From Wikipedia - Reading time: 13 min
| Queensland Firebirds | |
|---|---|
| 2015 season | |
21 January 2015; Members of the 2015 Queensland Firebirds team. Form left to right, Clare McMeniman, Romelda Aiken, Rebecca Bulley, Laura Clemesha, Beryl Friday, Caitlyn Nevins and Kim Ravaillion. | |
| Head coach | Roselee Jencke |
| Asst. coach | Jenny Brazel |
| Manager | Nannette Rigoni |
| Captain | Laura Geitz |
| Vice-captain | Clare McMeniman |
| Main venue | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre |
| Season results | |
| Wins–losses | 14–1 (1 draw) |
| Regular season | 1st (Australian Conference) Challenge Trophy holders |
| Finals placing | 1st |
The 2015 Queensland Firebirds season saw the Queensland Firebirds netball team compete in the 2015 ANZ Championship. With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Laura Geitz and featuring Romelda Aiken, Clare McMeniman and Kim Ravaillion, Firebirds won the Australian Conference, the Challenge Trophy, the minor premiership and the overall championship. Firebirds narrowly defeated New South Wales Swifts in both the Australian Conference final and the Grand Final on their way to effectively winning four titles.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
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| 2015 Queensland Firebirds roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaching staff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Manager:
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Sources:[1]
Rebecca Bulley, Laura Geitz and Kim Ravaillion were all members of the Australia team that won the gold medal at the 2015 Netball World Cup. Geitz also captained Australia during the tournament.[1][21][22]
On 22 October 2015, during the second test of the 2015 Constellation Cup series against New Zealand, for the first time in the history of the Australia national netball team, five Queensland Firebirds players were on the court at the same time. The five were Laura Geitz, Clare McMeniman, Gretel Tippett, Kim Ravaillion and Gabi Simpson.[23]
Between 6 and 8 February, New South Wales Swifts hosted the Summer Shootout at Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park. All ten ANZ Championship teams participated in the three-day tournament. A total of 25 games, consisting of both full length and shortened games consisting of two 15-minute periods, were played over the weekend. Firebirds finished the weekend with four wins and one defeat.[24][25][26][27][28]
| Fri 6 Feb | Queensland Firebirds | 58–44 | Mainland Tactix | ||
| 6:30pm |
| Sat 7 Feb | Queensland Firebirds | 30–17 | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | ||
| 10:00am |
| Sat 7 Feb | Queensland Firebirds | 33–26 | Southern Steel | ||
| 2:30pm |
| Sat 7 Feb | Melbourne Vixens | 26–23 | Queensland Firebirds | ||
| 4:30pm |
| Sun 8 Feb | Queensland Firebirds | 46–44 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | ||
| 10:00am |
| Sun 1 March | Queensland Firebirds | 50 - 57 | West Coast Fever | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | |
| 11:18 AM (AEST) | Romelda Aiken Amy Wild |
Report |
Caitlin Bassett Natalie Medhurst |
| Sun 8 March | Central Pulse | 46 - 52 | Queensland Firebirds | Te Rauparaha Arena | |
| 7:10 PM (NZDT) | Jodi Brown Irene van Dyk |
Report |
Romelda Aiken Amy Wild |
| Sun 15 March | New South Wales Swifts | 47 - 47 | Queensland Firebirds | Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre | |
| 12.18 PM (AEDT) | Susan Pettitt Caitlin Thwaites |
Report |
Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
Queensland Firebirds received a bye.
| Mon 30 March | Queensland Firebirds | 51 - 47 | New South Wales Swifts | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | |
| 7:18 PM (AEST) | Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
Report |
Susan Pettitt Caitlin Thwaites |
| Sun 5 April | Queensland Firebirds | 48 - 46 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | |
| 12:18 PM (AEST) | Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
Report Stats |
Carla Borrego Erin Bell |
Attendance: 3,150 |
| Sun 12 April | Melbourne Vixens | 48 - 55 | Queensland Firebirds | Hisense Arena | |
| 12:18 PM (AEST) | Tegan Philip Karyn Bailey |
Report |
Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
| Sat 18 April | Queensland Firebirds | 50 - 42 | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | |
| 2:18 PM (AEST) | Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
Report |
Joanne Harten Ellen Halpenny Malia Paseka |
| Sun 26 April | Northern Mystics | 47 - 53 | Queensland Firebirds | The Trusts Arena | |
| 7:10 PM (NZST) | Maria Tutaia Cathrine Latu Paula Griffin |
Report |
Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
| Fri 1 May | West Coast Fever | 48 - 56 | Queensland Firebirds | Perth Arena | |
| 7:18 PM (AWST) | Caitlin Bassett Natalie Medhurst |
Report |
Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
| Sun 10 May | Queensland Firebirds | 54 - 45 | Melbourne Vixens | Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre | |
| 12:18 PM (AEST) | Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
Report |
Tegan Philip Karyn Bailey |
Attendance: 4,444 |
| Sat 16 May | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 42 - 58 | Queensland Firebirds | Adelaide Arena | |
| 7:18 PM (ACST) | Carla Borrego Erin Bell |
Report |
Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
Attendance: 5,000 |
| Sun 24 May | Mainland Tactix | 43 - 68 | Queensland Firebirds | Marlborough Lines Stadium, Blenheim | |
| 7:10 PM (NZST) | Mwai Kumwenda Bailey Mes |
Report |
Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett Amy Wild |
| Sun 31 May | Queensland Firebirds | 66 - 50 | Southern Steel | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | |
| 2:18 PM (AEST) | Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
Report |
Jhaniele Fowler-Reid Te Paea Selby-Rickit Brooke Leaver |
Source:[29]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | G% | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 708 | 608 | 116.4% | 23 | |
| 2 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 746 | 665 | 112.2% | 19 | |
| 3 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 744 | 701 | 106.1% | 19 | |
| 4 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 670 | 657 | 102.0% | 14 | |
| 5 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 667 | 682 | 97.8% | 10 | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | G% | Pts |
| 1 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 682 | 695 | 98.1% | 16 | |
| 2 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 643 | 663 | 97.0% | 11 | |
| 3 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 759 | 775 | 97.9% | 8 | |
| 4 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 620 | 656 | 94.5% | 8 | |
| 5 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 664 | 801 | 82.9% | 2 | |
Qualified for Conference finals
Qualified for Elimination finals
Sources:[30]
The 2015 season saw the introduction of the Ranfurly Shield-style, Challenge Trophy. The trophy was available to win every time the holder played at home. Once a visiting team defeats the title holders, the trophy is theirs to protect and hold against all challengers in every home game during the regular season until they are beaten. A pre-season draw saw West Coast Fever declared the inaugural holder. Fever subsequently enjoyed a nine-game unbeaten run in the league. They retained the Challenge Trophy until Round 10 when they were defeated 56–48 by Queensland Firebirds.[20][31][32] Firebirds defended the trophy in Round 11 against Melbourne Vixens and in Round 14 against Southern Steel, finishing the season as trophy holders.[1][2][31][33]
| Round | Holders | Score | Challengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 10[20][32] | West Coast Fever | 48–56 | Queensland Firebirds |
| Round 11 | Queensland Firebirds | 54–45 | Melbourne Vixens |
| Round 14 | Queensland Firebirds | 66–50 | Southern Steel |
Source:[31]
| Sun 7 June 12:18 PM (AEST) |
Stats |
Queensland Firebirds | 55–44 | New South Wales Swifts | Brisbane Entertainment Centre Attendance: 5,175 | |
| Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
Susan Pettitt Caitlin Thwaites Stephanie Wood |
| Sun 14 June 12:18 PM (AEST) |
Stats |
Queensland Firebirds | 60–44 | Northern Mystics | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Attendance: 3,200 | |
| Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
Maria Tutaia Cathrine Latu Paula Griffin |
| Sun 21 June 12:10 PM (AEST) |
Stats |
Queensland Firebirds | 57–56 | New South Wales Swifts | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | Fox Sports Sky Sport | |
| Romelda Aiken Gretel Tippett |
Susan Pettitt Caitlin Thwaites |
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Mission Foods Player of the Year | |
| Mission Foods Player of the Year | |
| Firebirds Players' Player | |
| Firebirds Spirit Award | |
| Firebirds Members Award |
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| ANZ Championship MVP Australian Conference |
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| C |
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Australian ANZ Championship Coach of the Year | Roselee Jencke[45][46][47][48] |