Melbourne Kestrels
Encyclopedia
The Melbourne Kestrels were an Australia
n netball
team. They were based out of the State Netball and Hockey Centre
in Melbourne
, Victoria
and were one of two teams from the city to compete in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy
, alongside the Melbourne Phoenix
. The Kestrels were coached by Jane Searle and co-captained by Rebecca Bulley
and Chelsey Tregear (then Nash). Their colours are orange, blue and lime.
The Kestrels were one of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy's founding teams in 1997, and initially played at the Waverley Netball Centre. They moved to the then-new, much larger State Netball and Hockey Centre
as their main home in 2001, but returned to Waverley for some home games in 2006. The club's major sponsor is Allied Pickfords.
Though the Kestrels had made the finals several times, they never played in a grand final, and were often been seen as a lesser cousin of the rival Melbourne Phoenix. The rivalry between the two clubs was exacerbated by the shock defection of Kestrels captain Cynna Kydd
to the Phoenix in April 2006, on the eve of the 2006 season, echoing the move of Janine Ilitch
from Phoenix to Kestrels years ago. However the loss of Kydd was balanced by the emergence of Caitlin Thwaites
, a young former elite volleyball player, as a promising shooter.
The Kestrels merged with the Melbourne Phoenix in 2008 due to the new trans Tasman trophy, the ANZ Championship
. This meant only twelve players from the Phoenix and the Kestrels were chosen for the 2008 squad, leaving less chance for the younger players of both teams to develop as players at an elite level. The remaining players forged together to become the Melbourne Vixens
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
team. They were based out of the State Netball and Hockey Centre
State Netball and Hockey Centre
State Netball Hockey Centre is a multipurpose sporting facility located in Melbourne, Australia. It is the home arena of the Melbourne Vixens netball team in the ANZ Championship, and the Melbourne Tigers National Basketball League team. The facility is located in Royal Park, Parkville next to...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and were one of two teams from the city to compete in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy
Commonwealth Bank Trophy
The Commonwealth Bank Trophy was the pre-eminent national netball competition in Australia from 1997 to 2007.It was established in 1997 as a true national league to replace the ailing, state club-based Mobil League. Designed from the beginning to be more marketable to the general public, it saw...
, alongside the Melbourne Phoenix
Melbourne Phoenix
The Melbourne Phoenix were an Australian netball team. They were one of two teams representing the city of Melbourne, Victoria in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. They have been replaced by the Melbourne Vixens in the ANZ Championship...
. The Kestrels were coached by Jane Searle and co-captained by Rebecca Bulley
Rebecca Bulley
Rebecca Bulley is an Australian international netball player. A defence circle player, Bulley was included in the Australian national squad in 2005 and 2007. Previously, she was the co-captain of the Melbourne Kestrels and of the AIS Canberra Darters during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy...
and Chelsey Tregear (then Nash). Their colours are orange, blue and lime.
The Kestrels were one of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy's founding teams in 1997, and initially played at the Waverley Netball Centre. They moved to the then-new, much larger State Netball and Hockey Centre
State Netball and Hockey Centre
State Netball Hockey Centre is a multipurpose sporting facility located in Melbourne, Australia. It is the home arena of the Melbourne Vixens netball team in the ANZ Championship, and the Melbourne Tigers National Basketball League team. The facility is located in Royal Park, Parkville next to...
as their main home in 2001, but returned to Waverley for some home games in 2006. The club's major sponsor is Allied Pickfords.
Though the Kestrels had made the finals several times, they never played in a grand final, and were often been seen as a lesser cousin of the rival Melbourne Phoenix. The rivalry between the two clubs was exacerbated by the shock defection of Kestrels captain Cynna Kydd
Cynna Kydd
Cynna Kydd is a former Australian professional netball player. Kydd achieved some success in netball and swimming in her early life, and played in the Dairy Farmers State League at the age of 16...
to the Phoenix in April 2006, on the eve of the 2006 season, echoing the move of Janine Ilitch
Janine Ilitch
Janine Ilitch is an Australian netball player.She has been a frequent member of the Australian national team, playing in her usual positions of goal keeper and goal defence, since being first selected in 1995...
from Phoenix to Kestrels years ago. However the loss of Kydd was balanced by the emergence of Caitlin Thwaites
Caitlin Thwaites
Caitlin Thwaites is an Australian netball and volleyball player. In 2011 Thwaites made the move across the Tasman to join the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship, and plays in her known position of GS. . Thwaites has also represented Australia in women's volleyball. In 2009, Thwaites played her...
, a young former elite volleyball player, as a promising shooter.
The Kestrels merged with the Melbourne Phoenix in 2008 due to the new trans Tasman trophy, 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...
. This meant only twelve players from the Phoenix and the Kestrels were chosen for the 2008 squad, leaving less chance for the younger players of both teams to develop as players at an elite level. The remaining players forged together to become the 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...
.
Players
- Shae BoltonShae BoltonShae Bolton is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the West Coast Fever. Bolton previously played in for the Melbourne Kestrels in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Her uncle, Mark Bolton, played for Essendon Bombers.-References:...
- Andrea Booth
- Madison BrowneMadison BrowneMadison Browne is an Australian international netball player. Browne was included in the Australian national squad in 2007 after the World Championships in November. She debuted in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2006, playing with the Melbourne Kestrels. In 2008, Browne signed with the Melbourne...
- Rebecca BulleyRebecca BulleyRebecca Bulley is an Australian international netball player. A defence circle player, Bulley was included in the Australian national squad in 2005 and 2007. Previously, she was the co-captain of the Melbourne Kestrels and of the AIS Canberra Darters during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy...
(co-captain) - Melinda Cranston
- Ashlee HowardAshlee HowardAshlee Howard is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens.Howard came to prominence on the national netball scene in 2007 playing for the Melbourne Kestrels in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, the preceding competition to the ANZ Championship...
- Rachel Knight
- Tamara Luke
- Chelsey Tregear (co-captain)
- Julie Corletto
- Amy SteelAmy Steel (netballer)Amy Steel is an Australian netball player currently playing for the Queensland Firebirds in the ANZ Championship. She has also previously played for the Melbourne Kestrels in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy from 2005–2007...
- Brooke ThompsonBrooke ThompsonBrooke Thompson is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens.-References:* . Retrieved on 2009-03-29....
- Caitlin ThwaitesCaitlin ThwaitesCaitlin Thwaites is an Australian netball and volleyball player. In 2011 Thwaites made the move across the Tasman to join the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship, and plays in her known position of GS. . Thwaites has also represented Australia in women's volleyball. In 2009, Thwaites played her...
- Leah van Rensburg
Former players
- Cynna KyddCynna KyddCynna Kydd is a former Australian professional netball player. Kydd achieved some success in netball and swimming in her early life, and played in the Dairy Farmers State League at the age of 16...
- Nicole RichardsonNicole RichardsonNicole Richardson is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.-External links:*...
- Shelley O'DonnellShelley O'DonnellShelley O'Donnell is an Australian netball player. A ten-year veteran of the Australian national team, she was also the inaugural captain of the Melbourne Kestrels in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy from 1997 to 2000...
- Bianca Giteau
- Narelle Garbutt
- Tracey Godden
- Janine IlitchJanine IlitchJanine Ilitch is an Australian netball player.She has been a frequent member of the Australian national team, playing in her usual positions of goal keeper and goal defence, since being first selected in 1995...
- Melanie Kitchin
Final placings
- 1997: 8th (last)
- 1998: 5th
- 1999: 4th
- 2000: 5th
- 2001: 5th
- 2002: 4th
- 2003: 4th
- 2004: 4th
- 2005: 4th
- 2006: 5th
- 2007: 3rd