Commonwealth Bank Trophy

The Commonwealth Bank Trophy, also referred to as the National Netball League, was the top level national Australian netball league between 1997 and 2007. The league was organized by Netball Australia. Its main sponsor was the Commonwealth Bank. Melbourne Phoenix were the competition's most successful team, winning five premierships. Sydney Swifts were the second most successful team, winning four premierships. Between them, Phoenix and Swifts played in every grand final, except in 1999 when Adelaide Thunderbirds won the second of their two premierships. Ahead of the 2008 season, the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league effectively merged with New Zealand's National Bank Cup to form the ANZ Championship.

Commonwealth Bank Trophy
Founded1997
Ceased2007
Replaced byANZ Championship
No. of teams8
CountryAustralia
Last
champion(s)
Sydney Swifts (4th title)
Most titlesMelbourne Phoenix (5 titles)
TV partner(s)ABC
Sponsor(s)Commonwealth Bank

Teams

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Locations of teams

The founding members of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league included Adelaide Ravens, Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Kestrels, Melbourne Phoenix, Perth Orioles, Sydney Sandpipers, Sydney Swifts and Queensland Firebirds. The majority of the teams were named after native Australian birds including ravens, kestrels, orioles and sandpipers. Adelaide Thunderbirds were initially going to be named Adelaide Falcons but the name was changed at the request of the rugby union team.[1] In 2003 Ravens were replaced by AIS Canberra Darters[2][3] and in 2004 Sandpipers were replaced by Hunter Jaegers.[4][5][6][7]

In 2008, when the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league was replaced by the ANZ Championship, Thunderbirds and Firebirds became founders of the new league.[8] Several other Commonwealth Bank Trophy teams were transformed to form ANZ Championship teams. Swifts and Jaegers merged to become New South Wales Swifts,[9] Kestrels and Phoenix merged to become Melbourne Vixens[10] and Orioles were rebranded as West Coast Fever.[11][12] Meanwhile the Australian Institute of Sport and Canberra Darters ended their partnership and in 2008 entered two separate team in the Australian Netball League.[13][14]

2007 teams

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TeamHome venue/baseState/Territory
Adelaide ThunderbirdsNetball SA StadiumSouth Australia
AIS Canberra DartersAIS ArenaAustralian Capital Territory
Hunter JaegersNewcastle Entertainment CentreNew South Wales
Melbourne PhoenixParkville StadiumVictoria
Melbourne KestrelsParkville Stadium
Waverley Netball Centre
Victoria
Perth OriolesChallenge StadiumWestern Australia
Queensland FirebirdsChandler ArenaQueensland
Sydney SwiftsSydney SuperDome
State Sports Centre
Wollongong Entertainment Centre
New South Wales

Earlier teams

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TeamRegionDebut seasonFinal seasonReplaced by
Adelaide RavensSouth Australia19972002AIS Canberra Darters
Sydney SandpipersNew South Wales19972003Hunter Jaegers

Grand finals

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SeasonWinnersScoreRunners UpVenue
1997[15]Melbourne Phoenix58–48Adelaide ThunderbirdsThe Glasshouse
1998[15][16]Adelaide Thunderbirds48–42Sydney SwiftsNetball SA Stadium
1999[16][17][18]Adelaide Thunderbirds62–30Adelaide RavensNetball SA Stadium
2000[17][19]Melbourne Phoenix52–51Adelaide ThunderbirdsThe Glasshouse
2001[20][5][21]Sydney Swifts57–32Adelaide ThunderbirdsState Sports Centre
2002[20][22][23]Melbourne Phoenix49–44Adelaide ThunderbirdsJohn Cain Arena
2003[23][24]Melbourne Phoenix47–44Sydney SwiftsSydney SuperDome
2004[25][26][27]Sydney Swifts52–51Melbourne PhoenixSydney SuperDome
2005[27][28][29][21]Melbourne Phoenix61–44Sydney SwiftsJohn Cain Arena
2006[5][30][31]Sydney Swifts65–36Adelaide ThunderbirdsState Sports Centre
2007[5][30][32][33][34]Sydney Swifts45–37Melbourne PhoenixSydney SuperDome

Minor premierships

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SeasonWinners
1997Adelaide Thunderbirds[15]
1998Adelaide Thunderbirds[15]
1999Adelaide Thunderbirds[17]
2000Adelaide Thunderbirds[17]
2001Adelaide Thunderbirds[20]
2002Melbourne Phoenix[20]
2003Melbourne Phoenix[23]
2004Sydney Swifts[23]
2005Sydney Swifts[27]
2006Sydney Swifts[27]
2007Melbourne Phoenix[30]

Awards

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Most Valuable Player

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SeasonPlayerTeam
1998 [5]Liz EllisSydney Swifts
1999 [18]Jacqui DelaneyAdelaide Thunderbirds
2000 [19]Sharelle McMahonMelbourne Phoenix
2001 [18]Jacqui DelaneyAdelaide Thunderbirds
2002 [5]Liz EllisSydney Swifts
2003Sharelle McMahonMelbourne Phoenix
2004 [26]Cynna NeeleMelbourne Kestrels
2005 [29]Sharelle McMahonMelbourne Phoenix
2006 [5][31]Liz EllisSydney Swifts
2007 [32]Sharelle McMahonMelbourne Phoenix

Players' Player of the Year

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SeasonPlayerTeam
2001Jacqui DelaneyAdelaide Thunderbirds
Catherine CoxPerth Orioles
2002Liz EllisSydney Swifts
2003Cynna NeeleMelbourne Kestrels
Natalie Sloane
Mo'onia Gerrard
2004 [26]Janine IlitchMelbourne Kestrels
Raegan JacksonHunter Jaegers
2005Natasha ChokljatMelbourne Phoenix
2006 [31]Caitlin BassettPerth Orioles
Caitlin ThwaitesMelbourne Kestrels
2007 [32]Leah ShoardAIS Canberra Darters

Grand final MVP

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SeasonPlayerTeam
1997
1998[15]Sarah SutterAdelaide Thunderbirds
1999[18]Jacqui DelaneyAdelaide Thunderbirds
2000[17][19]Sharelle McMahonMelbourne Phoenix
2001[20]Liz EllisSydney Swifts
2002[20]Sharelle McMahonMelbourne Phoenix
2003
2004Catherine CoxSydney Swifts
2005Bianca ChatfieldMelbourne Phoenix
2006Liz EllisSydney Swifts
2007Selina GilsenanSydney Swifts

Best New Talent

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SeasonPlayerTeam
1998Natalie SloaneQueensland Firebirds
1999Mo'onia GerrardSydney Sandpipers
2000Cynna NeeleMelbourne Kestrels
2001Jane AltschwagerSydney Swifts
2002Mandy EdwardsAdelaide Thunderbirds
2003Carla DziwokiQueensland Firebirds
2004 [26]Julie PrendergastMelbourne Phoenix
2005 [29]Clare McMenimanAIS Canberra Darters
2006 [31]Madison BrowneMelbourne Kestrels
2007 [32]Ashlee HowardMelbourne Kestrels

Coach of the Year

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SeasonPlayerTeam
2004 [26]Julie FitzgeraldSydney Swifts
2005 [29]Julie HoornwegMelbourne Phoenix
2006 [31]Julie FitzgeraldSydney Swifts
2007 [32]Julie FitzgeraldSydney Swifts

Margaret Pewtress Team of the Year

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SeasonTeam of the Year
2002GS Eloise Southby GA Sharelle McMahon; WA Laura von Bertouch C Rebecca Sanders WD Peta Squire; GD Kathryn Harby-Williams GK Liz Ellis
2003GS Catherine Cox GA Sharelle McMahon; WA Susan Meaney C Rebecca Sanders WD Peta Scholz; GD Liz Boniello GK Bianca Chatfield
2004 [26]GS Catherine Cox (Sydney Swifts) GA Sharelle McMahon (Melbourne Phoenix); WA Laura von Bertouch (Adelaide Thunderbirds) C Sarah Barrett (Sydney Swifts) WD Peta Scholz (Adelaide Thunderbirds); GD Alison Broadbent (Sydney Swifts) GK Liz Ellis (Sydney Swifts)
2005 [29]GS Catherine Cox (Sydney Swifts) GA Sharelle McMahon (Melbourne Phoenix); WA Laura von Bertouch (Adelaide Thunderbirds) C Natalie von Bertouch (Adelaide Thunderbirds) WD Natasha Chokljat (Melbourne Phoenix); GD Johannah Curran (Melbourne Phoenix) GK Bianca Chatfield (Melbourne Phoenix)
2006 [31]GS Catherine Cox (Sydney Swifts) GA Sharelle McMahon (Melbourne Phoenix); WA Laura von Bertouch (Adelaide Thunderbirds) C Natalie von Bertouch (Adelaide Thunderbirds) WD Natasha Chokljat (Melbourne Phoenix); GD Mo'onia Gerrard (Sydney Swifts) GK Liz Ellis (Sydney Swifts)
2007 [32]GS Catherine Cox (Sydney Swifts) GA Sharelle McMahon (Melbourne Phoenix); WA Laura von Bertouch (Adelaide Thunderbirds) C Natalie von Bertouch WD (Adelaide Thunderbirds) Peta Scholz (Adelaide Thunderbirds); GD Julie Prendergast (Melbourne Kestrels) GK Liz Ellis (Sydney Swifts)

Television

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ABC were the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league's official broadcast partner.[26][32]

References

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  1. ^ "Adelaide Thunderbirds - ANZ Championship". www.anz-championship.com. 22 April 2003. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  2. ^ "League dumps Ravens for AIS team". The Age. 27 August 2002. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  3. ^ "New look for 2003". www.abc.net.au. 22 April 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Sydney Swifts - 1997-2007". nswswifts.com.au. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Netball NSW – Annual Report 2007" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  6. ^ "End of the road for Sydney Sandpipers". www.theage.com.au. 19 August 2003. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Sandpipers to leave netball league". www.abc.net.au. 19 August 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  8. ^ "2008 Annual Report - Netball Australia" (PDF). netball.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Southern Steel faces plenty of travelling in the early rounds". The Southland Times. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Melbourne Vixens - Our history". melbournevixens.com.au. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Perth Orioles History". westcoastfever.com.au. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  12. ^ "2007 Netball Western Australia Annual Report" (PDF). Netball Western Australia. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Australian Netball League 2009". www.netball.org.sg. 22 July 2010. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  14. ^ "New Idea Australian Netball League action fires up tomorrow". www.womensportreport.com. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 1)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Adelaide Thunderbirds – History". adelaidethunderbirds.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 2)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d "Jacqui Delaney". diamonds.netball.com.au. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  19. ^ a b c "20 years on for the 2000 Melbourne Phoenix Premiership team". vic.netball.com.au. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  20. ^ a b c d e f "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 3)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  21. ^ a b "2005 Netball NSW – Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  22. ^ "Phoenix soar to third title". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 September 2002. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  23. ^ a b c d "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 4)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Phoenix claim title in front of record crowd". www.abc.net.au. 12 September 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Swifts take title in thriller". www.abc.net.au. 28 August 2004. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g "Netball Australia - Annual Report 04" (PDF). Netball Australia. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  27. ^ a b c d "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 5)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  28. ^ "Phoenix claim fifth netball title". www.abc.net.au. 3 September 2005. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  29. ^ a b c d e "Netball Australia - Annual Report 05" (PDF). Netball Australia. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  30. ^ a b c "Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997-2007 (page 6)". netballscoop.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  31. ^ a b c d e f "Netball Australia - Annual Report 06" (PDF). Netball Australia. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g "Netball Australia – Annual Report 2007" (PDF). netball.com.au. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  33. ^ "Sydney Swifts win final". www.abc.net.au. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  34. ^ "Swifts defend national league title". www.abc.net.au. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2020.