Queensland Firebirds
Queensland Firebirds | |
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160px | |
Franchise information | |
Years active | 1997–present |
Based in | Brisbane, Australia |
Region | Queensland |
Main venue | Brisbane Convention Centre Gold Coast Convention Centre |
Main sponsor | The Coffee Club |
Head coach | Roselee Jencke |
Asst coach | Jenny Brazel |
Captain | Laura Geitz |
Website | www |
ANZ Championship | |
Titles won | 2 |
Best finish | 1st (2011, 2015) |
2015 finish | Champions |
The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane that competes 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 defender Laura Geitz. When the Firebirds were playing in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy the team was based at the Chandler Arena. 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.
Contents
History
The Queensland Firebirds are one of the founding teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, which they played their 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.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3]
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 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.
Players
2015 Squad
2015 Queensland Firebirds roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaching staff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Manager: Nannette Rigoni
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Player profiles: Team website • ANZC website | Last updated: 8 January 2015 |
Notable former players
Kelly-ann Mackenzie
Competitive record
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
ANZ Championship
- 2008: 5th
- 2009: 5th
- 2010: 5th
- 2011: Champions File:Gold Cup icon.svg
- 2012: 6th
- 2013: Runners up
- 2014: Runners up
- 2015: Champions File:Gold Cup icon.svg
Australian Conference
- 2015: Champions (Conference Champions) File:Gold Cup icon.svg
See also
References
External links
Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by | ANZ Championship Winners 2011 |
Succeeded by Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |