Giants Netball


Giants Netball are an Australian professional netball team based in Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales. Since 2017 Suncorp [Super Netball season|2017] they have played in Super Netball. The team was formed in 2016 as a joint venture between Netball [New South Wales] and Greater Western Sydney Giants. Giants have played in two grand finals and have won two minor premierships.

History

New franchise

In May 2016, Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand announced that the ANZ Championship would be discontinued after the 2016 [ANZ Championship season|2016 season]. In Australia it was replaced by Super Netball. The founding members of Super Netball included the five former Australian ANZ Championship teams – Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Vixens, New [South Wales Swifts], Queensland Firebirds and West Coast Fever; plus three brand new franchises: Collingwood Magpies, Sunshine Coast Lightning and Giants Netball. Giants were formed as a joint venture or "strategic alliance" between Netball New South Wales and Greater Western Sydney Giants and were officially launched in September 2016.

Julie Fitzgerald era

In August 2016, Julie Fitzgerald was announced as the inaugural head coach of Netball New South Wales's new franchise. Two veteran New South Wales Swifts players, Kimberlee Green and Susan Pettitt, subsequently switched to the Giants. Green was named the inaugural Giants captain. Giants went onto finish the 2017 season as runners-up after losing 65–48 to Sunshine Coast Lightning in the grand final.
In 2018, Fitzgerald guided Giants to the minor premiership. However, in the final series they lost out to both West Coast Fever and Sunshine Coast Lightning. In 2021, Fitzgerald guided Giants to a both a second minor premiership and a second grand final. However, in the grand final they lost out to New South Wales Swifts.

Home venues

Giants made their Super Netball debut on 18 February 2017 against New South Wales Swifts at Sydney [Olympic Park Sports Centre]. Between 2017 and 2019, Giants played their home matches at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Qudos Bank Arena and the AIS Arena.
In 2020, together with Swifts, Giants were due to start to playing their home games at the Ken Rosewall Arena. However these plans were put on hold until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Years
Ken Rosewall Arena2021
AIS Arena20172019
Qudos Bank Arena '20172019
Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre '20172019
International Convention Centre Sydney2018

;Notes

Notable players

Internationals

Award winners

Super Netball

;Young Star Award
SeasonPlayer
2019Amy Parmenter
2021Sophie Dwyer

;Super Netball Team of the Year
SeasonPlayers
2017Reserves: Serena Guthrie, Rebecca Bulley
2018C: Serena Guthrie, Reserves: Joanne Harten, Kimberlee Green
2020GA: Kiera Austin
2021GA: Joanne Harten, WA: Maddie Hay, Reserve: Jamie-Lee Price
2022WD: Amy Parmenter, Reserve: Joanne Harten

Giants awards

;HCF Giants Most Valued Player
SeasonPlayer
2017Serena Guthrie
2018Joanne Harten
2019Joanne Harten
2020Kiera Austin
2021Joanne Harten

;Giants Players' Player award
SeasonPlayer
2017Rebecca Bulley
2018Joanne Harten
2019Samantha Poolman
2020Kiera Austin
2021April Brandley

;Giants Members' Player of the Year
SeasonPlayer
2017Joanne Harten
Samantha Poolman
2018Joanne Harten
2019Amy Parmenter
2020Amy Parmenter
2021Sophie Dwyer

Giants Netball Academy

Giants Netball Academy are the reserve team of Giants Netball. They originally played as Canberra Giants.

Premierships