2011 Queensland Firebirds season
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Queensland Firebirds season was the fourth year that the Queensland Firebirds
contested the ANZ Championship
, and the fifteenth year of their competitive history. The Firebirds were coached by Roselee Jencke in her second year in the position, while veteran midcourter Lauren Nourse
resumed her role as Queensland captain. Most home games were played at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
During the round-robin matches, Lauren Nourse suffered a season-ending injury. Nevertheless, the Firebirds finished the round-robin stage undefeated to emerge as minor premiers. Playing in their first ANZ Championship finals series, the Firebirds defeated the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the major semi-final on the Gold Coast. They progressed directly to the Grand Final, which was played in Brisbane against fellow finals debutants the Northern Mystics
. In front of a capacity home crowd, the Firebirds defeated the Mystics by 57–44 to win their first ANZ Championship title.
in New Zealand to participate in a tournament hosted by the Southern Steel
, to be held from 28–30 January. Both teams will be joined by the Central Pulse and Canterbury Tactix.
During the season, the Firebirds managed to win all thirteen matches in the main draw and earned the title of minor premiers. This also means the Firebirds have the rights to host the major semi final match and the right to host the grand final (should they win) or the preliminary final (should they lose).
The Firebirds have won all thirteen matches in the regular season and each match was won by at least nine goals. The only wins that didn't finish that way were against the Magic by four goals, the Fever by two goals, and both encounters against the Swifts by three and four goals. However, the Firebirds lost their captain Lauren Nourse due to an ACL during the first quarter against the Pulse.
The Firebirds' season is similar to the Swifts' season last year, both not losing a match in the round robin stages and losing a major player due to ACL.
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Queensland Firebirds
The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian 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 , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested...
contested 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...
, and the fifteenth year of their competitive history. The Firebirds were coached by Roselee Jencke in her second year in the position, while veteran midcourter Lauren Nourse
Lauren Nourse
Lauren Nourse is an Australian netball player, who plays for the Australian national netball team....
resumed her role as Queensland captain. Most home games were played at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
During the round-robin matches, Lauren Nourse suffered a season-ending injury. Nevertheless, the Firebirds finished the round-robin stage undefeated to emerge as minor premiers. Playing in their first ANZ Championship finals series, the Firebirds defeated the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the major semi-final on the Gold Coast. They progressed directly to the Grand Final, which was played in Brisbane against fellow finals debutants 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...
. In front of a capacity home crowd, the Firebirds defeated the Mystics by 57–44 to win their first ANZ Championship title.
Transfers
| 2011 Firebirds player movements | ||
| Gains | Positions | Former team |
| Candice Adams Candice Adams Candice Adams is a Queensland netballer from the Gold Coast. Adams made her elite netball debut in the final round of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2007, taking the court for the Queensland Firebirds against the Melbourne Phoenix... |
GA, GS, WA | New signing |
| Elissa MacLeod | C, WD, WA | New signing |
| Chelsea Pitman Chelsea Pitman Chelsea Pitman is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Queensland Firebirds.In 2010, Pitman played for the Canterbury Tactix playing at the Wing Attack position. However, in round 6 against the Mystics, Pitman suffered an ACL injury that ended her 2010... |
GA, WA | Canterbury Tactix |
| Ameliaranne Wells | GS, GA | New signing |
| Losses | Positions | New team |
| Alissa Castrisos Alissa Castrisos Alissa Castrisos is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Queensland Firebirds.-References:* . Retrieved on 2009-03-12.... |
GA, GS | Not signed |
| Sophie Croft | GS, GA | Not signed |
| Laura Scherian | WA, C | Not signed |
| Sarah Wall Sarah Wall Sarah Wall is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens. In 2005 she played her first year of elite netball, for the Melbourne Phoenix in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. She played three years with the Phoenix until the competition was disbanded in 2007... |
WA, C | Melbourne Vixens Melbourne Vixens The Melbourne Vixens are an Australian netball team in Melbourne that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The team were formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of the Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels from the previous Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield have... |
Pre-season
Due to the condensed schedule, only one pre-season tournament has been confirmed for the 2011 season. The Firebirds will travel to QueenstownQueenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
in New Zealand to participate in a tournament hosted by the Southern Steel
Southern Steel
The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting...
, to be held from 28–30 January. Both teams will be joined by the Central Pulse and Canterbury Tactix.
Summary
In the last three ANZ Championships, the Firebirds came fifth every time, missing out on top four in each season. Experts didn't expect them to be in the top four as they believed the Magic, Mystics, Swifts and Vixens would make up the top four. The Firebirds proved them wrong.During the season, the Firebirds managed to win all thirteen matches in the main draw and earned the title of minor premiers. This also means the Firebirds have the rights to host the major semi final match and the right to host the grand final (should they win) or the preliminary final (should they lose).
The Firebirds have won all thirteen matches in the regular season and each match was won by at least nine goals. The only wins that didn't finish that way were against the Magic by four goals, the Fever by two goals, and both encounters against the Swifts by three and four goals. However, the Firebirds lost their captain Lauren Nourse due to an ACL during the first quarter against the Pulse.
The Firebirds' season is similar to the Swifts' season last year, both not losing a match in the round robin stages and losing a major player due to ACL.
Fixtures and results
Notes:- Colours:
- Home teams are listed left, away teams right.
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| Round 1 | NO MATCH |
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Finals
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Statistics
- As of Sunday 22 May.
Player 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 1 0 523 607 86.2 24 65 0 1 16 46 59 0 0 0 0 41 0 57 92 264 22 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 80 0 2 7 7 104 24 0 0 0 0 2 32 4 24 86 7 338 404 83.7 141 8 256 8 23 39 41 0 0 0 121 0 47 1 2 60 25 1 3 33.3 101 1 250 5 9 61 25 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 1 7 2 0 0 0 0 11 55 23 35 149 13 0 0 0 0 1 69 10 31 128 9 3 6 50.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Statistics key GS Goals scored A Assists I Intercepts GA Goal attempts R Rebounds D Deflections G% Goal percentage CPR Centre pass receives P Penalties = Competition leader T Turnovers conceded