ANZ championship 2016 guide: Teams, tips, draw, TV, netball guns, player movement
IT’S game on netball fans. Teams, the guns, top tips and the draw. ANZ championship ULTIMATE GUIDE.
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IT’S game on netball fans.
It’s being labelled as the biggest and best ANZ championship in history.
Teams from either side of the Tasman are gearing up to produce the best netball we have ever seen.
Champions are back, there are new faces galore and around 20 players are likely to make their debuts this season.
The Queensland Firebirds go in as favourites but just about any team in the comp has the ability to knock them off their perch.
Here’s our ultimate guide to the season including formats, player movement and rule changes.
What: The ANZ championship.
Who: 10 teams (Five from either side of the Tasman)
Defending champion: Queensland Firebirds
Last year’s runners-up: NSW Swifts.
When: From April 1, 2016
How many: 72 games.
INTERESTING FACTS
#The ANZ Championship returns to Newcastle for the first time since 2012 when the Swifts host West Coast Fever in Round 11 on June 11.
#The NSW Swifts have secured the signature of the most prized international in the competition — Silver Ferns star Laura Langman.
#Is is expected around 20 players will make their debuts this year.
TELEVISION
All 72 games will be broadcast live on FOX SPORTS and SKY Sports (NZ).
Sunday 12.00pm (AEST) fixtures will be simulcast live on FOX SPORTS, Channel TEN in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, along with ONE in Perth.
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DRAW HIGHLIGHTS
#Challenge Trophy defence in Round One with the Queensland Firebirds hosting Mainland Tactix.
#The Grand Final and Australian Conference Final rematch between Queensland Firebirds and NSW Swifts will be played at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Round 5.
#New Zealand Conference Final rematch between Kia Magic and Northern Mystics in Round 8.
#NSW Swifts recruit Laura Langman will take on her former team mates at Mystics in Round 13.
ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2008: NSW Swifts 65—56 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.
2009: Melbourne Vixens 54—46 Adelaide Thunderbirds
2010: Adelaide Thunderbirds 52—42 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
2011 Queensland Firebirds 57—44 Northern Mystics
2012: Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 41—38 Melbourne Vixens
2013: Adelaide Thunderbirds 50—48 Queensland Firebirds
2014: Melbourne Vixens 53—42 Queensland Firebirds
2015: Queensland Firebirds 57—56 NSW Swifts.
HOW A MATCH WORKS
Each quarter is played over 15 minutes, with the following intervals between quarters:
First quarter break = 4 minutes
Halftime break = 12 minutes
Third quarter break = 4 minutes
HOW THE COMPETITION WORKS
#The ANZ Championship is played over 17 weeks and comprises 14 rounds.
#At the conclusion of the regular season the Conference Finals and the ANZ Championship Finals Series are held.
#Matches are generally played on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
#Each team competes in 13 regular matches.
#Australian teams play all other Australian teams twice, and New Zealand teams once; New Zealand teams play all other New Zealand teams twice, and Australian teams once.
GRAND FINAL REMATCH
The Grand Final and Australian Conference Final rematch between Queensland Firebirds and NSW Swifts will be played at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Round 5.
IMPORTANT CHANGES
NZ based Sunday night games will move to 4pm (NZT) Sunday afternoon.
Weekly Saturday 5pm (AEST) games in Australia introduced for the first time in 2016.
HOW THE FINALS WORK
The Finals Series will be played over four weekends with the Conference Elimination Final and Conference Finals to be contested over two weekends.
HOW MATCHES ARE SCORED
The following match points will be awarded during the regular season:
2 points — Win
1 point — Draw
No points — Loss
NEW RULES OF THE GAME
STOPPAGES FOR INJURY OR ILLNESS
An injured player has up to 30 seconds to leave the court. The injured player must leave the court and the position either left vacant or replaced.
Primary Care person/s may advise the umpire if the player cannot be removed safely within 30 seconds and umpires will extend the stoppage time.
If the position is left vacant, a player or substitute may take the court during an interval, during another stoppage for injury/illness/blood or after a goal is scored (in this last case the player must play in the vacant position).
Coaching is allowed at all stoppages including injury or illness, blood and emergency.
DRAWN MATCHES
Drawn matches will be recognised during the season.when teams finish equal on goals at the conclusion of fulltime. One point is awarded to each team,
If necessary, extra time will only be played during the Conference Finals and ANZ Championship Finals Series — as per existing ANZ Championship Competition Rules.
TIPPING
WHO WILL MAKE THE ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL
(winner named first)
Amanda Lulham, sport writer: NSW Swifts, West Coast Fever.
Tom Sangster, NRL SuperCoach: NSW Swifts, Queensland Firebirds
Fatima Kouda, digital sport producer: NSW Swifts, Magic
Dave Campbell, digital sports editor: West Coast Fever, Queensland Firebirds
TEAM LISTS/PLAYER MOVEMENT
There’s been plenty of action behind the scenes in the off season with more than 30 changes — around a quarter of the 120 contracted players — made.
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Mission Queensland Firebirds
2016 TEAM: Romelda Aiken (Jamaica), Mahalia Cassidy, Laura Clemesha, Beryl Friday, Laura Geitz, Hulita Haukinima, Chelsea Lemke, Clare McMeniman, Caitlyn Nevins, Kim Ravaillion, Gabi Simpson, Gretel Tippett.
IN: Mahalia Cassidy, Hulita Haukinima (debut), Chelsea Lemke (debut).
OUT: Rebecca Bulley, Verity Simmons (Fever), Amorette Wild.
NSW Swifts
2016 TEAM: Kaitlyn Bryce, Kimberlee Green, Paige Hadley, Laura Langman (New Zealand), Sharni Layton, Abbey McCulloch, Lauren Moore, Susan Pettitt, Amy Sommerville, Caitlin Thwaites, Maddy Turner, Stephanie Wood.
IN: Kaitlyn Bryce (debut), Laura Langman (Mystics), Lauren Moore (debut), Amy Sommerville (debut), Maddy Turner (debut).
OUT: Jade Clarke, Julie Corletto, Taylah Davies, Erin Hoare, Micaela Wilson.
Melbourne Vixens
2016 TEAM: Karyn Bailey, Kelsey Browne, Emily Mannix, Geva Mentor (England), Kate Moloney, Tegan Philip, Madi Robinson, Emma Ryde, Alice Teague-Neeld, Chloe Watson, Liz Watson, Jo Weston.
IN: Kelsey Browne, Emma Ryde (debut).
OUT: Bianca Chatfield, Carla Dziwoki.
West Coast Fever
2016 TEAM: Caitlin Bassett, Kate Beveridge, Ashleigh Brazill, Shae Brown, Courtney Bruce, Ingrid Colyer, Josie Janz-Dawson, April Letton, Natalie Medhurst, Erena Mikaere (New Zealand), Verity Simmons, Kaylia Stanton.
IN: Verity Simmons (Firebirds).
OUT: Khao Watts (Thunderbirds).
Adelaide Thunderbirds
2016 TEAM: Emily Beaton, Erin Bell, Carla Borrego, Renae Ingles (nee Hallinan), Sarah Klau, Cody Lange, Hannah Petty, Samantha Poolman, Madeleine Proud, Kate Shimmin, Amy Steel, Khao Watts.
IN: Sarah Klau (debut), Hannah Petty (debut), Khao Watts (Fever).
OUT: Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Nicola Gray, Leigh Waddington.
Mojo Pulse
2016 TEAM: Jodi Brown, Katrina Grant, Blaze Leslie, Phoenix Karaka, Jacinta Messer (Australia), Samon Nathan, Chelsea Pitman, Elias Shadrock, Whitney Souness, Ameliaranne Wells, Kate Wells, Maia Wilson.
IN: Phoenix Karaka (Steel), Blaze Leslie (debut), Jacinta Messer, Samon Nathan (debut), Chelsea Pitman (Manchester Thunder, UK), Kate Wells (debut), Maia Wilson (debut).
OUT: Ama Agbeze, Jess Bourke, Joline Henry, Liana Leota, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit (Steel), Hannah Poff, Irene van Dyk.
SKYCITY Mystics
2016 TEAM: Megan Craig, Kayla Cullen, Temalisi Fakahokotau, Holly Fowler, Serena Guthrie (England), Anna Harrison, Fa’amu Ioane, Cathrine Latu, Nadia Loveday, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, Maria Tutaia.
IN: Holly Fowler (debut), Anna Harrison, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson (debut), Fa’amu Ioane (debut), Megan Craig (debut).
OUT: Laura Langman (Swifts), Camilla Lees, Katherine Coffin, Elsa Brown, Paula Griffin.
Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel
2016 TEAM: Gina Crampton, Abby Erwood, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid (Jamaica), Shannon Francois, Wendy Frew, Jamie Hume, Brooke Leaver, Stacey Peeters, Storm Purvis, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Jane Watson.
IN: Abby Erwood (debut), Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit (Pulse), Jamie Hume (debut).
OUT: Phoenix Karaka (Pulse), Katarina Cooper, Sophia Fenwick.
Mainland Tactix
2016 TEAM: Olivia Coughlan, Charlotte Elley, Gemma Hazeldine, Mwai Kumwenda (Malawi), Nicola Mackle, Bailey Mes, Jess Moulds, Erikana Pedersen, Hayley Saunders, Louise Thayer, Anna Thompson, Zoe Walker.
IN: Olivia Coughlan, Charlotte Elley (debut), Nicola Mackle.
OUT: Demelza Fellowes, Keshia Grant, Chloe Williamson.
Kia Magic
2016 TEAM: Aisha Bower, Leana de Bruin, Ellen Halpenny, Jo Harten (England), Kelly Jury, Casey Kopua, Kristiana Manu’a, Malia Paseka, Jamie-Lee Price, Grace Rasmussen, Samantha Sinclair, Courtney Tairi.
IN: Aisha Bower.
OUT: Jo Trip.
TOP GUNS FROM 2015
TOP GOAL SCORERS
ROMELDA AIKEN 648 from 779 83.2%
JHANIELE FOWLER-REID 607 from 697 87.1%
CAITLIN BASSETT 600 from 687 87.3%
CAITLIN THWAITES 506 from 574 88.2%
CARLA BORREGO 425 from 523 81.3%
SUSAN PETTITT 422 from 481 87.7%
KARYN BAILEY 384 from 444 86.5%
MWAI KUMWENDA 371 from 405 91.6%
CATHERINE LATU 360 from 384 93.8%
MARIA TUTAIA 345 from 4347 95%
TOP REBOUNDS
ROMELDA AIKEN 110
JHANIELE FOWLER-REID 60
CARLA BORREGO 57
SHARNI LAYTON 39
CAITLIN BASSETT 35
JODI BROWN 35
LAURA GEITZ 33
KARYN BAILEY 28
MWAI KUMWENDA 26
MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS
#A Finals Series MVP was introduced last year and awarded to the player with the highest number of votes polled during the Finals Series.
ANZ Championship MVP Winners
2015: Australian Conference MVP — Romelda Aiken (Firebirds), New Zealand Conference MVP — Jhaniele Fowler-Reid (Steel). Finals Series MVP — Sharni Layton (Swifts)
2014 Kim Green (Swifts) and Jo Harten (Magic)
2013 Jhaniele Fowler (Steel)
2012 Temepara George (Mystics) and Laura Langman (Magic)
2011 Leana de Bruin (Steel) and Natalie Medhurst (Firebirds)
2010 Liana Leota (Steel)
2009 Romelda Aiken (Firebirds)
2008 Romelda Aiken (Firebirds) and Sonia Mkoloma (Pulse)
CONFERENCE LADDER
In 2015, the traditional league ladder was replaced by stand-alone Australian and New Zealand Conference Ladders.
Teams are ranked during the season within individual conferences, based on points accumulated.
At the conclusion of the regular rounds, the top three teams from both the Australian and New Zealand Conferences will progress through to the finals.
FINALS
CONFERENCE ELIMINATION FINALS
AUS Conference Elimination Final: AUS 2nd v 3rd
NZ Conference Elimination Final: NZ 2nd v 3rd
CONFERENCE FINALS
AUS Conference Final: AUS 1st v Winner AUS Conference Elimination Final
NZ Conference Final: NZ 1st v Winner NZ Conference Elimination Final
ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS
ANZ Championship Semi-Final 1: Winner AUS Conference Final v Loser NZ Conference Final
ANZ Championship Semi-Final 2: Winner NZ Conference Final v Loser AUS Conference Final
ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL
ANZ Championship Grand Final: Winner Semi-Final 1 v Winner Semi-Final 2
If teams are even on points at the conclusion of the regular rounds, teams will be ranked by goal percentages.
If two teams are still equal after goal percentage, the results of matches between the two teams will decide the higher ranked team.
If the teams are still equal, then they are measured by goal difference across all games (goals for minus goals against).
If still equal, the higher ranked team will be the one with most goals scored for overall games in the regular rounds.
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