Eloise Southby-Halbish
Encyclopedia
Eloise Southby-Halbish (born 6 July 1976) is a sports commentator and former Australia
n netball
player. She was co-captain of the Melbourne Phoenix
with fellow goaler, Sharelle McMahon
.
matches for the Phoenix and represented Australia in 34 Tests in the positions goal shooter and goal attack.
Identified early in her career as a highly-talented shooting prospect, Southby-Halbish made her international debut in early 1998, at the age of 21. Southby-Halbish's arrival on the international scene coincided with a period where Australia was rich in shooting talent - with the likes of Vicki Wilson
, Nicole Cusack, and Jennifer Borlase all laying claim to the main shooting positions. This overflow of talent saw Southby-Halbish overlooked for the 1998 Commonwealth Games
and 1999 Netball World Championships
, however she was recalled to the team in 2000.
Southby-Halbish was renowned for her accuracy, strength, and netballing acumen. Her combination with international-level shooter Sharelle McMahon was one of the most successful shooting combinations, with Southby-Halbish's vision and timing complementing McMahon's speed and athleticism.
Southby-Halbish's career received a blow when she was forced to withdraw from the squad to represent Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
with a recurring ankle injury. She subsequently retired just before the start of the interstate home and away season, after playing a starring role in Melbourne Phoenix's comprehensive premiership in 2005.
Southby-Halbish won five premierships with Melbourne Phoenix, a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2002, and a World Championships silver medal in 2003.
as commentator for the new ANZ Championship
competition in 2008.
premiership player Geoff Southby
and occasionally appeared on Fox Footy
's Living With Footballers.
In April 2004 she married cricketer Phil Halbish. They have two sons, Finn Wallace Fredrick (born March 2009) and Angus Jeffrey (born October 2010).
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
player. She was co-captain of the Melbourne Phoenix
Melbourne Phoenix
The Melbourne Phoenix were an Australian netball team. They were one of two teams representing the city of Melbourne, Victoria in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. They have been replaced by the Melbourne Vixens in the ANZ Championship...
with fellow goaler, Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
.
Netball career
Southby-Halibish appeared in 132 Commonwealth Bank TrophyCommonwealth Bank Trophy
The Commonwealth Bank Trophy was the pre-eminent national netball competition in Australia from 1997 to 2007.It was established in 1997 as a true national league to replace the ailing, state club-based Mobil League. Designed from the beginning to be more marketable to the general public, it saw...
matches for the Phoenix and represented Australia in 34 Tests in the positions goal shooter and goal attack.
Identified early in her career as a highly-talented shooting prospect, Southby-Halbish made her international debut in early 1998, at the age of 21. Southby-Halbish's arrival on the international scene coincided with a period where Australia was rich in shooting talent - with the likes of Vicki Wilson
Vicki Wilson
Vicki Wilson, OAM, is an Australian netball coach and retired international player.-Netball career:Wilson was a part of the Australian national netball team for fifteen years, making her debut in 1985...
, Nicole Cusack, and Jennifer Borlase all laying claim to the main shooting positions. This overflow of talent saw Southby-Halbish overlooked for the 1998 Commonwealth Games
1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
and 1999 Netball World Championships
1999 Netball World Championships
The 1999 World Netball Championships was the tenth staging of the World Netball Championships, the premier tournament in international netball, held every four years. The 1999 tournament was held in Christchurch, New Zealand and was contested by 24 teams. All matches were held at the Westpac...
, however she was recalled to the team in 2000.
Southby-Halbish was renowned for her accuracy, strength, and netballing acumen. Her combination with international-level shooter Sharelle McMahon was one of the most successful shooting combinations, with Southby-Halbish's vision and timing complementing McMahon's speed and athleticism.
Southby-Halbish's career received a blow when she was forced to withdraw from the squad to represent Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
with a recurring ankle injury. She subsequently retired just before the start of the interstate home and away season, after playing a starring role in Melbourne Phoenix's comprehensive premiership in 2005.
Southby-Halbish won five premierships with Melbourne Phoenix, a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2002, and a World Championships silver medal in 2003.
Media commentator
Following her retirement, Southby-Halbish became a commentator with ABC Sports, calling Commonwealth Bank Trophy matches and international tests. Southby-Halbish co-wrote a novel Anna Flowers with a netball theme. Southby-Halbish moved to Fox SportsFox Sports (Australia)
Fox Sports is an Australia group of sports channels. They are owned by the Premier Media Group, which is in turn owned by News Corporation, and Consolidated Media Holdings. Its main competitors are ESPN, which has little local content and the free-to-air digital channel One HD...
as commentator for the new ANZ Championship
ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
competition in 2008.
Personal life
Eloise Southby-Halbish is the daughter of CarltonCarlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
premiership player Geoff Southby
Geoff Southby
Geoff Southby was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .An attacking full-back who ran hard from defence and stopped the best full-forwards, Southby was a key contributor to Carlton Football Club's success in the 1970s.In 2000 Southby was inducted into the Australian...
and occasionally appeared on Fox Footy
Fox Footy
Fox Footy is an upcoming Australian Rules football subscription television channel dedicated to screening Australian rules football matches and related programming. It will be owned by Premier Media Group, operated out of their Melbourne based studios and available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus...
's Living With Footballers.
In April 2004 she married cricketer Phil Halbish. They have two sons, Finn Wallace Fredrick (born March 2009) and Angus Jeffrey (born October 2010).