ANZ Championship 2013 - team lists

During the recent Quad series and Fast5 tournament the ANZ championship teams have been finalising their player rosters for the 2013 season and I must admit I generally play pretty close attention to the signings and movement in the off season.

Thunderbirds

Carla Borrego

Emily Beaton

Erin Bell

Leigh Waddington

Nat Von Bertouch

Bec Bulley

Renae Hallinan

Samantha Poolman

Sharni Layton

Stephanie Puopolo

Kate Shimmin

Laura Packard

Firebirds

Abbey Mcculloch

Ameliaranne Wells

Chelsea Pitman

Demelza Mccloud

Gabrielle Simpson

Jacinta Messer

Kim Ravillion

Laura Clemesha

Laura Geitz

Nat Medhurst

Nicola Gray

Romelda Aitken

Swifts

Amorette Wild

April Letton

Ashlee Weir

Carla Dziwoki

Kim Green

Melissa Tallent

Mo'onia Gerrard

Paige Hadley

Samantha May

Sonia Mkoloma

Susan Pratley

Vanessa Ware

Fever

Andrea Gilmore

Ash Brazill

Caitlin Bassett

Cath Cox

Chanel Gomes

Eboni Beckford chambers

Josie Janz

Kate Beveridge

Lisa Millman

Shae Bolton

Susan Fuhrmann

Verity Simmons

Vixens

Amy Steel

Bianca Chatfield

Elissa Mccleod

Erin Hoare

Geva Mentor

Johannah Curran

Karyn Howarth

Kate Moloney

Madison Browne

Shannon Eagland

Sharelle McMahon

Tegan Caldwell

Mystics

Jess Bourke

Julie Corletto

Kayla Cullen

Anna Harrison

Charlotte Kight

Catherine Latu

Bailey Mes

Jess Moulds

Malia Paseka

Erikana Pedersen

Grace Rasmussen

Elisapeta Toeava

Maria Tutaia

Lavinia Vaitohi

Magic

Leana de Bruin

Kendra Falefitu

Ellen Halpenny

Laura Langman

Nadia Loveday

Erena Mikaere

Jamie Lee Price

Elias Shadrock

Jodi Tod

Jess Tuki

Irene van Dyk

Jess Waitapu

Khao Watts

Casey Williams

Pulse

Amber Bellringer

Katrina Grant

Paula Griffin

Joline Henry

Claire Kersten

Millie Lees

Liana Leota

Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit

Victoria Smith

Caitlin Thwaites

Daya Wiffen

Donna Wilkins

Tactix

Jade Clarke

Sophia Fenwick

Keisha Grant

Jo Harten

Elizabeth Hayman

Kirsten Hurley

Bessie Manu

Juliana Naoupu

Louise Thayer

Anna Thompson

Jo Trip

Zoe Walker

Jane Watson

Steel

Jodi Brown

Gina Crampton

Philipa Finch

Jhaniele Fowler

Shannon Francois

Wendy Frew

Phoenix Karaka

Stacey Peeters

Storm Purvis

Te Paea Selby-Rickit

Kate Shearer

Courtney Tairi

Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick

Rachel Rasmussen

There are a number of shifts, changes and new signings but here are a few I think are quite significant and hopefully will add for some interesting battles on the court next year.

1. Juliana Naoupu - Magic to Tactix.

Juliana is headed back to her home town of Christchurch and leaving the defending champion Magic for the struggling Tactix which will definitely heat things up for next season. Word on the street is that the reason behind her move is the time spent away from her family. After Juliana’s impressive performance with the Magic last season it seems that the young player was flourishing amongst the experience of Irene Van Dyk and Laura Langman. Its no secret that the Tactix have suffered since the competitions inception and you wouldn’t expect many players to be willing to jump onto the falling ship. However with the new signing of Jade Clarke in the midcourt and Jo Harten signing on for another season it does give a sprinkle of hope that this could be the year that the Tactix don’t win the wooden spoon.

2. Julie Corletto – Vixens to Tactix.

Not an entirely surprising move considering her husband Daryl is playing another season with the NZ Breakers in the ANBL and her unsuccessful bid to get out of her contract at the beginning of last season.

I have always been a bit of a fan of Julie’s and her physical defence would be a great inclusion in the Northern Mystics defence. It does throw an interesting spanner in the works with her inclusion in an already established defensive end, it seems that with the loss of Temepara Bailey to retirement and Jade Clarke to the Tactix there is a hole in the midcourt that could perhaps be filled by Kayla Cullen. Kayla’s recent performance for the Silver Ferns in the midcourt can definitely be improved and her potential as a future midcourt star cold well be realised this coming season.

3. Donna Wilkins – Steel to Pulse

Another season and another city for Donna to commute to. The 64 test veteren is making the move to follow her former coach Robyn Broughton for the next ANZ season. With her signing it definitley adds some seriously needed experience and accuracy to the GA position with Paula Griffin not having her best season. With Australian Caitlin Thwaites re sigining after much speculation she was rejoining an Australian franchise to further her chances of forcing her way back into the Diamonds team they will be a force to be reckoned with. I certainly hope they can continue the strong improvement of this season and I did especially cheer loudly when they beat the Thunderbirds by one goal last season. 

It all adds for another intense, exciting and exhilarating season which i cannot wait for. 

I certainly am thankful that here in NZ we have Sky TV broadcasting every game live so I dont miss a minute.