2008 ANZ Championship transfer period

2008 ANZ Championship season
League	ANZ Championship
Sport	Netball
Number of teams	10
ANZ Championship season
Champions	New South Wales Swifts
Premiers	Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Runners-up	Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
Season MVP	Romelda Aiken (Firebirds)

The 2008 ANZ Championship season was the inaugural season of the ANZ Championship, a new trans-Tasman netball competition replacing Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy and New Zealand's National Bank Cup. The 2008 season began on 5 April, with competing franchises playing each other once, and playing each franchise from their home country a second time. Four teams progressed to the finals stage, played over three weeks. The grand final was played on 28 July at Acer Arena in Sydney, with the New South Wales Swifts emerging victorious over minor premiers the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic. Overall, 6792 were scored averaging 98.435 per match.

Transfer season

Australia

In Australia, the players from eight Commonwealth Bank Trophy teams were cut down to five ANZ squads. In the south, the Adelaide Thunderbirds pulled off one of the biggest coups, signing Australian Diamonds international Mo'onia Gerrard to team up with English import Geva Mentor in defence. While on attack they re-signed top players Kristen Hughes, Natalie Medhurst,Laura von Bertouch Natalie von Bertouch.^[1]

The NSW Swifts had to contend with the loss of Gerrard to the Thunderbirds, opting to replace experience with local youth. Coach Julie Fitzgerald rallied on a young looking side, but did add some experience in Australian internationals Catherine Cox, Susan Pratley, Kim Green and Selina Gilsenan.

In Melbourne, the new look Melbourne Vixens would bring the best players from Victoria, using former CBT teams the Phoenix and Kestrels as the main feeders. Phoenix stars Sharelle McMahon, Natasha Chokljat and Bianca Chatfield were combined with Caitlin Thwaites and Julie Corletto from the Kestrels to form an all Victorian line-up. Coach Julie Hoornweg opted against signing an import for the franchise.

Up north at the Queensland Firebirds, the Brisbane-based team re-signed the majority of its Commonwealth Bank Trophy team from 2007 including Australian capped players Laura Geitz and Lauren Nourse. Along with the Australian duo, came two of the very best imports in from overseas. 1.96 cm shooter Romelda Aiken and England Midcourter Tamsin Greenway who were also added to coach Vicki Wilson's team.

The West Coast Fever named a fairly inexperienced squad for the 2008 competition, and were unable to attract any top level Australian players to Perth. Tall developing shooter Caitlin Bassett, and talented Goal Keeper Susan Fuhrmann were mixed in with Australian veteran Ingrid Dick and England players Ama Agbeze and Karen Atkinson to form the new look West Coast Fever.

New Zealand

All five NZ franchises tried to lure Casey Williams for the 2008 season, but the Ferns defender stayed loyal to the Magic.

Like Australia, New Zealand's professional player pool was about to be decreased from 96 players to 60. Forming five franchises, from the previous eight of the National Bank Cup, was tough and there was fierce negotiations between the teams for the top players.

Down south at the Southern Steel, the dynasty of the Sting was over, and many internationals called time on their careers. Southern stars Adine Wilson, Lesley Rumball, Belinda Colling and Donna Wilkins opted against playing, while Wilkins would later return as the Steel's assistant. Coach Robyn Broughton was left with the huge task of rebuilding, but added top Sting players Daneka Wipiiti, Liana Leota, Wendy Frew, Erika Burgess and Megan Hutton.^[2]

Otago Rebels captain Jodi Brown and team mate Phillipa Finch decided against signing with Steel, opting to play instead for the Canterbury Tactix. In Christchurch with the inclusion of Brown and Finch, coach Helen Mahon-Stroud also called on fellow Silver Fern players Maree Bowden and Julie Seymour.

In Wellington, the Pulse struggled with recruitment and were given an extension to submit their squad of twelve players by TTNL. The Pulse were able to snare English defender Sonia Mkoloma and Samoan captain Frances Solia as the teams marquee signings.

The Waikato/BOP Magic were able to call on six current Silver Ferns for the 2008 ANZ Championship season. The trio of Irene van Dyk, Laura Langman and Casey Williams would lead the way for the franchise. The Magic also welcomed Maria Tutaia to the franchise, after previously playing for the Auckland Diamonds in the National Bank Cup.

The Northern Mystics formed a squad purely from Auckland based players. The mix of Diamonds and Northern Force signings boosted the line-up with names including Catherine Latu, Jade Topia and Paula Griffin. Temepara George signed on as the teams captain and was joined in defence by Silver Ferns Sheryl Scanlan and Leana de Bruin.^[3]

Notable transfers

References

1. ↑ "Gerrard signs with T'Birds". SportsAustralia. Retrieved 13 November 2012. 
2. ↑ "Southern Steel confirms squad". NZCity and Newstalk ZB. 2008-01-26. Retrieved 2008-10-15. 
3. ↑ "Decision expected Monday on final Mystics player". NewstalkZB. 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2009-02-26.