The 2016 ANZ Championship season was the ninth and last season of the ANZ Championship. The season began on 1 April 2016 and concluded on 4 July 2016. Southern Steel were minor premiers. However they subsequently lost the New Zealand Conference Final to Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and were defeated in the semi-finals by Queensland Firebirds. With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Laura Geitz and featuring Romelda Aiken, Clare McMeniman and Kim Ravaillion, Firebirds won the Australian Conference, the Challenge Trophy and the overall championship. Firebirds became the first and only team to retain the title. In a repeat of 2015, Firebirds defeated New South Wales Swifts in both the Australian Conference Final and the Grand Final.
Transfers Player 2015 team 2016 team Jade ClarkeLoughborough LightningAdelaide Thunderbirds Sarah KlauSouthern ForceAdelaide Thunderbirds Hannah PettySouthern ForceAdelaide Thunderbirds Eboni Beckford-ChambersAdelaide ThunderbirdsTeam Bath Laura Langman Northern MysticsNew South Wales Swifts Lauren MooreNNSW WaratahsNew South Wales Swifts Maddy TurnerSouthern ForceNew South Wales Swifts Verity SimmonsQueensland FirebirdsWest Coast Fever Chelsea PitmanManchester ThunderCentral Pulse Phoenix KarakaSouthern SteelCentral Pulse Maia WilsonMount Albert Grammar SchoolCentral Pulse Ama AgbezeCentral PulseLoughborough Lightning Liana LeotaCentral PulseManchester Thunder Te Huinga Reo Selby-RickitCentral PulseSouthern Steel Michaela Sokolich-Beatson Northern Mystics Keshia GrantMainland TactixHertfordshire Mavericks
Head coaches and captains Team Head coach Captain Adelaide ThunderbirdsMichelle Den Dekker Erin BellMelbourne VixensSimone McKinnisMadison Robinson New South Wales SwiftsRobert WrightKimberlee Green Queensland FirebirdsRoselee JenckeLaura Geitz West Coast FeverStacey RosmanAshleigh Brazill Central PulseTanya DearnsKatrina Grant Mainland TactixSue HawkinsAnna Thompson Northern MysticsDebbie FullerMaria Tutaia Southern SteelNoeline TauruaWendy FrewWaikato Bay of Plenty MagicJulie FitzgeraldLeana de Bruin
Notes In June 2016, Michelle Den Dekker was replaced as Adelaide Thunderbirds head coach by Kristy Keppich-Birrell.
Pre-season On 5 March 2016, Melbourne Vixens played Adelaide Thunderbirds in a pre-season practice match at Wanganui Park Secondary College. The match was organised by Netball Victoria and the Greater Shepparton City Council. During the match, Vixens' Tegan Philip suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury which ended her season.
Between 18 and 20 March 2016, two separate three-day events were held simultaneously. Northern Mystics hosted Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, Southern Steel, Adelaide Thunderbirds and Queensland Firebirds at The Trusts Arena while New South Wales Swifts hosted Melbourne Vixens, West Coast Fever, Central Pulse and Mainland Tactix at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre. The two events experimented with a three-point scoring zone and rolling interchanges. Vixens defeated Fever in the final of the Sydney tournament.
Regular season
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4 ANZAC Round
BYES: Melbourne Vixens and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
BYES: Adelaide Thunderbirds and Southern Steel
Round 8
Round 9
BYES: West Coast Fever and Mainland Tactix
Round 10
BYES: New South Wales Swifts and Central Pulse
Round 11
Round 12
BYES: Queensland Firebirds and Northern Mystics
Round 13
Round 14
Final standings
Challenge Trophy Queensland Firebirds began their defence of the Challenge Trophy in Round 1 against Mainland Tactix. Firebirds were unbeaten at home throughout the season and, as a result, retained the Challenge Trophy.
Round Holders Score Challengers Round 1 Queensland Firebirds70–55Mainland Tactix Round 2Queensland Firebirds61–45Central Pulse Round 5Queensland Firebirds61–51New South Wales Swifts Round 6Queensland Firebirds70–42Northern Mystics Round 8Queensland Firebirds62–51 Adelaide Thunderbirds Round 10Queensland Firebirds56–44Melbourne Vixens Round 14Queensland Firebirds63–52West Coast Fever
Finals series
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 Madison Robinson Melbourne VixensANZ Championship MVP Jhaniele Fowler-Reid Southern SteelANZ Championship Finals Series MVP Kim RavaillionQueensland FirebirdsANZ Championship Best New Talent Kristina BriceAdelaide Thunderbirds
Notes Madison Robinson 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 Romelda Aiken Queensland FirebirdsGA Susan Pettitt New South Wales SwiftsWA Kimberlee GreenNew South Wales SwiftsC Kim RavaillionQueensland FirebirdsWD Laura LangmanNew South Wales SwiftsGD Clare McMenimanQueensland FirebirdsGK Sharni LaytonNew South Wales SwiftsCoach Robert WrightNew South Wales Swifts
Australian Netball Awards Award Winner TeamAustralian ANZ Championship Player of the YearSharni LaytonNew South Wales SwiftsAustralian ANZ Championship Coach of the YearRoselee JenckeQueensland Firebirds
New Zealand Netball Awards Award Winner TeamNew Zealand ANZ Championship Player of the YearGina CramptonSouthern SteelNew Zealand ANZ Championship Coach of the YearJulie FitzgeraldWaikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Media coverage All 72 games were broadcast live on Fox Sports (Australia) and Sky Sport (New Zealand). Sunday 12.00pm (AEST) fixtures were simulcast live on Fox Sports, Network Ten in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, and by One in Perth. The season had a cumulative broadcast audience of 4.9m.
References