Sydney Swifts
Founded1996
Disbanded2007
Based inSydney
RegionNew South Wales
Head coachJulie Fitzgerald (1997–2007)
CaptainCatriona Wagg (1997–1999)
Liz Ellis (2000–2007)
Premierships4 (2001, 2004, 2006, 2007)
LeagueCommonwealth Bank Trophy

Uniform

Sydney Swifts were an Australian netball team based in Sydney. Between 1997 and 2007, they represented Netball New South Wales in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Together with Sydney Sandpipers and Hunter Jaegers, they were one of three teams to represent NNSW in the competition. After Melbourne Phoenix, Swifts were the league's second most successful team, winning four premierships and three minor premierships. In 2008, when the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was replaced by the ANZ Championship, Swifts and Jaegers merged to form New South Wales Swifts.

History

Mobil Superleague

Sydney Swifts evolved from a state league team that represented the Ku-ring-gai area. Between 1994 and 1996, Sydney Ku-ring-gai represented New South Wales in the Mobil Superleague. They were also known as Sydney Cenovis because they were sponsored by Cenovis. The team featured a young Liz Ellis and Catherine Cox and were coached by Julie Fitzgerald. In 1994 and 1996 they were Mobil Superleague semi-finalists.[1][2][3][4][5]

Commonwealth Bank Trophy

Between 1997 and 2007, Sydney Swifts played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Together with Adelaide Ravens, Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Kestrels, Melbourne Phoenix, Perth Orioles, Queensland Firebirds and Sydney Sandpipers, Swifts were one of the founding members of the league. Together with Sydney Sandpipers and Hunter Jaegers, they were one of three teams to represent Netball New South Wales in the competition. After Melbourne Phoenix, Swifts were the league's second most successful team, winning four premierships in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007. Between 2004 and 2006, they also won three successive minor premierships. Swifts head coach throughout the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era was Julie Fitzgerald. Their leading players included Liz Ellis, Alison Broadbent, Catherine Cox, Megan Anderson and Selina Gilsenan.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In 2008, when the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was replaced by the ANZ Championship, Swifts and Jaegers merged to form New South Wales Swifts.[8][15]

Regular season statistics
Season Position Won Lost Drawn
1997[9] 3rd 7 5 2
1998[9] 3rd 11 3 0
1999[10] 2nd 11 3 0
2000[10] 4th 9 5 0
2001[11][16] 2nd 11 3 0
2002[11] 3rd 11 3 0
2003[12] 2nd 10 4 0
2004[12][17] 1st 12 2 0
2005[13][18] 1st 12 2 0
2006[13] 1st 14 0 0
2007[14] 2nd 11 3 0

  Minor Premiership and Premiership
  Minor Premiership and Runners Up
  Premierships
  Runners Up

Grand finals

Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
1998[9][19] Adelaide Thunderbirds 48–42 Sydney Swifts ETSA Park
2001[7][11][20] Sydney Swifts 57–32 Adelaide Thunderbirds State Sports Centre
2003[12][21] Melbourne Phoenix 47–44 Sydney Swifts Sydney Super Dome
2004[13][17][20][22] Sydney Swifts 52–51 Melbourne Phoenix Sydney Super Dome
2005[13][20][18][23] Melbourne Phoenix 61–44 Sydney Swifts Vodafone Arena
2006[7][14][24][25] Sydney Swifts 65–36 Adelaide Thunderbirds Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre
2007[7][14][26][27][28] Sydney Swifts 45–37 Melbourne Phoenix Acer Arena

Home venues

Years
Anne Clark Netball Centre[29] 1997
State Sports Centre[29] 1998
Sydney Super Dome[17][18]
Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre[17][18][30]
Wollongong Entertainment Centre[17][18][20] 2005

Notable former players

Internationals

 Australia
 Australia Fast5
 England

Award winners

Most Valuable Player
Season Player
1998 Liz Ellis
2002 Liz Ellis
2006 [25] Liz Ellis

Source:[14]

Grand final MVP
Season Player
2001[11] Liz Ellis
2004[13] Catherine Cox
2006[14] Liz Ellis
2007[14] Selina Gilsenan
Best New Talent
Season Player
2001[7][14] Jane Altschwager

Captains

Captains Years
Catriona Wagg 1997–1999
Liz Ellis 2000–2007

Source:[7]

Most Appearances

Players Matches Quarters
Liz Ellis 173 680
Alison Broadbent[30] 152 562
Catherine Cox 135
Megan Anderson 111
Selina Gilsenan 121 461
Raegan Jackson 92
Susan Pettitt 68
Briony Akle 53
Jane Altschwager 50
Catriona Wagg 49

Sources:[6][7][20][31]

Head coaches

Coach Years
Julie Fitzgerald[6][7] 1997–2007

Support Staff

Team Manager Jan Troy (1998 - 2006)

Team Physiotherapist Sean Mungovan (1999 - 2007)

Sponsorship

Sponsors Seasons
TAB[7][25][26][29][32] 1997–2007

Premierships

References

  1. ^ "Esso/Mobil Superleague 1985-1996 (page 2)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Esso/Mobil Superleague 1985-1996 (page 3)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  3. ^ "2008 Annual Report - Netball Australia" (PDF). netball.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  4. ^ "NSW Swifts: an unhappy history and a fresh start". www.theguardian.com. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  5. ^ "A true giant: Julie Fitzgerald set to coach 300th game". www.smh.com.au. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Sydney Swifts - 1997-2007". nswswifts.com.au. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Netball NSW – Annual Report 2007" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Swifts celebrate 25 years by going back to yellow". thenetballpost.com. 4 August 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 1)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b c "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 2)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 3)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 4)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 5)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 6)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Southern Steel faces plenty of travelling in the early rounds". The Southland Times. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Netball Australia Annual Report 2001" (PDF). ausport.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Netball Australia - Annual Report 04" (PDF). Netball Australia. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Netball Australia - Annual Report 05" (PDF). Netball Australia. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Adelaide Thunderbirds – History". adelaidethunderbirds.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d e "2005 Netball NSW – Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Phoenix claim title in front of record crowd". www.abc.net.au. 12 September 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  22. ^ "Swifts take title in thriller". www.abc.net.au. 28 August 2004. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  23. ^ "Phoenix claim fifth netball title". www.abc.net.au. 3 September 2005. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Swifts win netball grand final". www.smh.com.au. 2 September 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  25. ^ a b c "Netball Australia - Annual Report 06" (PDF). Netball Australia. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Netball Australia – Annual Report 2007" (PDF). netball.com.au. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  27. ^ "Sydney Swifts win final". www.abc.net.au. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Swifts defend national league title". www.abc.net.au. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  29. ^ a b c "Home Ground Advantage in the Australian Netball League (Commonwealth Bank Trophy)" (PDF). researchbank.swinburne.edu.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Swifts Chatter – Match Night Program" (PDF). www.netball.asn.au. 27 April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  31. ^ "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 7)". netballscoop.com. 12 January 2021. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  32. ^ "Title contenders confirmed for Commonwealth Bank Trophy finale". www.womensportreport.com. 14 August 2007. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
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