Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Georgia Anne Heffernan [1] | ||||||||||||||||
Born | Invercargill, New Zealand [1] | 7 October 1999||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||
School | St Hilda's Collegiate School | ||||||||||||||||
University | Otago Polytechnic | ||||||||||||||||
Relatives | Annette Heffernan (mother) Kate Heffernan (sister) Maxine Blomquist (aunt) Shirley Langrope (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||
Netball career | |||||||||||||||||
Playing position(s): GA, GS | |||||||||||||||||
Years | Club team(s) | Apps | |||||||||||||||
2017–2019 | Netball South | ||||||||||||||||
2018– | Southern Steel | ||||||||||||||||
2021 | Southern Blast | ||||||||||||||||
Years | National team(s) | Caps | |||||||||||||||
2024– | New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
|
Georgia Heffernan is a New Zealand netball international. Since 2018, she has played for Southern Steel. Her mother, Annette Heffernan, her aunt, Maxine Blomquist, her sister, Kate Heffernan and a cousin, Shirley Langrope, are all New Zealand netball internationals. Her mother and aunt were the first set of sisters to play international netball for New Zealand. At the 2024 Netball Nations Cup, herself and her sister became the third set. However, the Heffernan sisters are the first sisters to actually play in the same team at the same time. As well as playing netball together for New Zealand, the Heffernan sisters have played together in several teams, including Southern Steel and the Otago Sparks women's cricket team.
Georgia is the daughter of Noel and Annette Heffernan. Her mother, her aunt, Maxine Blomquist, her sister, Kate Heffernan and a cousin, Shirley Langrope, are all New Zealand netball internationals. Her father played rugby union for Canterbury Country. [2] [3] [4] [5] The Heffernan family live on their sheep and beef farm, near Tapanui, West Otago. [6] The Heffernan sisters attended Tapanui's Blue Mountain College [7] and St Hilda's Collegiate School. [8] [9] Georgia attended Otago Polytechnic, where she studied veterinary nursing. [4]
In 2016 and 2017, the Heffernan sisters were members of the St Hilda's Collegiate School team that won back-to-back South Island secondary school netball titles. 2016 was the first time St Hilda's had reached the final five stage and final of the tournament. In the 2016 final, Georgia scored 25 from 35 as St Hilda's defeated Marlborough Girls' College 38–37. She scored the winner in the final seconds. [8] [10] [11] [12] [13] In 2016 the St Hilda's team assistant coach was their mother, Annette Heffernan. [8]
Between 2017 and 2019, the Heffernan sisters played for Netball South in the National Netball League. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] Ahead of the 2018 season, while playing for Netball South, they were also named as training partners for Southern Steel. [13] [20] After recovering from an ACL injury, Georgia was also included in the 2021 squad. The team was now renamed Southern Blast. [21] [22]
Since 2018, Georgia has played for Southern Steel. She made her senior debut for Steel in the 2018 Super Club tournament. During the 2019 ANZ Premiership season she made five appearances. She also played in the 2019 Super Club tournament. [23] [24] [25] On 28 June 2020, during a Round 3 match against Northern Stars she suffered an ACL injury after landing awkwardly. Georgia subsequently missed the rest of the 2020 season and the whole of the 2021 season as she recovered. [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] Since 2022, she has been a regular member of the Steel team. [23] [24] [31] [32] Her sister, Kate Heffernan, also plays for Steel. [33] [34] [35]
Season | Team | G/A | GA | RB | CPR | FD | IC | DF | PN | TO | MP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Steel | 12/23 (52%) | 8 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 5 |
2020 | Steel | 12/16 (75%) | 7 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
2021 | Steel | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2022 | Steel | 140/192 (73%) | 168 | 5 | 128 | 199 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 70 | 15 |
2023 | Steel | 214/285 (75%) | ? | 19 | 198 | 238 | 9 | 14 | 47 | 99 | 15 |
Career |
Heffernan played for New Zealand in the 2022 Fast5 Netball World Series. On 5 November 2022 she made her Fast5 debut against Uganda. [23] [36] [37] [38] In July 2022 she played for a Mixed Invitational team in the Cadbury Netball Series. During the series she played against the senior New Zealand team, featuring her sister Kate Heffernan. It was the first time Georgia and Kate had played against each other. [3] [23] [39] [40]
On 20 January 2024, Heffernan made her senior debut for New Zealand against Australia during the 2024 Netball Nations Cup. She was originally only selected as training partner for the series. However, after impressing in training, Noeline Taurua promoted her to the starting seven. With her sister, Kate, already an established member of the team, the Heffernan sisters now became the third set of sisters to play international netball for New Zealand. The first set were their mother and aunt, Annette Heffernan and Maxine Blomquist. However, the Heffernan sisters are the first sisters to actually play in the same team at the same time. [5] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45]
Tournaments | Place |
---|---|
2022 Fast5 Netball World Series [23] [36] [37] [38] | 3rd |
2023 Fast5 Netball World Series [46] [47] | 2nd |
2024 Netball Nations Cup [5] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] | 3rd |
The Heffernan sisters are also notable women's cricket players. [48] Georgia has represented Otago at under-15, under-16 and under-21 levels. [1] [7] Georgia and Kate Heffernan also won national titles representing St Hilda's Collegiate School. [9] [49] [50] In 2018, Georgia played for Otago Sparks, once again alongside Kate. [25] [50] [51] [52] [53]
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent Netball New Zealand in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Taini Jamison Trophy, the Constellation Cup, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have also represented New Zealand at the World Games. New Zealand made their test debut in 1938. As of 2023, New Zealand have been world champions on five occasions and Commonwealth champions twice. They are regularly ranked number two in the World Netball Rankings.
Belinda Louise Colling is a former New Zealand netball international. Between 1996 and 2006, she made 92 senior appearances for New Zealand. She captained New Zealand at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 1999 World Netball Championships and was a member of the New Zealand teams that won gold medals at the 2003 World Netball Championships and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Colling is also a double international and played for the New Zealand women's national basketball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics. During the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup era, Colling played netball for Otago Rebels, Canterbury Flames and Southern Sting. She also played for Team Northumbria in the Netball Superleague. In 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998.
Adine Rachel Wilson is a former New Zealand netball international and current commentator. Between 1999 and 2007, Wilson made 79 senior appearances for New Zealand. She represented New Zealand at the 1999 and the 2003 World Netball Championships, winning a gold medal at the latter. She captained New Zealand when they won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and again at the 2007 World Netball Championships. During the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup era, she played for Otago Rebels and Southern Sting. During the early ANZ Championship era, she captained Southern Steel. She was a member of six premiership winning teams – the 1998 Otago Rebels team and the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007 Southern Sting teams. In 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998.
Anna Maree Harrison, originally known as Anna Scarlett, is a former New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won gold medals at the 2003 World Netball Championships and 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games. During the National Bank Cup era, she played for Otago Rebels and Auckland Diamonds. During the ANZ Championship era, she played for Northern Mystics. In 2012, Harrison began using a rugby union lineout-style form of goaltending. The technique subsequently became known as the Harrison Hoist. During the ANZ Premiership era, she played for Mystics and Northern Stars. As well as playing international netball, Harrison also played for the New Zealand women's national volleyball team and represented New Zealand on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. In 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998. In 2023, Harrison was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to netball and volleyball.
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Kate Alexandra Heffernan is a New Zealand netball international and former cricketer. She represented the New Zealand national netball team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Netball World Cup. She captained New Zealand at the 2024 Netball Nations Cup. In 2018, she also made two appearances for the New Zealand women's national cricket team.
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Shirley Anne Langrope is a former New Zealand netball international. Between 1969 and 1975, she made 19 senior appearances for New Zealand. She was a member of the New Zealand team that won a silver medal at the 1971 World Netball Championships and captained New Zealand when they won a bronze medal at the 1975 World Netball Championships. Four of her cousins – Maxine Blomquist, Annette Heffernan, Kate Heffernan and Georgia Heffernan – have all played international netball for New Zealand.
Annette Heffernan is a former New Zealand netball international. Between 1985 and 1990, she made nine senior appearances for New Zealand. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won gold medals at the 1987 World Netball Championships and the 1985 and 1989 World Games. Her sister, Maxine Blomquist, their cousin, Shirley Langrope, and her twin daughters, Kate Heffernan and Georgia Heffernan, have all played international netball for New Zealand. Annette and Maxine were the first set of sisters to play international netball for New Zealand. Kate and Georgia were the third set.
Maxine Blomquist is a former New Zealand netball international. Between 1974 and 1982, she made 31 senior appearances for New Zealand. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won a gold medal at the 1979 World Netball Championships and a bronze medal at the 1975 World Netball Championships. Her sister, Annette Heffernan, their cousin, Shirley Langrope, and her two nieces, Kate Heffernan and Georgia Heffernan, have all played international netball for New Zealand. Maxine and Annette were the first set of sisters to play international netball for New Zealand. Kate and Georgia were the third set.
Aliyah Dunn is a New Zealand netball international. Dunn was a prominent member of the Central Pulse teams that won the 2019, 2020 and 2022 ANZ Premiership titles. She was also a fringe member of the 2017 Southern Steel team that won the inaugural ANZ Premiership title. Dunn was also a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup and the 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series. Between 2015 and 2017, Dunn also represented the New Zealand women's national basketball team at under-17 and under-19 levels. In 2022 she played for Tokomanawa Queens in the new Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa league.
Erena Mikaere is a former New Zealand netball international. Mikaere was a member of three premiership winning teams. She was a prominent member of the Sunshine Coast Lightning teams that won the 2017 and 2018 Suncorp Super Netball titles. She was also a fringe member of the 2012 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic team that won the ANZ Championship title. During the ANZ Championship era, she also played for Southern Steel and West Coast Fever. She was the first New Zealand player to play for an Australian ANZ Championship team. During the ANZ Premiership era, she has played for Northern Mystics and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.
The 2024 Vitality Netball Nations Cup was an international netball series hosted and organised by England Netball. It featured England, Australia, New Zealand and Uganda in a series, played in January 2024. The series was played over two successive weekends. The first weekend was played at London's OVO Arena Wembley while the second weekend was played at Leeds's First Direct Arena. With a team coached by Stacey Marinkovich and captained by Liz Watson, Australia won the series after defeating England 69–49 in the final. Australia finished the series undefeated, winning all four matches, and Paige Hadley was named the series MVP. The series was broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland, on Sky Sport in New Zealand, on Fox Sports in Australia and on YouTube.