Queensland Firebirds
Encyclopedia
The Queensland Firebirds are an Australia
n netball
team based in Brisbane
that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship
. The Firebirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy
(CBT), previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested from 1997–2007. After the retirement of the CBT, the Firebirds were one of five Australian franchises to transfer to the ANZ Championship.
The Firebirds are currently coached by Roselee Jencke, who was appointed in 2010 replacing Vicki Wilson
, and are captained by midcourter Lauren Nourse
. Home games in the ANZ Championship are usually played at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre; games have also been held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
. The team colours are purple, white and orange.
, which played its first season in 1997. The league ran from 1997–2007. In their first nine years of the league, Queensland finished no higher than sixth place. For the 2006 season, former Firebirds player Vicki Wilson
was appointed as heach coach for the team. Her appointment saw a sudden improvement in the team's standing in the league, with the Firebirds finishing 4th during Wilson's inaugural coaching year, and 5th in 2007.
After 2007, the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was retired and replaced by a new trans-Tasman netball league, the ANZ Championship
. The Firebirds were one of five Australian franchises to join the new league. For the new competition, the Firebirds changed their strip from maroon to purple and orange. They also secured the signing of rising Jamaican shooting star Romelda Aiken
. In their three years competing in the ANZ Championship, the Firebirds have finished fifth, narrowly missing out on the finals on each occasion. Wilson was replaced after the 2009 season by Roselee Jencke.
During the 2011 ANZ Championship Season, the Queensland Firebirds went through the regular season undefeated, with 13 wins. Winning their Major Semi Final against the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic
, the Firebirds became the first team to win 14 games straight. Having won this game, the Firebirds went straight through to the 2011 ANZ Championship Grand Final to play the Northern Mystics
. The Queensland Firebirds once again prevailed, becoming the first ANZ Championship side to not drop a game in the course of the regular season and the finals series. Their winning streak is currently 15 wins.
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 ...
team based in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
that currently compete in the trans-Tasman 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...
. The Firebirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy
Commonwealth 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...
(CBT), previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested from 1997–2007. After the retirement of the CBT, the Firebirds were one of five Australian franchises to transfer to the ANZ Championship.
The Firebirds are currently coached by Roselee Jencke, who was appointed in 2010 replacing 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...
, and are captained by midcourter Lauren Nourse
Lauren Nourse
Lauren Nourse is an Australian netball player, who plays for the Australian national netball team....
. Home games in the ANZ Championship are usually played at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre; games have also been held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre located on the Gold Coast Highway in Broadbeach, Gold Coast was opened on 29 June 2004 at a cost of $167 million and is linked by a covered walkway to Conrad Jupiters...
. The team colours are purple, white and orange.
History
The Queensland Firebirds were one of the founding teams of the 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...
, which played its first season in 1997. The league ran from 1997–2007. In their first nine years of the league, Queensland finished no higher than sixth place. For the 2006 season, former Firebirds player 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...
was appointed as heach coach for the team. Her appointment saw a sudden improvement in the team's standing in the league, with the Firebirds finishing 4th during Wilson's inaugural coaching year, and 5th in 2007.
After 2007, the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was retired and replaced by a new trans-Tasman netball league, the 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...
. The Firebirds were one of five Australian franchises to join the new league. For the new competition, the Firebirds changed their strip from maroon to purple and orange. They also secured the signing of rising Jamaican shooting star Romelda Aiken
Romelda Aiken
Romelda Aiken is a Jamaican netball player. Aiken debuted for the Jamaican national team in 2005 as a replacement for regular shooter Elaine Davis. The shooter rose to international prominence during the 2007 Netball World Championships...
. In their three years competing in the ANZ Championship, the Firebirds have finished fifth, narrowly missing out on the finals on each occasion. Wilson was replaced after the 2009 season by Roselee Jencke.
During the 2011 ANZ Championship Season, the Queensland Firebirds went through the regular season undefeated, with 13 wins. Winning their Major Semi Final against the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic
Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic
The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are a New Zealand netball team based in Hamilton that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 1999 during the Coca-Cola Cup as an amalgamation of two teams from the inaugural season, the Waikato Wildcats and the Bay of...
, the Firebirds became the first team to win 14 games straight. Having won this game, the Firebirds went straight through to the 2011 ANZ Championship Grand Final to play the Northern Mystics
Northern Mystics
The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was...
. The Queensland Firebirds once again prevailed, becoming the first ANZ Championship side to not drop a game in the course of the regular season and the finals series. Their winning streak is currently 15 wins.
2011 team
Notable former players
- Karen ClarkeKaren ClarkeKaren Clarke is an Australian netball player. Clarke formerly played with the Queensland Firebirds during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Clarke also played in New Zealand's National Bank Cup in 2005, playing for the Canterbury Flames. She retired from the Firebirds after the 2007 season.-References:...
- Belinda DeverBelinda DeverBelinda Dever is an Australian retired netball player, formerly playing for the Queensland Firebirds in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy.-References:* on ABC News website...
- Carla DziwokiCarla DziwokiCarla Dziwoki is an Australian netball player. Dziwoki played with the Queensland Firebirds in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. She played with Team Northumbria in the English Netball Superleague for the 2008–09 season. She also played for Leeds Carnegie in the English Netball Superleague for the...
- Tamsin GreenwayTamsin GreenwayTamsin Greenway is an English netball player and member of the England national netball team. She usually plays wing attack or goal attack....
- Melanie GrovesMelanie GrovesMelanie Groves is a retired Australian international netball player. Groves played five years with the Queensland Firebirds in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy...
- Janelle LawsonJanelle LawsonJanelle Lawson is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship. Lawson previously played for the AIS Canberra Darters in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. In 2008 and 2009, Lawson played for the Queensland Firebirds at Goal Attack position. In 2011, Lawson currently plays for the Spinning...
- Demelza McCloud
- Joanne MorganJoanne MorganJoanne Morgan is an Australian netball player. She played for the Sydney Sandpipers and the Queensland Firebirds in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, with a stint in the New Zealand National Bank Cup in 2004, playing for the Western Flyers. Morgan continued to play with the Firebirds with the start of...
- Peta StephensPeta StephensPeta Stephens is an Australian netball player. Stephens played for the Queensland Firebirds in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy and in the ANZ Championship; in 2004, she played for the Melbourne Phoenix and in New Zealand for the Canterbury Flames...
- Vicki WilsonVicki WilsonVicki 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...
Commonwealth Bank Trophy
- 1997: 7th
- 1998: 7th
- 1999: 8th
- 2000: 7th
- 2001: 8th
- 2002: 6th
- 2003: 6th
- 2004: 7th
- 2005: 8th
- 2006: 4th
- 2007: 5th