Super Netball 2017: Giants team, players, draw, news and views
PLAYER profiles, team guide, latest news. What you need to know about the Giants and their chances in the 2017 Super Netball competition.
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THEY are one of three new clubs in the competition but the Giants are being touted as major contenders to dominate the inaugural Super Netball league in 2017.
Led by veteran Kim Green and coached by Julie Fitzgerald, the Giants are looking to blend youth with experience for first year success.
While the team develops its culture off the court, on it they are expected to make an early impression in the new Australian competition.
We take a look at the team, its chances, the stars and the players expected to make an impact in 2017.
BULLY FOR BEC: 200 GAME MILESTONE
HOW THE SEASON PLAYS OUT
The Giants will play a mixture of home games between three venues — Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre (SOPSC), Qudos Bank Arena and Canberra’s AIS Arena.
The Giants’ first game is against the NSW Swifts at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on February 18.
GIANTS UNDEFEATED AT PRE-SEASON COMP
NETBALL PAY DEAL: HOW IT WORKS
The team then heads to Qudos Arena a week later to take on West Coast Fever.
After two weeks on the road against the other competition newcomers — the Magpies and Sunshine Coast Lightning — the Giants will head to Canberra for their round five game.
The club will return to Canberra again in Round 12 when they meet Melbourne Vixens.
HOW WE RATE THEM
We are tipping the Giants to make the final four at worst with the new club more than capable of winning the first year of Super Netball.
They have enough experience in the team to cope with the pressure of the new competition and the media and fan spotlight.
Coach Julie Fitzgerald knows how to bring out the best in young players with her veterans fiercely loyal.
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THE IMPORTS
The Giants have opted for two imports this season in English internationals Serena Guthrie and Jo Harten.
Guthrie is a midcourter and Harten a shooter.
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS
There is no one with more experience in how to lead a team to success than Kim Green.
The former Australian midcourter retired from national duties after the 2015 world championships to concentrate on her domestic netball career.
It is a move which has paid off with Green producing some of the best netball of her career last season.
A fan favourite, Green will lead the Giants by example and when the going gets tough, will simply get better.
HOW THE COMPETITION WORKS
There are 14 rounds of competition in the regular season followed by the finals.
Eight teams will contest the new competition.
All clubs are Australian. However, unlimited imports are allowed.
HOW THE TEAMS WORK
Each club has 10 contracted athletes and a number of training partners who may be used as a temporary replacement player or a permanent replacement player.
MATCH DAY
A netball match involves four 15 minutes quarters.
The break between the first and second quarter and the third and fourth quarter is four minutes.
The halftime break is 12 minutes.
MEET THE PLAYERS
TONI ANDERSON
Born: 1/09/96, NSW.
Height: 181cm
Positions: GD, GK, WD
Previous team: Adelaide Thunderbirds (Replacement Player)
Occupation/area of study: Bachelor of Global Studies
BEC BULLEY
Born: 18/8/82, Vic
Height: 186cm
Positions: GD, GK
Test Caps: 42.
Previous team: Queensland
Firebirds.
Occupation/area of study: Mother
TAYLAH DAVIES
Born: 3/10/94, NSW
Height: 170cm
Positions: WA, C
Previous team: NSW Swifts.
Occupation/area of study: Personal Trainer
SUPER NETBALL: SUPER SEASON AHEAD
KRISTINA BRICE
Born: 9/07/94 NSW
Height: 196cm
Position: GS
Previously team: Adelaide Thunderbirds (Replacement Player)
Occupation/area of study: Bachelor of Health Science
SERENA GUTHRIE
Born: 5/01/90, England
Height: 177cm
Positions: WD, C
Test Caps: 62 (ENG).
Previous team: Northern Mystics (NZL)
Occupation/area of study: Athlete
KIMBERLEE GREEN
Born: 5/03/86, NSW
Height: 177cm
Positions: WA, C
Test Caps: 74 (AUS)
Previous team: NSW Swifts
Occupation/area of study: Welfare/Player Development Manager
JO HARTEN
Born: 21/03/89, England
Height: 188cm
Positions: GS, GA
Test Caps: 81 (ENG)
Previous team: Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic (NZL)
Occupation/area of study: International Relations
SUSAN PETTITT
Born: 23/03/84, ACT
Height: 180cm
Positions: GA, GS
Test Caps: 54 (AUS)
Previous team: NSW Swifts
Occupation/area of study: Business Owner/Coach
SAM POOLMAN
Born: 4/03/91, Newcastle, NSW
Height: 189cm
Positions: GK, GD
Previous team: Adelaide Thunderbirds
Occupation/area of study: Physical Education
JAMIE-LEE PRICE
Born: 10/01/96, NSW
Height: 179cm
Positions: WD, C
Previous team: Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic (NZL)
Occupation/area of study: Physical education.
GIANTS DRAW 2017
Feb. 18: 5pm Giants Netball v NSW Swifts, SOPSC
Feb. 25: 7pm Giants Netball v West Coast Fever, Qudos Bank Arena
Mar 4: 7pm Magpies Netball v Giants Netball, Hisense Arena, VIC
Mar 11: 8:45pm Sunshine Coast Lightning v Giants Netball, University of Sunshine Coast.
Mar 19: 1pm Giants Netball v Adelaide Thunderbirds, AIS Arena, ACT
Mar 25: 7pm Melbourne Vixens v Giants Netball, Hisense Arena, VIC
Apr. 1: NSW Swifts v Giants Netball, SOPSC
Apr. 8: 7pm QLD Firebirds v Giants Netball, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, QLD
EASTER BYE WEEKEND
Apr. 23: 1pm, Giants Netball v Magpies Netball, Qudos Bank Arena
Apr. 30: 2pm West Coast Fever v Giants Netball, HBF Stadium, WA
May 7: 1pm Adelaide Thunderbirds v Giants Netball, Priceline Stadium, SA
May 14: 1pm Giants Netball v Melbourne Vixens, AIS Arena, ACT
May 19: 7:30pm Giants Netball v QLD Firebirds, SOPSC
May 27: 7pm Giants Netball v Sunshine Coast Lightning, Qudos Bank Arena
FINALS SERIES: June 3-17
FULL 2017 DRAW
ROUND ONE
SAT 18 FEB 5.00PM
GIANTS V SWIFTS
Sydney Olympic Park Sports
Centre, Sydney
SAT 18 FEB 7.00PM
VIXENS V MAGPIES
Hisense Arena, Melbourne
SAT 18 FEB 7.45PM
FIREBIRDS V LIGHTNING
Brisbane Entertainment Centre,
Brisbane
SUN 19 FEB 12.30PM
THUNDERBIRDS V FEVER
Priceline Stadium, Adelaide
ROUND TWO
SAT 25 FEB 5.00PM
SWIFTS V THUNDERBIRDS
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
SAT 25 FEB 7.00PM
GIANTS V FEVER
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
SAT 25 FEB 7.45PM
FIREBIRDS V MAGPIES
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition
Centre, Brisbane
SUN 26 FEB 12.00PM
LIGHTNING V VIXENS
University of the Sunshine Coast,
Sunshine Coast
ROUND THREE
FRI 3 MAR 6.30PM
FEVER V FIREBIRDS
Perth Arena, Perth
SAT 4 MAR 7.00PM
MAGPIES V GIANTS
Hisense Arena, Melbourne
SAT 4 MAR 8.45PM
VIXENS V SWIFTS
Hisense Arena, Melbourne
SUN 5 MAR 12.30PM
THUNDERBIRDS V
LIGHTNING
Titanium Arena, Adelaide
ROUND FOUR
FRI 10 MAR 7.30PM
FIREBIRDS V SWIFTS
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition
Centre, Brisbane
SAT 11 MAR 7.00PM
VIXENS V FEVER
Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
SAT 11 MAR 7.45PM
LIGHTNING V GIANTS
University of the Sunshine Coast,
Sunshine Coast
SUN 12 MAR 3.00PM
MAGPIES V THUNDERBIRDS
Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
ROUND FIVE
FRI 17 MAR 6.30PM
FEVER V SWIFTS
HBF Stadium, Perth
SAT 18 MAR 6.00PM
FIREBIRDS V VIXENS
Brisbane Entertainment Centre,
Brisbane
SAT 18 MAR 7.45PM
LIGHTNING V MAGPIES
Brisbane Entertainment Centre,
Brisbane
SUN 19 MAR 1.00PM
GIANTS V THUNDERBIRDS
AIS Arena, Canberra
ROUND SIX
FRI 24 MAR 6.30PM
FEVER V LIGHTNING
HBF Stadium, Perth
SAT 25 MAR 7.00PM
VIXENS V GIANTS
Hisense Arena, Melbourne
SAT 25 MAR 8.15PM
THUNDERBIRDS V FIREBIRDS
Titanium Arena, Adelaide
SUN 26 MAR 1.00PM
SWIFTS V MAGPIES
Sydney Olympic Park Sports
Centre, Sydney
ROUND SEVEN
SAT 1 APR 7.00PM
SWIFTS V GIANTS
Sydney Olympic Park Sports
Centre, Sydney
SAT 1 APR 5.45PM
FEVER V THUNDERBIRDS
Perth Arena, Perth
SUN 2 APR 1.00PM
LIGHTNING V FIREBIRDS
University of the Sunshine Coast,
Sunshine Coast
SUN 2 APR 3.00PM
MAGPIES V VIXENS
Hisense Arena, Melbourne
ROUND EIGHT
FRI 7 APR 7.30PM
MAGPIES V FEVER
Hisense Arena, Melbourne
SAT 8 APR 7.00PM
FIREBIRDS V GIANTS
Gold Coast Convention &
Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast
SAT 8 APR 8.15PM
THUNDERBIRDS V VIXENS
Priceline Stadium, Adelaide
SUN 9 APR 1.00PM
SWIFTS V LIGHTNING
Sydney Olympic Park Sports
Centre, Sydney
ROUND NINE
SAT 22 APR 7.00PM
LIGHTNING V
THUNDERBIRDS
Brisbane Entertainment Centre,
Brisbane
SAT 22 APR 8.45PM
FIREBIRDS V FEVER
Brisbane Entertainment Centre,
Brisbane
SUN 23 APR 1.00PM
GIANTS V MAGPIES
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
SUN 23 APR 3.00PM
SWIFTS V VIXENS
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
ROUND 10
SAT 29 APR 7.00PM
VIXENS V LIGHTNING
Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
SAT 29 APR 8.15PM
THUNDERBIRDS V SWIFTS
Titanium Arena, Adelaide
SUN 30 APR 12.00PM
FEVER V GIANTS
HBF Stadium, Perth
SUN 30 APR 12.00PM
MAGPIES V FIREBIRDS
Silverdome, Tasmania
ROUND 11
FRI 5 MAY 7.30PM
SWIFTS V FEVER
Sydney Olympic Park Sports
Centre, Sydney
SAT 6 MAY 7.00PM
VIXENS V FIREBIRDS
Hisense Arena, Melbourne
SAT 6 MAY 8.45PM
MAGPIES V LIGHTNING
Hisense Arena, Melbourne
SUN 7 MAY 12.30PM
THUNDERBIRDS V GIANTS
Priceline Stadium, Adelaide
ROUND 12
FRI 12 MAY 7.30PM
LIGHTNING V FEVER
University of the Sunshine Coast,
Sunshine Coast
SAT 13 MAY 7.00PM
MAGPIES V SWIFTS
Hisense Arena, Melbourne
SAT 13 MAY 8.45PM
FIREBIRDS V THUNDERBIRDS
Brisbane Entertainment Centre,
Brisbane
SUN 14 MAY 1.00PM
GIANTS V VIXENS
AIS Arena, Canberra
ROUND 13
FRI 19 MAY 7.30PM
GIANTS V FIREBIRDS
Sydney Olympic Park Sports
Centre, Sydney
SAT 20 MAY 7.00PM
LIGHTNING V SWIFTS
University of the Sunshine Coast,
Sunshine Coast
SAT 20 MAY 6.45PM
FEVER V MAGPIES
Perth Arena, Perth
SUN 21 MAY 3.00PM
VIXENS V THUNDERBIRDS
Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
ROUND 14
SAT 27 MAY 5.00PM
SWIFTS V FIREBIRDS
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
SAT 27 MAY 7.00PM
GIANTS V LIGHTNING
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
SAT 27 MAY 6.45PM
FEVER V VIXENS
Perth Arena, Perth
SUN 28 MAY 12.30PM
THUNDERBIRDS V MAGPIES
Titanium Arena, Adelaide
All times are shown in local time.
Draw subject to change.
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