# Sydney Swifts

Sydney Swifts were an Australian netball team based in Sydney. Between 1997 and 2007, they represented Netball New South Wales in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Together with Sydney Sandpipers and Hunter Jaegers, they were one of three teams to represent NNSW in the competition. After Melbourne Phoenix, Swifts were the league's second most successful team, winning four premierships and three minor premierships. In 2008, when the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was replaced by the ANZ Championship, Swifts and Jaegers merged to form New South Wales Swifts.

## History
### Mobil Superleague

Sydney Swifts evolved from a state league team that represented the Ku-ring-gai area. Between 1994 and 1996, Sydney Ku-ring-gai represented New South Wales in the Mobil Superleague. They were also known as Sydney Cenovis because they were sponsored by Cenovis. The team featured a young Liz Ellis and Catherine Cox and were coached by Julie Fitzgerald. In 1994 and 1996 they were Mobil Superleague semi-finalists.

### Commonwealth Bank Trophy

Between 1997 and 2007, Sydney Swifts played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Together with Adelaide Ravens, Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Kestrels, Melbourne Phoenix, Perth Orioles, Queensland Firebirds and Sydney Sandpipers, Swifts were one of the founding members of the league. Together with Sydney Sandpipers and Hunter Jaegers, they were one of three teams to represent Netball New South Wales in the competition. After Melbourne Phoenix, Swifts were the league's second most successful team, winning four premierships in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007. Between 2004 and 2006, they also won three successive minor premierships. Swifts head coach throughout the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era was Julie Fitzgerald. Their leading players included Liz Ellis, Alison Broadbent, Catherine Cox, Megan Anderson and Selina Gilsenan. In 2008, when the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was replaced by the ANZ Championship, Swifts and Jaegers merged to form New South Wales Swifts.

#### Regular season statistics

| Season | Position | Won | Lost | Drawn |
| 1997 | 3rd | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 1998 | 3rd | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| 1999 | 2nd | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 | 4th | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2nd | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| 2002 | 3rd | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| 2003 | 2nd | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1st | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1st | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2nd | 11 | 3 | 0 |
Minor Premiership and Premiership Minor Premiership and Runners-up Premierships Runners-up

## Grand finals

| Season | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Venue |
| 1998 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 48–42 | Sydney Swifts | ETSA Park |
| 2001 | Sydney Swifts | 57–32 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | State Sports Centre |
| 2003 | Melbourne Phoenix | 47–44 | Sydney Swifts | Sydney Super Dome |
| 2004 | Sydney Swifts | 52–51 | Melbourne Phoenix | Sydney Super Dome |
| 2005 | Melbourne Phoenix | 61–44 | Sydney Swifts | Vodafone Arena |
| 2006 | Sydney Swifts | 65–36 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre |
| 2007 | Sydney Swifts | 45–37 | Melbourne Phoenix | Acer Arena |

## Home venues

| | Years |
| Anne Clark Netball Centre | 1997 |
| State Sports Centre | 1998 |
| Sydney Super Dome | |
| Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre | |
| Wollongong Entertainment Centre | 2005 |

## Notable former players
### Internationals
#### Australia

| Jane Altschwager Megan Anderson Erin Bell Alison Broadbent | Catherine Cox Liz Ellis Mo'onia Gerrard Selina Gilsenan | Kimberlee Green Susan Pettitt Chelsea Pitman Joanne Morgan |

#### Australia Fast5

* Vanessa Ware
* Amorette Wild

#### England

* Chelsea Pitman

### Award winners
#### Most Valuable Player

| Season | Player |
| 1998 | Liz Ellis |
| 2002 | Liz Ellis |
| 2006 | Liz Ellis |
Source:

#### Grand final MVP

| Season | Player |
| 2001 | Liz Ellis |
| 2004 | Catherine Cox |
| 2006 | Liz Ellis |
| 2007 | Selina Gilsenan |

#### Best New Talent

| Season | Player |
| 2001 | Jane Altschwager |

### Captains

| Captains | Years |
| Catriona Wagg | 1997–1999 |
| Liz Ellis | 2000–2007 |
Source:

### Most Appearances

| Players | Matches | Quarters |
| Liz Ellis | 173 | 680 |
| Alison Broadbent | 152 | 562 |
| Catherine Cox | 135 | |
| Megan Anderson | 111 | |
| Selina Gilsenan | 121 | 461 |
| Raegan Jackson | 92 | |
| Susan Pettitt | 68 | |
| Briony Akle | 53 | |
| Jane Altschwager | 50 | |
| Catriona Wagg | 49 | |
Sources:

## Head coaches

| Coach | Years |
| Julie Fitzgerald | 1997–2007 |
Support Staff
Team Manager Jan Troy (1998–2006)
Team Physiotherapist Sean Mungovan (1999–2007)

## Sponsorship

| Sponsors | Seasons |
| TAB | 1997–2007 |

## Premierships

* Commonwealth Bank Trophy
** Winners: 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007: 4
** Runners up: 1998, 2003, 2005: 3
** Minor premierships: 2004, 2005, 2006: 3