Founded | 2016 | |
---|---|---|
Based in | Greater Western Sydney | |
Regions | New South Wales | |
Home venue | Ken Rosewall Arena | |
Head coach | Julie Fitzgerald | |
Captain | Joanne Harten & Jamie-Lee Price | |
League | Suncorp Super Netball | |
2023 placing | 6th | |
Website | www | |
GWS Giants departments | ||
---|---|---|
Australian rules football (men's) | Australian rules football (women's) | Netball (women's) |
Giants Netball (stylised as GIANTS Netball) are an Australian professional netball team based in Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. The team was formed in 2016 as a joint venture between Netball New South Wales and Greater Western Sydney Giants. Giants have played in two grand finals (2017, 2021) and have won two minor premierships (2018, 2021). [1] [2] [3]
In May 2016, Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand announced that the ANZ Championship would be discontinued after the 2016 season. In Australia it was replaced by Suncorp Super Netball. The founding members of Suncorp Super Netball included the five former Australian ANZ Championship teams – Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Vixens, New South Wales Swifts, Queensland Firebirds and West Coast Fever; plus three brand new franchises: Collingwood Magpies, Sunshine Coast Lightning and Giants Netball. [4] [5] [6] [7] Giants were formed as a joint venture or "strategic alliance" between Netball New South Wales and Greater Western Sydney Giants and were officially launched in September 2016. [3] [7] [8]
In August 2016, Julie Fitzgerald was announced as the inaugural head coach of Netball New South Wales's new franchise. [9] [10] [11] [12] Two veteran New South Wales Swifts players, Kimberlee Green and Susan Pettitt, subsequently switched to the Giants. [13] Green was named the inaugural Giants captain. [14] Giants went onto finish the 2017 season as runners-up after losing 65–48 to Sunshine Coast Lightning in the grand final. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]
In 2018, Fitzgerald guided Giants to the minor premiership. However, in the final series they lost out to both West Coast Fever and Sunshine Coast Lightning. [20] [21] In 2021, Fitzgerald guided Giants to a both a second minor premiership and a second grand final. [22] [23] [24] However, in the grand final they lost out to New South Wales Swifts. [25] [26] [27] [28]
Season | Position | Won | Drawn | Lost |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 [15] [16] [29] | 3rd | 10 | 0 | 4 |
2018 [20] [21] | 1st | 10 | 1 | 3 |
2019 [30] [31] | 5th | 7 | 1 | 6 |
2020 [32] [33] | 6th | 5 | 2 | 7 |
2021 [34] | 1st | 9 | 0 | 5 |
2022 [35] | 3rd | 8 | 0 | 6 |
2023 | 6th | 5 | 0 | 9 |
Grand finalists
Minor Premierships
Minor Premierships and Grand finalists
Season | Winners | Score | Runners Up | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 [17] [18] [19] | Sunshine Coast Lightning | 65–48 | Giants Netball | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | 8,999 |
2021 [25] [26] [27] [28] | New South Wales Swifts | 63–59 | Giants Netball | Nissan Arena | 3,650 |
Giants made their Suncorp Super Netball on 18 February 2017 against New South Wales Swifts at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre. Between 2017 and 2019, Giants played their home matches at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Qudos Bank Arena and the AIS Arena. [36] [37] [38]
In 2020, together with Swifts, Giants were due to start to playing their home games at the Ken Rosewall Arena. [39] However these plans were put on hold until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [40] [41] [42]
Giants Netball 2025 playing roster | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nat | Name | Position(s) | DoB | Height | Notes |
ENG | Joanne Harten | GS/GA | 21/03/1989 | 1.83 m (6.0 ft) | Head Coach: Julie Fitzgerald |
AUS | Matisse Letherbarrow | GS/GA | 07/01/2002 | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | Assistant Coach: |
AUS | Sophie Dwyer | GA/GS | 05/12/2001 | 1.83 m (6.0 ft) | -(C)= Captain |
NZL | Gina Crampton | WA/C | 07/12/1991 | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | -(CC)= Co-Captain |
AUS | Maddie Hay (IN) | WA/C/WD | 11/04/1995 | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | -(VC)= Vice-Captain |
AUS | Jamie-Lee Price | C/WD | 10/01/1996 | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | -(TP)=Training Partner |
AUS | Amy Sligar | C/WD/WA | 13/03/2002 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | -(RP)= Replacement Player |
JAM | Jodi-Ann Ward | GD/WD/GK | 01/09/1994 | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | -(IN)= Injury |
AUS | Erin O'Brien | GD/GK | 03/01/2005 | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | -(MAT)= Maternity Leave |
AUS | Matilda McDonell | GK/GD | 22/06/2000 | 1.84 m (6.0 ft) |
|
Years | |
---|---|
2016–2019 | Kimberlee Green [14] [43] |
2019–2023 | Joanne Harten [44] [45] [46] |
2024– | Joanne Harten & Jamie-Lee Price |
Season | Player |
---|---|
2019 [47] | Amy Parmenter |
2021 [48] | Sophie Dwyer |
Season | Players |
---|---|
2017 [29] | Reserves: Serena Guthrie, Rebecca Bulley |
2018 [49] | C: Serena Guthrie, Reserves: Joanne Harten, Kimberlee Green |
2020 [50] | GA: Kiera Austin |
2021 [48] | GA: Joanne Harten, WA: Maddie Hay, Reserve: Jamie-Lee Price |
2022 | WD: Amy Parmenter, Reserve: Joanne Harten |
Season | Player |
---|---|
2017 [15] [16] | Serena Guthrie |
2018 [20] [21] | Joanne Harten |
2019 [30] | Joanne Harten |
2020 [32] | Kiera Austin |
2021 [51] [52] | Joanne Harten |
Source: [53]
Season | Player |
---|---|
2017 [15] [16] | Rebecca Bulley |
2018 [20] [21] | Joanne Harten |
2019 [30] | Samantha Poolman |
2020 [32] | Kiera Austin |
2021 [51] [52] | April Brandley |
Source: [54]
Season | Player |
---|---|
2017 [15] [16] | Joanne Harten Samantha Poolman |
2018 [20] [21] | Joanne Harten |
2019 [30] | Amy Parmenter |
2020 [32] | Amy Parmenter |
2021 [51] [52] | Sophie Dwyer |
Source: [55]
Coach | Years |
---|---|
Julie Fitzgerald [12] [15] [20] [30] [24] | 2016– |
Giants Netball Academy are the reserve team of Giants Netball. They originally played as Canberra Giants. [56] [57]
The Super Netball League is a professional netball league featuring teams from across Australia. It superseded the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship, which also included teams from New Zealand, as the top-level netball league in Australia in 2017. Since 2019, the league has been governed on behalf of Netball Australia by an independent commission. Its main sponsor is Suncorp Group. Sunshine Coast Lightning were the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball winners.
Melbourne Vixens is an Australian professional netball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. Since 2017 they have represented Netball Victoria in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. The team was formed in 2007 when Netball Victoria merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels. Vixens have won three premierships, in 2009, 2014 and 2020.
West Coast Fever is a professional Australian netball team based in Perth, Western Australia. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they competed in the ANZ Championship. Between 1997 and 2007, as Perth Orioles, they competed in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. During the ANZ Championship era, Fever were the only Australian team not to win a title, play in a grand final or feature in a finals series. However, during the Suncorp Super Netball era they emerged as challengers. They were grand finalists in both 2018 and 2020, and eventually claimed their first premiership in 2022.
New South Wales Swifts are an Australian professional netball team based in Sydney, New South Wales. Since 2017 they have reresented Netball New South Wales in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. The team was formed in 2007 when Netball New South Wales merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Sydney Swifts and Hunter Jaegers. In 2008, Swifts were the inaugural ANZ Championship winners. Swifts were also grand finalists in 2015 and 2016. They won their second and third premierships in 2019 and 2021.
Rebecca Bulley, also known as Rebecca Strachan, is a former Australia netball international and current netball coach. 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.
Geva Kate Mentor CBE is a former England netball international. She has competed for England in six Commonwealth Games. She was a member of the England team that won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She was also a member of the England teams that won the bronze medal at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Netball World Cups. She captained England at the 2015 Netball World Cup.
Stephanie Fretwell, previously known as Stephanie Wood, is a former Australia netball international, who currently plays for the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Super Netball competition.
Sunshine Coast Lightning are a professional Australian netball team based at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The team was formed in 2016 as a joint venture between the university and Melbourne Storm. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Lightning have played in three grand finals, winning premierships in 2017 and 2018.
The Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual Suncorp Super Netball award in Australia.
Gabrielle Simpson, also known as Gabi Simpson, is an Australia netball international. Simpson was vice-captain of the Australia team that won the silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Simpson was also a member of the Queensland Firebirds teams that won the 2015 and 2016 ANZ Championships. Since 2017, Simpson has captained Firebirds in Suncorp Super Netball. In 2017 she received the Liz Ellis Diamond award. She also sits on the board of the Australian Netball Players’ Association.
Sophie Muriel Garbin is an Australian netball player. She was a member of the New South Wales Swifts teams that won the 2019 and 2021 Suncorp Super Netball titles. In 2017 she was also a member of the Western Sting team that won the Australian Netball League title. She was also a member of the Australia team that won the bronze medal at the 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series. She also sits on the board of the Australian Netball Players’ Association. Garbin's older sister, Darcee Garbin, is an Australia women's basketball international.
The Australian Netball Championships, formerly the Australian Netball League, is an Australian netball competition. Since 2008 it has served as a second level competition, initially below the ANZ Championship and later below Suncorp Super Netball. It is organised by Netball Australia. The teams in the competition are effectively the reserve teams of Suncorp Super Netball teams and/or the representative teams of state netball leagues, such as the South Australia state netball league, the Victorian Netball League and the West Australian Netball League. Victorian Fury were the inaugural ANL champions. Fury are also the competition's most successful team, having won eight premierships. The 2020 ANL season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the competition was subsequently re-branded as the Australian Netball Championships.
Samantha Poolman, also known as Sam Poolman, is a former Australian netball player. Between 2010 and 2015, Poolman played for NNSW Blues, NNSW Waratahs and Southern Force in the Australian Netball League. Between 2013 and 2016, she played for Adelaide Thunderbirds in the ANZ Championship. She was a member of the Thunderbirds team that won the 2013 ANZ Championship. Between 2017 and 2021, Poolman has played for Giants in Suncorp Super Netball.
Maddy Proud, also known as Madeleine Proud, is an Australian netball player. Between 2011 and 2016, Proud played for Adelaide Thunderbirds in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017, she has played for New South Wales Swifts in Suncorp Super Netball. She captained the Swifts team that won the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball title. She has also represented Australia at under-21 and Fast5 level and debuted for the Diamonds in 2022.
Netball New South Wales Waratahs is an Australian netball team that represents Netball New South Wales in the Australian Netball Championships. In 2008 they were founder members of the ANL/ANC. They were ANL/ANC champions in 2011 and 2024 and have been grand finalists on a further five occasions, making them the second most successful team in the ANL/ANC after Victorian Fury. Waratahs are effectively the reserve team of New South Wales Swifts.
GIANTS Netball Academy is an Australian netball team that represents Netball New South Wales in the Australian Netball League. The team was originally formed in 2016 as a partnership between Netball ACT, Netball New South Wales and Giants Netball. Between 2017 and 2019 they played in the ANL as Canberra GIANTS. They were grand finalists in 2018. In 2019, Netball ACT and Giants Netball ended their partnership and the latter relaunched the team as the Giants Netball Academy. Netball ACT subsequently formed a new ANL team, Capital Darters.
The 2019 New South Wales Swifts season saw New South Wales Swifts compete in the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball season. Briony Akle guided Swifts to their second premiership. Despite losing their new captain, Maddy Proud, Kate Eddy and Lauren Moore to season-ending injuries, Swifts finished the regular season in second place. In the major semi-final, they lost to Sunshine Coast Lightning. However, they then defeated Melbourne Vixens in the preliminary final to qualify for the grand final where they faced Lightning again. Lightning were the champions in both 2017 and 2018 and had finished the 2019 regular season as minor premiers. As a result, Lightning started the grand final as favorites. Meanwhile, Swifts had begun the season as underdogs. They were not expected to have a good season. However, in the grand final they defeated Lightning 64–47 to emerge as champions.
Briony Akle is an Australian former netball player and current netball coach. Between 1999 and 2004, Akle played for Sydney Swifts in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Akle was a member of the Sydney Swifts teams that won premierships in 2001 and 2004. Since 2017 she has been head coach of New South Wales Swifts, guiding them to the 2019 and 2021 Suncorp Super Netball titles.
Julie Fitzgerald is a veteran Australian netball coach. Between 1997 and 2007, Fitzgerald served as head coach of Sydney Swifts in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. She guided Swifts to premierships in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007. Between 2008 and 2011, she served as head coach of New South Wales Swifts in the ANZ Championship. In 2008, she guided Swifts to the inaugural ANZ Championship title. Between 2014 and 2016, she guided Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic to the Finals Series every year in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017, Fitzgerald has served as head coach of Giants Netball in Suncorp Super Netball, guiding them to two grand finals and two minor championships. In 2020, Fitzgerald was made a Member of the Order of Australia.