Notable former players
Internationals
Australia
Captains
| Captains | Years |
|---|---|
| Michelle den Dekker | 1999–2000 |
| Trudy Gardner-Baker [3] [15] [16] | c. 2001 |
| Danielle Grant [6] [17] | 2002 |
| Founded | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Disbanded | 2002 |
| Based in | Adelaide |
| Region | South Australia |
| Home venue | ETSA Park Adelaide Arena |
| League | Commonwealth Bank Trophy |
Adelaide Ravens were an Australian netball team that, together with Adelaide Thunderbirds, represented Netball South Australia in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. In 1997 Ravens were founder members of the league. In 1999 they were grand finalists. They continued to play in the competition until 2002, when they were replaced by AIS Canberra Darters.
Between 1997 and 2002, Adelaide Ravens played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Together with Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Kestrels, Melbourne Phoenix, Perth Orioles, Queensland Firebirds, Sydney Sandpipers and Sydney Swifts, Ravens were one of the founding members of the league. The majority of the teams were named after native Australian birds. Ravens were named after the Australian raven. Ravens and Thunderbirds represented Netball South Australia and each team was assigned four state league clubs to select players from. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
In 1999, with a team coached by Patricia Mickan and featuring Megan Anderson and Michelle den Dekker, Ravens finished the season as overall runners up. After finishing fourth during the regular season, Ravens defeated Kestrels 61–53 in the minor semi-final and Swifts 56–54 in the preliminary final. In the grand final they lost to 62–30 to Thunderbirds. [2]
In August 2002, Netball Australia decided to drop Ravens from the league. They were subsequently replaced by AIS Canberra Darters. [6] [7] [8] [9]
| Season | Position | Won | Lost | Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 [1] | 5th | 5 | 9 | 0 |
| 1998 [1] | 4th | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 [2] | 4th | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000 [2] | 8th | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 2001 [3] [10] | 6th | 4 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 [3] | 9th | 2 | 12 | 0 |
| Season | Winners | Score | Runners Up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 [2] [5] [11] | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 62–30 | Adelaide Ravens | ETSA Park |
Ravens played their home games at ETSA Park and Adelaide Arena.
Australia | Captains | Years |
|---|---|
| Michelle den Dekker | 1999–2000 |
| Trudy Gardner-Baker [3] [15] [16] | c. 2001 |
| Danielle Grant [6] [17] | 2002 |
| Coach | Years |
|---|---|
| Patricia Mickan [2] | c. 1999 |
| Sponsors | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Wendy's [18] | 1997–2002 ? |
The Commonwealth Bank Trophy, also referred to as the National Netball League, was the top level national Australian netball league between 1997 and 2007. The league was organized by Netball Australia. Its main sponsor was the Commonwealth Bank. Melbourne Phoenix were the competition's most successful team, winning five premierships. Sydney Swifts were the second most successful team, winning four premierships. Between them, Phoenix and Swifts played in every grand final, except in 1999 when Adelaide Thunderbirds won the second of their two premierships. Ahead of the 2008 season, the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league effectively merged with New Zealand's National Bank Cup to form the ANZ Championship.
Melbourne Kestrels were an Australian netball team that represented Netball Victoria in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Between 1997 and 2007, together with Melbourne Phoenix, they were one of two teams to represent Netball Victoria in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era. In 2008, when the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was replaced by the ANZ Championship, Kestrels and Phoenix merged to form Melbourne Vixens.
Perth Orioles were an Australian netball team that, between 1997 and 2007, represented Netball Western Australia in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Orioles were one of the founding teams of the competition. They never finished higher than sixth in the competition's eleven seasons and finished last four times. In 2008, when the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was replaced by the ANZ Championship, Perth Orioles were rebranded as West Coast Fever.
Melbourne Phoenix were an Australian netball team that represented Netball Victoria in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Between 1997 and 2007, together with Melbourne Kestrels, they were one of two teams to represent Netball Victoria in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era. Phoenix were the inaugural CBT champions and went on to become the competition's most successful team, winning five premierships. In 2008, when the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was replaced by the ANZ Championship, Phoenix and Kestrels merged to form Melbourne Vixens.
Canberra Darters are a former Australian netball team based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. The team was originally formed as a partnership between the Australian Institute of Sport and Netball ACT. Between 2003 and 2007 they played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy as AIS Canberra Darters. The AIS and Netball ACT subsequently entered separate teams in the Australian Netball League. Canberra Darters were the Netball ACT team in the ANL between 2008 and 2016. In 2017 they were replaced in the ANL by Canberra Giants.
Sydney Swifts were an Australian netball team based in Sydney. Between 1997 and 2007, they represented Netball New South Wales in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Together with Sydney Sandpipers and Hunter Jaegers, they were one of three teams to represent NNSW in the competition. After Melbourne Phoenix, Swifts were the league's second most successful team, winning four premierships and three minor premierships. In 2008, when the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was replaced by the ANZ Championship, Swifts and Jaegers merged to form New South Wales Swifts.
Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane, Queensland. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship and between 1997 and 2007, they played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Firebirds were the most successful team during the ANZ Championship era, playing in five grand finals and winning three premierships, in 2011, 2015 and 2016. They were the only team to win back to back ANZ Championship titles.
Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide, South Australia. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship and between 1997 and 2007, they played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Thunderbirds have won four premierships. They won their first two premierships in 1998 and 1999 during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era and their third and fourth in 2010 and 2013 during ANZ Championship era. Historically, Thunderbirds are one of Australia's most successful netball teams. Between 1997 and 2010 they finished in the top three of every regular season.
Jacqui Delaney is a former Australia netball international. Between 1997 and 2002 she made 21 senior appearances for Australia. Delaney was a member of the Australia teams that won the gold medals at the 1999 World Netball Championships and the 2002 Commonwealth Games. At club level, Delaney played for Contax in both the South Australia state league and the Mobil Superleague and for Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. She was a member of the Thunderbirds squad won two premierships and grand finals in 1998 and 1999.
Sydney Sandpipers were an Australian netball team based in Sydney. Between 1997 and 2003, they represented Netball New South Wales in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Together with Sydney Swifts and Hunter Jaegers, they were one of three teams to represent NNSW in the competition. In 1997 Sandpipers were founder members of the league. They continued to play in the competition until 2003, when they were replaced by Hunter Jaegers.
Megan Anderson, also known as Megan McWilliams and previously known as Megan Dehn, is a former Australia netball international and current netball coach. Between 2000 and 2006 she made 20 senior appearances for Australia. She was a member of the Australia team that won the silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. During the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era, Anderson was a member of Sydney Swifts teams that won premierships in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007. During the ANZ Championship era, she played for Southern Steel and Northern Mystics. After retiring as a player in 2011, she became a coach. In 2020 Anderson was appointed head coach of Queensland Firebirds.
Jane Altschwager is a former Australia netball international. During the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era, Altschwager made 81 senior appearances for Adelaide Thunderbirds, Sydney Swifts and Hunter Jaegers. Between 1999 and 2004, she was a member of three premiership winning squads – 1999 with Thunderbirds and 2001 and 2004 with Swifts. During the ANZ Championship era she re-joined Thunderbirds and also played for Central Pulse. Altschwager captained both Jaegers and Pulse. After retiring as a netball player, Altschwager went on to play women's Australian rules football for North Adelaide in the SANFL Women's League.
Rebecca Bulley, also known as Rebecca Strachan, is a former Australia netball international. Between 2008 and 2015 she made 42 senior appearances for Australia. Bulley was a member of the Australia teams that won the gold medal at the 2015 Netball World Cup and the silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Bulley also won three ANZ Championship titles with three different teams – the 2008 New South Wales Swifts, the 2013 Adelaide Thunderbirds and the 2015 Queensland Firebirds. She began her senior club career with Melbourne Kestrels during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era and finished it playing for Giants Netball in Suncorp Super Netball.
Kirby Mutton, also known as Kirby Morley, is a former Australian netball player. Mutton played for both AIS Canberra Darters and Adelaide Thunderbirds during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era. Mutton also played for Contax in the South Australia state league and was a member of five premiership winning teams. Between 2003 and 2005, she represented Australia at under-21 level.
Melissa Rowland is a former Australian netball player. In 2007 Rowland was included in the Melbourne Phoenix Commonwealth Bank Trophy squad. She was also a member of the Adelaide Thunderbirds senior team during the 2008 and 2012 ANZ Championship seasons. Rowland was a member of both the Contax team that won the 2008 South Australia state league title and of the Southern Force team that won the 2012 Australian Netball League.
Peta Scholz, also known as Peta Squire, is a former Australia netball international. She was a member of the Australia teams that won the gold medals at the 1999 World Netball Championships and the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the silver medal at the 2003 World Netball Championships. Between 1997 and 2007, Scholz made 169 appearances for Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. She was a prominent member of the Thunderbirds teams that won five successive minor premierships between 1997 and 2001. She also played in six successive grand finals between 1997 and 2002, helping Thunderbirds win premierships in 1998 and 1999. In 2010 and 2011, Scholz played for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ Championship.
Jenny Borlase, also known as Jenny Kennett, is a former Australia netball international. Between 1989 and 1999 she made 70 senior appearances for Australia. She was a member of the Australia teams that won gold medals at the 1991, 1995 and 1999 World Netball Championships, the 1993 World Games and the 1998 Commonwealth Games. At club level, Borlase played for Garville in both the South Australia state league and the Mobil Superleague and for Adelaide Ravens and Melbourne Kestrels in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. She also represented South Australia. Borlase was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1992. After retiring as a player, Borlase has remained involved in netball as both an administrator and coach.
Simone McKinnis is a former Australia netball international and the current head coach of Melbourne Vixens in Suncorp Super Netball. As a player she was a member of the Australia teams that won gold medals at the 1991 and 1995 World Netball Championships, the 1993 World Games and the 1998 Commonwealth Games. She also captained the Melbourne Phoenix team that won the 1997 Commonwealth Bank Trophy. She was head coach when Vixens won the 2014 ANZ Championship and the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball titles. In 1992, McKinnis was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and in 2010 was inducted into the Australian Netball Hall of Fame.
Roselee Jencke is a former Australia netball international and netball coach. As a player, Jencke was a member of the Australia teams that won the gold medal at the 1991 World Netball Championships and the silver medals at the 1985 World Games and the 1987 World Netball Championships. In 1992 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. Between 2009 and 2020, Jencke served as head coach of Queensland Firebirds. Between 2011 and 2016 she guided Firebirds to five ANZ Championship grand finals, winning three premierships in 2011, 2015 and 2016.