The 2014 ANZ Championship season was another record-breaking year for the NSW Swifts, both on and off the court. From record Membership numbers to record crowd numbers, the Swifts also featured in the Finals Series for the first time since 2011.
We celebrated our highest Membership numbers to date with 1,676 signing up to cheer from the RED ZONE, as well as setting a new ANZ Championship regular season crowd of 10,118 at Allphones Arena – smashing the previous record of 8,509.
The Club welcomed a new Head Coach – albeit a familiar face – in Rob Wright, as well as six new recruits in the playing roster, including three ANZ Championship debutants. The team faced many challenges at the beginning of their 2014 campaign, from developing new combinations to season-ending injuries. But with skill and sheer determination, the Swifts finished the regular season in third place to host Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic in the Minor Semi Final.
The roster’s outstanding performances throughout the season were acknowledged with higher honours; four Swifts were selected in the 2014 Australian Diamonds squad, three athletes will represent Australia at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, with a further player named in the Australian 21/U squad, as well as league honours for Susan Pratley and Kimberlee Green – voted into the 2014 FOXTEL ANZ Championship All-Star Team, and an ANZ Championship joint-Most Valuable Player nod for Green.
Final Placings:
1. Melbourne Vixens
2. Queensland Firebirds
3. Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic
4. NSW Swifts
5. Southern Steel
6. Central Pulse
7. Northern Mystics
8. Adelaide Thunderbirds
9. West Coast Fever
10. Mainland Tactix
2014 NSW Swifts:
Kimberlee Green (Captain), Carla Dziwoki, Paige Hadley, Madeline Hay, Sharni Layton, April Letton, Abbey McCulloch, Brooke Miller, Sonia Mkoloma, Susan Pratley, Gretel Tippett, Caitlin Thwaites, Sarah Wall.
Head Coach: Rob Wright
Assistant Coach: Megan Anderson
Technical Assistant Coach: Anita Keelan
Defensive Specialist Coach: Mo’onia Gerrard
Midcourt Specialist Coach: Megan Simpson
Apprentice Coaches: Briony Akle, Moira Gaha
Team Manager: Toni Kidwell
Performance Analyst: Bjorn Maddern
Physiotherapists: Paula Peralta, Brett Doring, Daniel Vukovic
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Jason Howell
