v
grand final SAT 17 JUNE BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
2 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017
CONTENTS WELCOME
4
MUSIC IN BROWNE’S FAMILY
6
PETTITT REINVENTED IN WA
7
MATCH PREVIEW: LIGHTNING V GIANTS
8-9
SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING TEAM LIST
10
GIANTS NETBALL TEAM LIST
11
CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF NETBALL IN AUSTRALIA
12 - 13
TEAMS BY THE NUMBERS
14 - 15
TONIGHT’S UMPIRES MICHELLE PHIPPARD: Michelle is one of the 10 Australian contracted umpires to the 2017 Suncorp Super Netball season and is one of the most experienced umpires Australia has to offer. She is a lawyer from Sydney, who is also a mum to three children. Michelle’s most memorable umpiring moments are the semi-final between England and New Zealand at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and the 2016 ANZ Championship Grand Final between the Queensland Firebirds and NSW Swifts. JOSHUA BOWRING: Josh started his umpiring career in Hobart, Tasmania where he spent a lot of time watching his mum and sister play. His first umpiring experience was when an umpire didn’t show and he decided he would give it a go. From there, Josh has become one of Australia’s finest umpires. A couple of Josh’s most memorable umpiring moments are being awarded his AA badge in 2009 and umpiring at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, 2014. MARC HENNING: Marc’s interest in netball first came during his university days when he joined a social netball team, from here the interest in umpiring grew and he received his International Umpire Award in 2012. Marc believes that the Suncorp Super Netball now provides greater opportunities for the Netball Australia High Performance Umpire Group as it provides them with the opportunity to umpire the world’s best players on a weekly basis.
KEEP IN TOUCH /SUPERNETBALL
@SUPERNETBALL
@SUPERNETBALL SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 3
WELCOME FROM NETBALL AUSTRALIA The time has come. Who will make history as our inaugural Suncorp Super Netball champions? Sunshine Coast Lightning host GIANTS Netball at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall this Saturday, and it’s all on the line. We have seen more fans than ever before attending and tuning in every week, watching the world’s best go head to head. New rivalries have been established, the competition has been fierce and the athleticism and skill has stepped up another level. You, our fans and partners, have lived every victory and every heartbreaking loss throughout the season. You are the lifeblood of the League and we look forward to delivering more outstanding netball for you in 2018. MARNE FECHNER Chief Executive Officer, Netball Australia
A huge thanks to our Principal Partners, Suncorp and the AIS, Broadcast Partners Nine and Telstra and the great family of League and Club partners, including Major Partners Nissan and Samsung. You share our vision of making the League, clubs and athletes household names, and have been there every step of the way in launching this new era for netball. We look forward to a thrilling Grand Final and wish both Lightning, the Giants and their fans the very best of luck.
WELCOME FROM SUNCORP The inaugural Suncorp Super Netball competition certainly pioneered a new era for elite women’s sport in Australia. As Netball Australia’s Principal Partner, I have been thrilled to see sports fans from across the country embrace the new competition, passionately supporting their local Suncorp Super Netball Teams. This excitement has taken netball’s profile to new heights. With the support of the Nine Network and Telstra, the competition harnessed the enthusiasm of a wider national audience, providing a platform for our incredible players to inspire younger sports fans.
MICHAEL CAMERON Suncorp CEO and Managing Director
Throughout the season, we were proud to launch our new initiative, #TeamGirls. Working with Netball Australia and ReachOut, #TeamGirls aims to build a nation of confident girls on and off the court. Our Suncorp Ambassadors, Laura Geitz and Clare McMeniman, have also been instrumental in championing the positive behaviours and values of this initiative. Whether you are a participant or spectator, netball has always been an inclusive sport. For years, it has inspired players to pursue their goals confidently, while bringing families together every weekend. The future of netball and women’s sport in Australia has never looked brighter, and Suncorp is thrilled to be on this exciting journey with Netball Australia and the netball community. Congratulations to all the Suncorp Super Netball teams on a successful inaugural season. We look forward to supporting the competition in the years to come.
4 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017
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PROUD INNOVATION PARTNER SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 5
MUSIC IN BROWNE’S FAMILY If you don’t see Sunshine Coast Lightning’s Kelsey Browne on the court, you could spot her on a different type of stage. The 25-year-old loves to perform, learning to sing and play the piano as a child, before studying music as a 21-year-old and teaching herself to play the guitar. Coming from a musical family, Browne said music was always going to play a role in her life.
“I LIKE THAT I CAN GET IN MY OWN SPACE AND PICK UP MY GUITAR, THAT’S REALLY FUN FOR ME.” “I always found it really cool, probably in my later years, that Mum and Dad have played in a band for 40 plus years,” Browne explained. “As I have gotten older I can appreciate that they’ve been able to do that.” The Victorian-born midcourter was doing regular gigs with her two bandmates when living in Melbourne. Browne says she is still staying connected with her music on the Sunshine Coast. “I use music as a bit of stress relief or for balance if things are getting a bit crazy netball wise, or we’re training a lot or been travelling and I haven’t been able to pick up a guitar,” Browne said. “I enjoy using it as a tool to get me grounded again, because sometimes everything can get hectic. “I like that I can get in my own space and pick up my guitar, that’s really fun for me.”
SEASON 159 STATS404
GOAL ASSISTS
FEEDS
255
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CENTRE PASS RECEIVES
Read the full story on supernetball.com.au
PETTITT REINVENTED IN WA It will be her fourth Grand Final apperance, (third consecutive), when Susan Pettitt lines up this weekend. Throughout the Suncorp Super Netball Finals Series, the 180cm attacker has played a full 60-minutes in wing attack, rather than the shooting circle that she is all too familiar with. “It’s a real learning curve,” Pettitt laughed. “I’ve never ever played wing attack. People have asked ‘you would have played it a bit wouldn’t you?’ But no. “The Semi Final was the first game in my life that I hadn’t played in a shooting role and put up a shot.”
“IT’S JUST MAKING SURE I DON’T GO OFF-SIDE, THAT’S MY MAIN CONCERN.” A season-ending injury to captain Kimberlee Green in Round 5 left a void for coach Julie Fitzgerald to fill. Now Fitzgerald appears to have settled on Pettitt in wing attack, shaking up the goal circle with Jo Harten at GA and young gun Kristina Brice at GS. “I’m a bit different for the wing defenders, so they probably don’t know how to defend it,” Pettitt explained. “Being a goal attack, your role in the game is to feed the goal shooter and read those spaces. In that way, wing attack and goal attack are very similar in the feeding role. “It’s just making sure I don’t go off-side, that’s my main concern.”
SEASON 246 STATS 144 284
Read the full story on supernetball.com.au
GOALS GOAL ASSISTS
FEEDS
SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 7
MATCH PREVIEW:
LIGHTNING V GIANTS IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS. HISTORY WILL BE MADE WHEN SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING HOST GIANTS NETBALL IN THE INAUGURAL SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL GRAND FINAL AT THE BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE. The ledger is even between the two newlyformed clubs, with one game a-piece. Giants were victorious 55-54 in Round 4, and Lightning claimed the win 56-55 in Round 14. In their last encounter, Lightning scored seven goals in just over three minutes in the final stages of the match, putting them on the path to host the grand final. Both sides have the ability to turnover ball quickly, and a full 60 minute effort will be required to take out the title. After finishing second on the ladder, Lightning held off Minor Premiers the Melbourne Vixens in the Major Semi Final with a one-goal win to earn the week off and host the Grand Final. They have grown from strength to strength throughout the season, led by captain Geva Mentor in defence. Sunshine Coast’s first elite sporting team have a strong bond, with each and every athlete making the move to south east Queensland to join the side. The team from Sydney’s western suburbs finished the home and away season in third place. The Giants steamrolled the Vixens in the Preliminary Final to earn their right to contest the Grand Final, after a narrow one-goal victory over Magpies Netball Club in the Minor Semi Final. The club lost their captain Kimberlee Green to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Round 5, and brought in Sarah Wall as a permanent replacement player. They have demonstrated flexibility within their 10 athletes, with an adaptable midcourt and numerous shooting options. There couldn’t be a more even match-up. Lightning’s defensive duo Geva Mentor and Karla Mostert have conceded just 51 goals per game, whilst the Giants’ Sam Poolman and Bec Bulley have given up 52 per game. Lightning shooters have averaged 56 goals per game, whilst Giants shooters averaged 58 goals per game. Though the numbers are fairly even between these two contenders, one thing is for sure; fans will be sitting on the edge of their seats in this clash of the titans
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HEAD TO HEAD STATS 11
REGULAR ROUND WINS
10
864
GOALS
890
118
INTERCEPTS
109
238
DEFLECTIONS
265
PLAYER TO WATCH LAURA LANGMAN The New Zealand import is the most experienced on-court for Lightning, with 193 national league appearances. The Kiwi has appeared in four grand finals, with one title to her name. Her precision, dedication and resilience is unrivalled. Expect to see Langman in wing defence or centre, with the task of shutting down feeds into the Giants shooters. She will lead the midcourt and provide a calming influence when the intensity rises.
LAST TIME THEY MET ROUND 12, AIS ARENA, CANBERRA
STATS 56
GOALS
55
89%
SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
87%
51%
TIME IN POSSESSION
49%
6
BIGGEST LEAD
4
4
INTERCEPTS
5
15
DEFLECTIONS
18
8
GOALS FROM TURNOVERS
6
SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 9
www.sunshinecoastlightning.com.au / SunshineCoastLightning @sc_lightning @sunshinecoastlightning C
GEVA MENTOR DOB: 17/09/84 Height: 191cm Positions: GK, GD, WD
CAITLIN BASSETT DOB: 23/05/88 Height: 193cm Positions: GS
KELSEY BROWNE DOB: 17/01/92 Height: 164cm Positions: WA, C
CARA KOENEN DOB: 27/02/96 Height: 190cm Positions: GS, GA
GevaMentor
C_Bass_Netball
kelseybrowne_
GevaMentor
C_Bass_Netball
kelsebrowne
LAURA LANGMAN DOB: 16/04/86 Height: 173cm Positions: WD, C
MADELINE McAULIFFE DOB: 05/12/94 Height: 180cm Positions: C, WD
ERENA MIKAERE DOB: 09/07/88 Height: 193cm Positions: GK, GD
KARLA MOSTERT DOB: 12/03/90 Height: 181cm Positions: GD, WD
maddymcauliffe
erenamikaere
mostertkarlaa
Lauz_Langman 6Lauz
CaraKoenen
karlamostert
LAURA SCHERIAN DOB: 26/06/88 Height: 167cm Positions: WA, C
STEPHANIE WOOD DOB: 28/11/91 Height: 175cm Positions: GA, WA SJWood91 WoodsJ91
10 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017
www.giantsnetball.com.au /GIANTSNetball @GIANTS_Netball @GIANTSNetball C
JOANNE HARTEN DOB: 21/03/89 Height: 188cm Positions: GS, GA JoHarten
TONI ANDERSON DOB: 01/09/96 Height: 181cm Positions: GD, GK, WD tonieanderson
Jarten
TAYLAH DAVIES DOB: 03/10/94 Height: 170cm Positions: WA, C Taylahd4
SERENA GUTHRIE DOB: 05/01/90 Height: 177cm Positions: WD, C SerenaBob
taydavies4
JAMIE-LEE PRICE DOB: 10/01/96 Height: 179cm Positions: WD, C
KRISTINA BRICE DOB: 09/07/94 Height: 196cm Positions: GS
REBECCA BULLEY DOB: 18/8/82 Height: 186cm Positions: GD, GK
Kristina_brice
becbulley
Bricey94
becbulley
SUSAN PETTITT DOB: 23/03/84 Height: 180cm Positions: GA, GS
SAMANTHA POOLMAN DOB: 04/03/91 Height: 189cm Positions: GK, GD
SusanPettitt
SPoolman
SusanPettitt
SPoolman
SARAH WALL DOB: 16/10/84 Height: 175cm Positions: WA, C
JamieLee_Price
netfitsarah
JamieLeePrice_x
SarahLWall SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 11
Proudly celebrating 90 years of netball in Australia
12 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017
A great feature of netball’s continuing success over almost a century is that its appeal hasn’t waxed or waned. It is more popular now than ever before.
netball communities. That all Australians, regardless of their background or ability have the opportunity to participate in the sport.
In the ultra-competitive world of elite sport, netball’s future looks as vital and lively as it has been for most of the game’s ninety years in this country. With far-reaching media coverage and live free to air television of Suncorp Super Netball, the game’s popularity spans the length and breadth of the nation.
Looking back, netball has continually championed causes such as celebrating women’s success.
In netball’s 90th year in this country, this traditional game is part of the national sporting landscape, with the introduction of Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) in February 2017. SSN is a wonderful advertisement for the fierceness and finesse of some of the world’s best athletes – as the motto says, it’s all on the line. As well as creating an elite competition that showcases netball to the ever-increasing viewing public, Netball Australia is making inroads through the grassroots community. Suncorp NetSetGO, Netball Australia’s junior entry level netball program, is seeing yearly growth in the program, with over 80,000 girls and boys participating in the full program in 2016. In order to remain current, Fast5 Netball was launched in 2017, offering a social format of the game to new and exisiting audiences. This form of the game coincides with the Fast5 Netball World Series, an event held in Melbourne from 2016-2018, which see netball take a walk on the wild side. The One Netball initiative is also being encouraged at a grassroots level, calling on clubs, associations and individuals to create inclusive and diverse
In 1963, Australia competed in the first world tournament in Eastbourne, England, and Joyce Brown reflects on that memorable occasion, particularly the closing ceremony. “As we marched through the archway of flags made by the other teams, they played Waltzing Matilda over the public address,” Joyce recalls. “We followed our Australian flag and were thrilled to bits – it brought some of us to tears. “What a wonderful experience we were given through netball. “The exceptional women in our team management taught us to play and live through travel and experiences, and showed the way to creating the great international competition that it is today.” Netball Australia’s vision to celebrate both the elite and community-based levels of the sport are ensuring that netball is vital and successful for the next 90 years and beyond. At the highest level, and at grassroots, netball across Australia flourishes under the guidance of Netball Australia. With Suncorp Super Netball set to build on its promising debut season, and with initatives such as One Netball, the game in this country is sure to have a healthy future. Happy Birthday Australian netball – you are 90 years young.
SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 13
TEAMS BY TH EACH CLUB HAS WON BY A MARGIN OF ONE GOAL ACROSS THE TWO TIMES THESE SIDES MET IN 2017, WITH GIANTS WINNING 55-54 IN ROUND 4, AND LIGHTNING WINNING 56-55 IN ROUND 14.
28 7 6 YEARS
MONTHS
DAYS
ATHLETES HAVE
11 GRAND FINAL
APPEARANCES, WITH 4 TITLES
THE AVERAGE AGE OF LIGHTNING’S STARTING SEVEN
864
GOALS FROM 969 ATTEMPTS (14 GAMES)
NOELINE TAURURA HAS 3 GRAND FINAL APPEARANCES AND 1 TITLE.
677 NATIONAL LEAGUE APPEARANCES
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HE NUMBERS 27 9 7 YEARS
MONTHS
DAYS
THE AVERAGE AGE OF GIANTS’ STARTING SEVEN
759 NATIONAL LEAGUE APPEARANCES
JULIE FITZGERALD HAS 8 GRAND FINAL APPEARANCES AND 5 TITLES.
890
GOALS FROM 1027 ATTEMPTS (15 GAMES)
ATHLETES HAVE
23 GRAND FINAL
APPEARANCES, WITH 12 TITLES
SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 15
2017 Australia Post One Netball Community Awards
Nominations are now open www.onenetball.org.au
Small Heroes. BIG Dreams. 16 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017
Register your child today: netsetgo.asn.au
NetFest 12-15 OCT 2017
Play in bea ch netball , outdoor ne tball or Fast5 Netb all compet itions register yo
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SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 17
Get involved at giveforagoal.com.au or donate today by texting “GOAL” to 0437371371 Confident Girls Foundation, helping vulnerable girls thrive through netball.
It’s Your Playtime Register your interest today @playfast5
playfast5.com.au
18 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017
FAN PACKAGES ON SALE NOW 28-29 OCTOBER 2017
HISENSE ARENA, MELBOURNE
©Michael Bradley
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT FAST5WORLDSERIES.COM.AU
SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 19
a proud associate partner of Suncorp Super Netball rebelsport.com
OWN THE COURT WITH THE ASICS GEL-NETBURNER SUPER 7 ASICS, proud footwear partner of Suncorp Super Netball 20 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017
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SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 21
www.gilbertnetball.com.au ww.gilbertnetball.com.au @gilbert_netball @gilbert_netball Gilbert Netball Australia/New Zealand
Official homewares supplier of Suncorp Super Netball. 22 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017
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SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017 | 23
Winning partnership Proudly supporting Netball Australia The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) invests in sport at all levels in Australia. We work with Netball Australia to ensure Australian netballers excel in the international sporting arena whilst increasing participation in netball. Netball Australia is one of many national sporting organisations partnering with us to achieve Australia’s Winning Edge.
WITH THANKS TO OUR 2017 LEAGUE PARTNERS
PRINCIPAL
MAJOR
ASSOCIATE
BROADCAST
24 | SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES 2017
CHARITY