaide Thunderbirds57 Sharni LaytonNew South Wales Swifts39 Caitlin BassettWest Coast Fever35 Jodi BrownCentral Pulse35 Laura GeitzQueensland Firebirds33 Karyn BaileyMelbourne Vixens28 Mwai KumwendaMainland Tactix26
Media coverage All 72 games were broadcast live on Fox Sports (Australia). Their commentary team included Liz Ellis, Sharelle McMahon, Catherine Cox and Kelli Underwood. Sunday afternoon's Match Of The Round were also broadcast live on One. Sky Sport (New Zealand) remained as the principal broadcast partner in New Zealand. Māori Television broadcast one full match replay on Te Reo while Prime TV showed highlights.
References