# 2012 ANZ Championship season

The 2012 ANZ Championship season was the fifth season of the ANZ Championship. The 2012 season began on 31 March and concluded on 22 July. With a team coached by Noeline Taurua, captained by Laura Langman and featuring Leana de Bruin, Irene van Dyk, Julianna Naoupu and Casey Williams, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic eventually won the premiership. They became fifth team in as many seasons to win the title. Melbourne Vixens won the minor premiership after winning 10 of their 13 matches. Meanwhile, Magic lost their first four matches. However, they subsequently won 12 matches in a row to finish third during the regular season and champions overall. In the minor semi-final they defeated Adelaide Thunderbirds and in the preliminary final they defeated Northern Mystics after extra time. In the grand final they defeated Vixens 41–38. As a result, they became the first, and only, New Zealand team to win the Championship. They were also the first and only team to start the season with four defeats and win the title and the first and only team to finish third in the regular season and win the title.

## Transfers

| Player | 2011 team | 2012 team |
| Rebecca Bulley | New South Wales Swifts | Adelaide Thunderbirds |
| Renae Hallinan | Melbourne Vixens | Adelaide Thunderbirds |
| Ashlee Howard | West Coast Fever | Melbourne Vixens |
| Karyn Howarth | Victorian Fury | Melbourne Vixens |
| Kara Richards | Adelaide Thunderbirds | Melbourne Vixens |
| Paige Hadley | NNSW Waratahs/AIS | New South Wales Swifts |
| April Letton | NNSW Waratahs | New South Wales Swifts |
| Samantha May | NNSW Waratahs | New South Wales Swifts |
| Gabi Simpson | NNSW Blues/AIS | New South Wales Swifts |
| Joanna Sutton | Adelaide Thunderbirds | New South Wales Swifts |
| Shannon Eagland | Victorian Fury | Queensland Firebirds |
| Ashleigh Brazill | New South Wales Swifts | West Coast Fever |
| Eboni Beckford-Chambers | Team Bath | West Coast Fever |
| Catherine Cox | New South Wales Swifts | West Coast Fever |
| Verity Simmons | NNSW Waratahs | West Coast Fever |
| Sophia Fenwick | Southern Steel | Canterbury Tactix |
| Elizabeth Manu | Central Pulse | Canterbury Tactix |
| Joanne Harten | Loughborough Lightning | Canterbury Tactix |
| Stacey Francis | Team Bath | Canterbury Tactix |
| Joline Henry | Northern Mystics | Central Pulse |
| Paula Griffin | Southern Steel | Central Pulse |
| Jamilah Gupwell | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Central Pulse |
| Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit | Southern Steel | Central Pulse |
| Jade Clarke | ? | Northern Mystics |
| Charlotte Kight | Canterbury Tactix | Northern Mystics |
| Courtney Tairi | New South Wales Swifts | Southern Steel |
| Donna Wilkins | Canterbury Tactix | Southern Steel |
| Leana de Bruin | Southern Steel | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| Khao Watts | Southern Force | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| Ama Agbeze | West Coast Fever | West Coast Falcons |
Sources:

## Head coaches

| Team | Head coach |
| Queensland Firebirds | Roselee Jencke |
| New South Wales Swifts | Lisa Beehag |
| Melbourne Vixens | Julie Hoornweg |
| Adelaide Thunderbirds | Jane Woodlands-Thompson |
| West Coast Fever | Norma Plummer |
| Northern Mystics | Debbie Fuller |
| Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Noeline Taurua |
| Central Pulse | Robyn Broughton |
| Canterbury Tactix | Leigh Gibbs |
| Southern Steel | Natalie Avellino Janine Southby |
Source:

## Tauranga Pre-Season Tournament

On 2, 3 and 4 March, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic hosted a pre-season tournament at the TECT Arena in Tauranga. For the first time since 2008, all ten ANZ Championship teams competed at the same tournament. The ten teams were divided into two pools of five. Teams within each pool played each other once and the winners qualified for the final. The other teams also played in a series of playoffs to decide final placings. The tournament was won by Queensland Firebirds who defeated Melbourne Vixens 50–30 in the final.

### Final

Sources:

## Regular season

Melbourne Vixens finished the regular season as minor premiers. After winning their first six matches, they lost to New South Wales Swifts in Round 7. They then lost three successive matches, another to Swifts and one to Northern Mystics. On 20 May in Round 8, against Mystics, Vixens were undone by Mystics defender Anna Harrison and her Harrison Hoist. Harrison made several vital blocks while being hoisted rugby union lineout-style by her defensive partners, helping Mystics secure a 49–45 win. However, Vixens successively claimed the minor premiership with three wins in the final three rounds.

### Round 5

* BYES:  New South Wales Swifts and Southern Steel

### Round 6: Rivalry Round

Round 6 featured five Australia verses New Zealand matches. Goals scored by Australian and New Zealand teams were added together and the country with the most goals won the Rivalry Round Trophy.

### Round 9

* BYES:  Adelaide Thunderbirds and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic

### Round 10

* BYES:  West Coast Fever and Northern Mystics

### Round 11

* BYES:  Melbourne Vixens and Canterbury Tactix

### Round 12

* BYES:  Queensland Firebirds and Central Pulse

### Round 14

Sources:

### Final table

2012 ANZ Championship laddervte :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | G% | Pts |
| 1 | Melbourne Vixens | 13 | 10 | 3 | 645 | 569 | 76 | 113.36 | 20 |
| 2 | Northern Mystics | 13 | 10 | 3 | 667 | 633 | 34 | 105.37 | 20 |
| 3 | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 13 | 9 | 4 | 699 | 594 | 105 | 117.68 | 18 |
| 4 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 13 | 9 | 4 | 670 | 589 | 81 | 113.75 | 18 |
| 5 | New South Wales Swifts | 13 | 8 | 5 | 624 | 638 | -14 | 97.81 | 16 |
| 6 | Queensland Firebirds | 13 | 7 | 6 | 686 | 640 | 46 | 107.19 | 14 |
| 7 | Central Pulse | 13 | 5 | 8 | 585 | 626 | -41 | 93.45 | 10 |
| 8 | West Coast Fever | 13 | 3 | 10 | 608 | 673 | -65 | 90.34 | 6 |
| 9 | Southern Steel | 13 | 2 | 11 | 639 | 728 | -89 | 87.77 | 4 |
| 10 | Canterbury Tactix | 13 | 2 | 11 | 634 | 767 | -133 | 82.66 | 4 |
| Updated 28 March 2021 ||||||||||
Qualified for Major semi-final Qualified for Minor semi-final
* Pld = Games played
* W = Win (2 points)
* L = Loss (0 points)
* GF = Goals For
* GA = Goals Against
* GD = Goals Difference (= GF−GA)
* G% = Goal percentage (= 100 × GF/GA)
Pts = Points

## Finals

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| 8 July – Rod Laver Arena | 8 July – Rod Laver Arena | 8 July – Rod Laver Arena | | | | 22 July – Hisense Arena | 22 July – Hisense Arena | 22 July – Hisense Arena |
| Melbourne Vixens | Melbourne Vixens | 56 | | | | Melbourne Vixens | Melbourne Vixens | 38 |
| Northern Mystics | Northern Mystics | 50 | 16 July – Trusts Stadium | 16 July – Trusts Stadium | 16 July – Trusts Stadium | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 41 |
| | | | Northern Mystics | Northern Mystics | 48 | | | |
| 9 July – Claudelands Arena | 9 July – Claudelands Arena | 9 July – Claudelands Arena | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 57 | | | |
| Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 49 | | | | | | |
| Adelaide Thunderbirds | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 48 | | | | | | |

### Major semi-final

| Sunday 8 July 14:20 (UTC+10) | Stats | Melbourne Vixens | 56–50 | Northern Mystics | Rod Laver Arena |
| Rod Laver Arena |||
| Sunday 8 July 14:20 (UTC+10) | Stats | Karyn Howarth 33/40 (83%) Tegan Caldwell 23/26 (88%) | | Cathrine Latu 30/32 (94%) Maria Tutaia 20/23 (87%) | Rod Laver Arena |
Sources:

### Minor semi-final

| Monday 9 July 19:20 (UTC+12) | Stats | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 49–48 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | Claudelands Arena |
| Claudelands Arena |||
| Monday 9 July 19:20 (UTC+12) | Stats | Irene van Dyk 28/28 (100%) Julianna Naoupu 21/23 (91%) | | Erin Bell 26/29 (90%) Carla Borrego 22/30 (73%) | Claudelands Arena |
Sources:

### Preliminary final

| Monday 16 July 19:40 (UTC+12) | Stats | Northern Mystics | 48–57 | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | ET | Trusts Stadium |
| Trusts Stadium |||
| Monday 16 July 19:40 (UTC+12) | Stats | Cathrine Latu 23/23 (100%) Maria Tutaia 25/35 (71%) | | Irene van Dyk 35/40 (88%) Julianna Naoupu 22/34 (65%) | ET | Trusts Stadium |
Sources:

### Grand final

| Sunday 22 July 14:30 (UTC+10) | Melbourne Vixens | 38–41 | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Hisense Arena Attendance: 10,500 |
| Hisense Arena Attendance: 10,500 |||
| Sunday 22 July 14:30 (UTC+10) | Karyn Howarth 22/29 (76%) Tegan Caldwell 16/26 (62%) | | Irene van Dyk 25/26 (96%) Julianna Naoupu 16/24 (67%) | Hisense Arena Attendance: 10,500 |
Sources:

## Season statistics

Top 5 Goals scored :
| Pos. | Player | Team | GS | GA | G% |
| 1 | Irene van Dyk | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 501 | 527 | 95.1 |
| 2 | Carla Borrego | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 447 | 510 | 87.6 |
| 3 | Romelda Aiken | Queensland Firebirds | 426 | 511 | 83.4 |
| 4 | Caitlin Bassett | West Coast Fever | 417 | 472 | 88.3 |
| 5 | Caitlin Thwaites | Central Pulse | 402 | 469 | 85.7 |
Top 5 Goal assists :
| Pos. | Player | Team | G/A |
| 1 | Madison Browne | Melbourne Vixens | 258 |
| 2 | Laura Langman | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 238 |
| 3 | Temepara George | Northern Mystics | 186 |
| 4 | Emily Beaton | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 168 |
| 5 | Jodi Brown | Southern Steel | 128 |
Top 5 Rebounds :
| Pos. | Player | Team | Reb. |
| 1 | Romelda Aiken | Queensland Firebirds | 48 |
| 2 | Leana de Bruin | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 43 |
| 3 | Irene van Dyk | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 41 |
| 4 | Carla Borrego | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 39 |
| 5 | Laura Geitz | Queensland Firebirds | 37 |
Top 5 Centre-pass receives :
| Pos. | Player | Team | CPR |
| 1 | Madison Browne | Melbourne Vixens | 301 |
| 2 | Julianna Naoupu | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 298 |
| 3 | Khao Watts | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 261 |
| 4 | Natalie Medhurst | Queensland Firebirds | 226 |
| 5 | Catherine Cox | West Coast Fever | 223 |
Top 5 Intercepts :
| Pos. | Player | Team | Int. |
| 1 | Geva Mentor | Melbourne Vixens | 38 |
| 2 | Sharni Layton | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 35 |
| 3= | Anna Harrison | Northern Mystics | 32 |
| 3= | Katrina Grant | Central Pulse | 32 |
| 5 | Leana de Bruin | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 30 |
Top 5 Deflections :
| Pos. | Player | Team | Defl. |
| 1 | Geva Mentor | Melbourne Vixens | 108 |
| 2 | Leana de Bruin | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 80 |
| 3 | Sharni Layton | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 72 |
| 4 | Casey Williams | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 62 |
| 5= | Demelza McCloud | Southern Steel | 60 |
| 5= | Anna Harrison | Northern Mystics | 60 |
Top 5 Penalties :
| Pos. | Player | Team | Pen. |
| 1 | Geva Mentor | Melbourne Vixens | 237 |
| 2 | Laura Geitz | Queensland Firebirds | 228 |
| 3 | Sharni Layton | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 223 |
| 4 | Elizabeth Manu | Central Pulse | 209 |
| 5 | Leana De Bruin | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 207 |
Top 5 Turnovers :
| Pos. | Player | Team | Turn. |
| 1 | Carla Borrego | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 72 |
| 2 | Cathrine Latu | Northern Mystics | 59 |
| 3 | Catherine Cox | West Coast Fever | 53 |
| 4= | Emily Beaton | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 51 |
| 4= | Maria Tutaia | Northern Mystics | 51 |
| 4= | Romelda Aiken | Queensland Firebirds | 51 |

## Award winners
### ANZ Championship awards

| Award | Winner | Team |
| ANZ Championship Most Valuable Player | Temepara George | Northern Mystics |
| ANZ Championship Most Valuable Player | Laura Langman | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| ANZ Championship Grand Final MVP | Leana de Bruin | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| Best Young Player | Julianna Naoupu | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |

#### Notes

* ^1 Temepara George and Laura Langman shared the MVP Award
Sources:

### All Star Team

| Position | Player | Team |
| GS | Irene van Dyk | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| GA | Maria Tutaia | Northern Mystics |
| WA | Madison Browne | Melbourne Vixens |
| C | Laura Langman | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| WD | Julie Corletto | Melbourne Vixens |
| GD | Casey Williams | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| GK | Geva Mentor | Melbourne Vixens |
| Coach | Noeline Taurua | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
Sources:

### Australian Netball Awards

| Award | Winner | Team |
| Australian ANZ Championship Player of the Year | Madison Browne | Melbourne Vixens |
| Liz Ellis Diamond | Madison Browne | Melbourne Vixens |
| Australian ANZ Championship Coach of the Year | Julie Hoornweg | Melbourne Vixens |
Sources:

## Media coverage

A cumulative television audience of over 10.6 million across Australia and New Zealand watched the 2012 ANZ Championship on Network 10 and Sky Sport (New Zealand), representing a 45% increase on 2011 (7.2million).