Queensland Firebirds

Netball team
teamname = Queensland Firebirds


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fullname = Queensland Firebirds
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ground = Brisbane Convention Centre
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captain = Peta Stephens
coach = Vicki Wilson
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league = ANZ Championship
season = 2008
position = 5th
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The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team.

The Firebirds played in Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy up until 2007 when they joined the ANZ Championship. The Firebirds ae Queensland's only team in the competition, and are based out of the Chandler Arena in the Brisbane suburb of Chandler. The Firebirds are currently coached by former Australian captain Vicki Wilson, who was recruited in September 2005 in an attempt to stem the team's perennial lacklustre record. They are currently captained by Peta Stephens, a new appointment in 2006. The team's mascot, the "Firebird", is themed with the state's two youth development teams, the Queensland Firechicks in the Dairy Farmers Cup state league and the Queensland Firebabes in the Presidents Cup under-19 competition. The Firebirds' team colours are black, maroon and yellow.

After making drastic changes to the training formula, coach Wilson's arrival seems to have made a dazzling improvement to the team in 2006. Other new strengths for the team must be Wilson's inspirational advice and huge experience as a player, plus the recruitment of Joanne Morgan as goal shooter. The squad suffered devastating injuries during the season, notably ending Carla Dziwoki's season with a knee reconstruction. However it did force Wilson into using arguably the strongest lineup with Morgan as the spearhead, the great talent of young Lauren Nourse (Australian squad member) and Karen Clarke, towards the end of the season. The team of Stephens and Melanie Groves (nee McKenzie) in defence forged over years together also stepped up impressively, and Lucas proved a tenacious addition. For the first time the Firebirds advanced from the minor rounds to a semi-final, only beaten by 2 goals in a nail-biter against the Melbourne Phoenix.

Prior to 2006, the Firebirds perennially struggled in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. They faced difficulties from the start - their team for the inaugural season was rated as the weakest overall by a major newspaper, and they subsequently finished seventh (second-last). Despite changes in both the coaching staff and playing list, there has been little improvement in the years since - they peaked at sixth in 2002, before slipping back to last in the 2005 season - until 2006.

2008 Squad

Retired players

* Kate Ziebell
* Carla Stuart
* Rebecca Chapman
* Sascha Connell
* Amanda Jordan
* Vicki Wilson

Final placings

:1997: 7th:1998: 7th:1999: 8th:2000: 7th:2001: 8th:2002: 6th:2003: 6th:2004: 7th:2005: 8th:2006: 4th:2007: 5th

External links

* [http://www.firebirds.net.au/ Official site]
* [http://www.netball.asn.au/apps/matches_cbt/teamDetails.php?TeamID=17&tournamentID=4 Team profile from Netball Australia]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/netball/profiles/firebirds.htm Team profile from ABC Sport]