2009 ANZ Championship season

2009 ANZ Championship season
League ANZ Championship
Sport Netball
Duration 4 April 2009 - 26 July 2009
Number of teams 10
TV partner(s) One HD (Australia, all games)
Network Ten (Australia, one live game a week)
SKY Sports (New Zealand, live)
TVNZ (New Zealand, delayed)
Champions Melbourne Vixens
Runners-up Adelaide Thunderbirds
Minor premiers Melbourne Vixens
Season MVP Romelda Aiken (Firebirds)

The 2009 ANZ Championship season was the second season of the ANZ Championship, commencing on 4 April 2009. The 2009 season comprised 69 matches played over 17 weeks. The format of the competition was unchanged from last year, starting with a 14-week round robin followed by a three-week finals series. After a very hectic transfer season, teams were confirmed and the competition began.

The top four teams from the round-robin stage progressed to the finals stage. The Melbourne Vixens finished the round robin as minor premiers, followed by the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, Adelaide Thunderbirds and Southern Steel.

The grand final was played on Sunday 26 July at Hisense Arena in Melbourne, contested between the Vixens and Thunderbirds. The Melbourne Vixens emerged as champions for the 2009 season after defeating the Thunderbirds by 54–46.

Format

The format of the 2009 season is identical to that of the 2008 season.[1] During the round-robin stage, played over 14 weeks, each team played every other team once, and played teams from their home country a second time, with one bye somewhere between Rounds 5–9. The top four teams from the round-robin stage progressed to the finals stage, played over three weeks in a Page-McIntyre System.

Round 1 matchups in 2008 were identical to the round 14 matchups in 2009. In addition, in trans-Tasman matches the home and away teams are switched around from 2008 to ensure that the teams get to play home and away games over two years: e.g., the Swifts hosted the Magic in round 3 in 2008, but the same game in 2009 will be hosted by the Magic. The 2009 season featured a "Rivalry Round" in Week 13, in which all matches were contested between teams from Australia and New Zealand. Round 4 matchups in 2008 were identical to the matchups in "Rivalry Round". The goals scored by each country were accumulated, with Australia winning the inaugural Rivalry Round Trophy.

Transfer Season

See the 2009 Transfer Season

The 2008 Off season, saw franchises working hard to sign up the best talent in the ANZ competition, while trying to remain under the Salary Cap. Several teams including the Southern Steel, Waikato/BOP Magic and the Queensland Firebirds looked like teams that improved their rosters the most, joining the NSW Swifts, Adelaide Thunderbirds and the Melbourne Vixens with potential to win the second edition of the competition. The Steel went out to sign all the old guns, picking up its former Southern Sting star duo of former Silver Ferns Adine Wilson and Donna Wilkins, while also inking international defender Sheryl Scanlan. The Waikato/BOP Magic added to its already five current internationals players by putting star backline player Leana de Bruin in the mix also. The Canterbury Tactix signed impressive defender Sonia Mkoloma from the Central Pulse, with the Wellington based Pulse, just replacing her with another talent, Jamaican goal keeper Althea Byfield. Things were calmer in Australia, the Queensland Firebirds remained strong on paper, resigning 2008 MVP Romelda Aiken, English import Tamsin Greenway and Australian stars Lauren Nourse and Laura Geitz. The West Coast Fever could well of bought the best future talent in the game, signing midcourters Madison Browne and Shae Bolton from the Melbourne Vixens to bolster their midcourt.

Pre-season

Swifts vs Vixens in the 2009 SOPA Cup.

The first pre-season tournament was held in Queenstown in New Zealand from 20–22 February at the Queenstown Events Centre.[2] Several ANZ Championship teams participated, including the Steel, Mystics, Swifts and Pulse, and the Australian Institute of Sport also sent a team.[2] The Tactix were scheduled to attend as well, but pulled out due to lack of player availability.[3] The Mystics went through the tournament undefeated, beating defending ANZ Championship winners the Swifts 58–53 on the final day.[4]

The official pre-season tournament is the Sydney Olympic Park Netball Cup (SOPA Cup), held in Sydney from 6–8 March. Seven ANZ Championship franchises participated in the tournament, including the Firebirds, Swifts, Vixens, Thunderbirds, Fever, Magic and Steel, along with a representative team from the Australian Institute of Sport.[5] In a replay of last year's grand final, the Swifts and Magic fought out a close draw. By the end of the tournament, the Swifts emerged as champions, receiving a winner's prize of $10,000.[6]

The Waipa Pre-Season Tournament was the third and last in the 2009 pre-season, held from 20–22 March at the Te AwamutuEvents Centre. This tournament featured the Magic, Mystics and Pulse from the ANZ Championship, as well as the New Zealand U21 team.[2] Hosted by the Magic, the home team took out the tournament.[7]

Fixtures

All listed times are local: New Zealand times are UTC+12; Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian times are UTC+10; South Australian times are UTC+9:30; and Western Australian times are UTC+8. Results in parentheses indicate tied scores at the end of regular time, with the final score after extra time given above them.

Round 1

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Southern Steel 55–46 Central Pulse Saturday 4 April, 2:00 pm Stadium Southland, Invercargill
Melbourne Vixens 57–44 West Coast Fever Saturday 4 April, 2:00 pm State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne
Queensland Firebirds 48–60 Adelaide Thunderbirds Sunday 5 April, 2:30 pm Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Northern Mystics 38–51 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Monday 6 April, 7:00 pm Trusts Stadium, Auckland
New South Wales Swifts 62–45 Canterbury Tactix Monday 6 April, 7:00 pm Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

^ Due to daylight savings, New Zealand was UTC+13 and New South Wales and Victoria was UTC+11 during these games.

Round 2

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 54–47 Southern Steel Saturday 11 April, 2:00 pm Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Tauranga
Adelaide Thunderbirds 48–47 New South Wales Swifts Sunday 12 April, 2:00 pm ETSA Park, Adelaide
Northern Mystics 54–50 Central Pulse Sunday 12 April, 6:30 pm North Shore Events Centre, Auckland
Canterbury Tactix 52–44 West Coast Fever Monday 13 April, 7:00 pm Westpac Arena, Christchurch
Queensland Firebirds 51–54 Melbourne Vixens Monday 13 April, 7:00 pm Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

Round 3

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Central Pulse 46–58 Queensland Firebirds Saturday 18 April, 2:00 pm TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Adelaide Thunderbirds 43–49 Melbourne Vixens Sunday 19 April, 2:00 pm ETSA Park, Adelaide
Southern Steel 52–48 Canterbury Tactix Sunday 19 April, 6:30 pm The Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 63–45 New South Wales Swifts Monday 20 April, 7:00 pm Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton
West Coast Fever 57–46 Northern Mystics Monday 20 April, 5:00 pm Challenge Stadium, Perth

Round 4

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Central Pulse 54–60 West Coast Fever Saturday 25 April, 2:00 pm Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North
Melbourne Vixens 48–31 Southern Steel Saturday 25 April, 2:00 pm State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne
Queensland Firebirds 53–42 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Sunday 26 April, 2:30 pm Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Canterbury Tactix 48–53
(42–42)		 Adelaide Thunderbirds Monday 27 April, 7:00 pm Westpac Arena, Christchurch
New South Wales Swifts 59–55 Northern Mystics Monday 27 April, 7:00 pm Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

Round 5

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Canterbury Tactix 48–50 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Saturday 2 May, 2:00 pm Westpac Arena, Christchurch
Melbourne Vixens 50–42 Adelaide Thunderbirds Sunday 3 May, 2:30 pm Hisense Arena, Melbourne
Central Pulse 60–61
(50–50)		 Northern Mystics Monday 4 May, 7:00 pm TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
West Coast Fever 67–66
(54–54)		 New South Wales Swifts Monday 4 May, 6:00 pm Challenge Stadium, Perth
BYES: Queensland Firebirds and Southern Steel

Round 6

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 59–36 Central Pulse Saturday 9 May, 2:00 pm Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton
New South Wales Swifts 40–51 Adelaide Thunderbirds Sunday 10 May, 2:30 pm Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre
Northern Mystics 52–61 Southern Steel Monday 11 May, 7:00 pm Trusts Stadium, Auckland
Queensland Firebirds 56–53 West Coast Fever Monday 11 May, 7:00 pm Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
BYES: Canterbury Tactix and Melbourne Vixens

Round 7

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Canterbury Tactix 47–48 Southern Steel Saturday 16 May, 2:00 pm Westpac Arena, Christchurch
West Coast Fever 49–74 Melbourne Vixens Sunday 17 May, 12:30 pm Challenge Stadium, Perth
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 50–35 Northern Mystics Monday 18 May, 7:00 pm Energy Events Centre, Rotorua
New South Wales Swifts 54–58 Queensland Firebirds Monday 18 May, 7:00 pm Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre
BYES: Adelaide Thunderbirds and Central Pulse

Round 8

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Canterbury Tactix 49–46 Central Pulse Saturday 23 May, 2:00 pm Westpac Arena, Christchurch
Adelaide Thunderbirds 51–50 Queensland Firebirds Sunday 24 May, 2:00 pm ETSA Park, Adelaide
Southern Steel 39–48 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Monday 25 May, 7:00 pm Stadium Southland, Invercargill
Melbourne Vixens 65–63
(54–54)		 New South Wales Swifts Monday 25 May, 7:00 pm Hisense Arena, Melbourne
BYES: Northern Mystics and West Coast Fever

Round 9

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Central Pulse 44–66 Southern Steel Saturday 30 May, 2:00 pm TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Melbourne Vixens 57–53 Queensland Firebirds Sunday 31 May, 2:30 pm Hisense Arena, Melbourne
Northern Mystics 47–46 Canterbury Tactix Monday 1 June, 7:00 pm Trusts Stadium, Auckland
West Coast Fever 41–61 Adelaide Thunderbirds Monday 1 June, 6:00 pm Challenge Stadium, Perth
BYES: New South Wales Swifts and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic

Round 10

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Central Pulse 45–59 Canterbury Tactix Saturday 6 June, 2:00 pm Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua
Adelaide Thunderbirds 58–34 Northern Mystics Saturday 6 June, 1:30 pm Adelaide Arena, Adelaide
Queensland Firebirds 62–61 New South Wales Swifts Sunday 7 June, 2:30 pm Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 55–48 Melbourne Vixens Monday 8 June, 7:00 pm Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Tauranga
West Coast Fever 59–48 Southern Steel Monday 8 June, 5:00 pm Challenge Stadium, Perth

Round 11

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Canterbury Tactix 53–46 Queensland Firebirds Saturday 13 June, 2:00 pm Westpac Arena, Christchurch
Adelaide Thunderbirds 58–39 West Coast Fever Sunday 14 June, 2:00 pm ETSA Park, Adelaide
Central Pulse 35–67 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Sunday 14 June, 6:30 pm TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Southern Steel 52–50 Northern Mystics Monday 15 June, 7:00 pm Stadium Southland, Invercargill
New South Wales Swifts 52–63 Melbourne Vixens Monday 15 June, 7:00 pm Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

Round 12

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Northern Mystics 57–61 Melbourne Vixens Saturday 20 June, 2:00 pm Trusts Stadium, Auckland
Adelaide Thunderbirds 70–40 Central Pulse Saturday 20 June, 1:30 pm ETSA Park, Adelaide
New South Wales Swifts 60–63 West Coast Fever Sunday 21 June, 2:30 pm Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 50–46 Canterbury Tactix Monday 22 June, 7:00 pm Energy Events Centre, Rotorua
Queensland Firebirds 52–50 Southern Steel Monday 22 June, 7:00 pm Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

Round 13: 'Rivalry Round'

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Northern Mystics 57–59 Queensland Firebirds Saturday 27 June, 2:00 pm Trusts Stadium, Auckland
West Coast Fever 38–49 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Sunday 28 June, 12:30 pm Challenge Stadium, Perth
Central Pulse 53–52 New South Wales Swifts Sunday 28 June, 6:30 pm Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua
Southern Steel 58–49 Adelaide Thunderbirds Monday 29 June, 7:00 pm The Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Melbourne Vixens 63–35 Canterbury Tactix Monday 29 June, 7:00 pm Hisense Arena, Melbourne

All matches involved trans-Tasman clashes. Goals scored by Australian and New Zealand teams were accumulated, and the country with the most goals won. Despite New Zealand teams winning three of the five matches, Australia won the Rivalry Round Trophy by 261–252.

Round 14

Home team Score Away team Match Information
Date and time Venue
Southern Steel 55–48 New South Wales Swifts Saturday 4 July, 2:00 pm Stadium Southland, Invercargill
Melbourne Vixens 80–39 Central Pulse Saturday 4 July, 2:00 pm Hisense Arena, Melbourne
Adelaide Thunderbirds 54–35 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Sunday 5 July, 2:00 pm Adelaide Arena, Adelaide
Canterbury Tactix 63–56 Northern Mystics Monday 6 July, 7:00 pm Westpac Arena, Christchurch
West Coast Fever 52–54 Queensland Firebirds Monday 6 July, 6:00 pm Challenge Stadium, Perth

Standings

2009 ANZ Championship ladder
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA G% Pts
1 Melbourne Vixens 131201769614125.2424
2 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 131102673562119.7522
3 Adelaide Thunderbirds 131003698579120.5520
4 Southern Steel 13805662645102.6416
5 Queensland Firebirds 13805700690101.4516
6 Canterbury Tactix 1350863966296.5310
7 West Coast Fever 1350866673590.6110
8 Northern Mystics 13301064272788.316
9 New South Wales Swifts 13201170974894.794
10 Central Pulse 13101259479075.192
Updated on 7 July 2009 (Round 14, Game 5)
Table legend
  • Pos = Position
  • Pld = Games played
  • W = Wins (2 points)
  • D = Draws (1 point)
  • L = Losses (0 points)
  • GF = Goals For (total goals scored)
  • GA = Goals Against (total goals conceded)
  • G% = Goal percentage (= 100 × GF/GA)
  • Pts = Points (progressive tally)


       Major semi-final qualifying position
       Minor semi-final qualifying position

Finals

Semi-finals Preliminary final Grand final
Sunday 12 July – Melbourne
1. Melbourne Vixens 58
2. Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 43
Sunday 19 July – Hamilton Sunday 26 July – Melbourne
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 37 Melbourne Vixens 54
Adelaide Thunderbirds 51 Adelaide Thunderbirds 46
Monday 13 July – Adelaide
3. Adelaide Thunderbirds 51
4. Southern Steel 45 Key: Winning team advances Losing team advances

Major semi-final

Sunday 12 July
14:30 (UTC+10)		 Report
Stats		 Melbourne Vixens58–43Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic    Hisense Arena, Melbourne
Scoring by quarter: 16-10, 14-14, 14-7, 14-12
Thwaites  35/41 (85%)
McMahon  21/22 (95%)
Howard  2/2 (100%)		 van Dyk  24/25 (96%)
Tutaia  19/23 (83%)

Minor semi-final

Monday 13 July
18:30 (UTC+9:30)		 Report
Stats		 Adelaide Thunderbirds51–45Southern Steel    ETSA Park, Adelaide
Scoring by quarter: 12-11, 15-11, 11-10, 13-13
Beveridge  31/36 (86%)
Medhurst  20/21 (95%)		 Dehn  23/27 (85%)
Wilkins  22/24 (92%)

Preliminary final

Sunday 19 July
19:00 (UTC+12)		 Report
Stats		 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic37–51Adelaide Thunderbirds    Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton
Scoring by quarter: 8-11, 10-13, 8-14, 11-13
van Dyk  25/26 (96%)
Tutaia  12/17 (71%)		 Beveridge  28/30 (93%)
Medhurst  22/25 (88%)
Altschwager  1/2 (50%)

Grand final

Sunday 26 July
14:30 (UTC+10)		 Report
Stats		 Melbourne Vixens54–46Adelaide Thunderbirds    Hisense Arena, Melbourne
Attendance: 9,500
Scoring by quarter: 13-13, 14-6, 14-13, 13-14
Thwaites  31/39 (79%)
McMahon  23/28 (82%)		 Beveridge  28/34 (82%)
Medhurst  18/23 (78%)
Altschwager  1/2 (50%)

References

  1. ↑ "League stands firm on draw". Fox Sports (online). 2008-11-13. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Pre-Season Tournaments to test teams" (Press release). Netball New Zealand. 2009-02-09. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  3. ↑ Seconi, Adrian (2009-02-05). "Tactix out of Queenstown pre-season tournament". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  4. ↑ Johannsen, Dana (2009-02-23). "Hard work pays off for unbeaten Mystics". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  5. ↑ "ANZ teams in action at pre-season tournament". SKY Sports (New Zealand). Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  6. ↑ Broun, Samantha (2009-03-09). "NSW Swifts win netball’s pre-season cup". theroar.com.au. Archived from the original on 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  7. ↑ Newstalk ZB, ONE Sport (2009-03-23). "Magic beat Mystics in pre-season". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2009-04-04.