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GIANTS Netball
Founded2016
Based inGreater Western Sydney
RegionsNew South Wales
Home venueKen Rosewall Arena
Head coachNerida Stewart
Asst coachJen Wright
CaptainWhitney Souness
LeagueSuper Netball
2025 placing6th
Websitewww.giantsnetball.com.au

Uniform

GWS Giants departments

Australian rules football
(men's)
Australian rules football
(women's)
Netball
(women's)

Giants Netball (stylised as GIANTS Netball) are an Australian professional netball team based in Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales. Since 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 (2017, 2021) and have won two minor premierships (2018, 2021).[1][2][3]

History

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New franchise

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In May 2016, Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand announced that the ANZ Championship would be discontinued after the 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.[4][5][6][7] 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.[3][7][8]

Julie Fitzgerald era

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In August 2016, Julie Fitzgerald was announced as the inaugural head coach of Netball New South Wales's new franchise.[9][10][11][12] Two veteran New South Wales Swifts players, Kimberlee Green and Susan Pettitt, subsequently switched to the Giants.[13] Green was named the inaugural Giants captain.[14] Giants went onto finish the 2017 season as runners-up after losing 65–48 to Sunshine Coast Lightning in the grand final.[15][16][17][18][19]

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.[20][21] In 2021, Fitzgerald guided Giants to a both a second minor premiership and a second grand final.[22][23][24] However, in the grand final they lost out to New South Wales Swifts.[25][26][27][28]

Regular season statistics
Season Position Won Drawn Lost
2017[15][16][29] 3rd 10 0 4
2018[20][21] 1st 10 1 3
2019[30][31] 5th 7 1 6
2020[32][33] 6th 5 2 7
2021[34] 1st 9 0 5
2022[35] 3rd 8 0 6
2023 6th 5 0 9
2024 8th 3 0 11
2025 6th 5 0 9

  Runners Up

Grand finals

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Season Winners Score Runners up Venue Attendance
2017[17][18][19] Sunshine Coast Lightning 65–48 Giants Netball Brisbane Entertainment Centre 8,999
2021[25][26][27][28] New South Wales Swifts 63–59 Giants Netball Nissan Arena 3,650

Home venues

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As of 2021, Giants have played all of their home games at Ken Rosewall Arena[2]. Giants have previously played home games at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Qudos Bank Arena and the International Convention Centre in Sydney and the AIS Arena in Canberra.[36][37][38]

Players and Coaches

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2026 squad

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2026 Giants Netball roster
Players Coaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
New Zealand Whitney Souness (c) WA, C (1995-10-12) 12 October 1995 (age 30) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Australia Casey Adamson C, WD (1997-11-25) 25 November 1997 (age 28) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Australia Lucy Austin[a] Injured GS, GA (2001-12-20) 20 December 2001 (age 24) 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Australia Sophie Dwyer GA, GS (2001-12-05) 5 December 2001 (age 24) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Australia Matisse Letherbarrow GS, GA (2002-01-07) 7 January 2002 (age 24) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Australia Erin O'Brien GK, GD (2003-07-08) 8 July 2003 (age 22) 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Australia Amy Sligar (vc) WD, C (2002-03-13) 13 March 2002 (age 24) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Australia Dakota Thomas[b] (TRP) GD, GK, WD (2001-01-27) 27 January 2001 (age 25) 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Australia Skye Thompson[c] (TRP) GS, GA (2007-01-27) 27 January 2007 (age 19) 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Jamaica Jodi-Ann Ward GD, WD (1994-09-01) 1 September 1994 (age 31) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
New Zealand Jane Watson[d] Injured GK, GD (1990-03-07) 7 March 1990 (age 36) 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Australia Hope White WA, C (2006-10-19) 19 October 2006 (age 19) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Head coach
  • Australia Nerida Stewart
Assistant coaches
  • Australia Jen Wright


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • Injured or on maternity leave – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated: 28 April 2026
  1. ^ Injured, out for the season with foot fracture
  2. ^ Temporary replacement for injured Jane Watson
  3. ^ Season-long permanent replacement for injured Lucy Austin
  4. ^ Injured, out with a torn left medial collateral ligament (MCL) and a medium-grade right calf strain

Club Captains

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Captains Years
Kimberlee Green[14][39] 2016–2019
Jo Harten[40] 2020–2023 (sole captain)
2024-2025 (co-captain)
Jamie-Lee Price[41] 2024-2025 (co-captain)
Whitney Souness 2026-

Club Head Coaches

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Coach Years
Julie Fitzgerald[12][15][20][30][24] 2016–2025
Nerida Stewart[42] 2026-present

Internationals

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 Australia

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 England

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 New Zealand

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 Jamaica

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Club Award winners

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HCF Most Valuable Player
Season Player
2017[15][16] Serena Guthrie
2018[20][21] Jo Harten
2019[30] Jo Harten
2020[32] Kiera Austin
2021[43][44] Jo Harten
2022[45] Jo Harten
2023[46] Jamie-Lee Price
2024[47] Jamie-Lee Price
2025[48] Jamie-Lee Price
Players' Player award
Season Player
2017[15][16] Rebecca Bulley
2018[20][21] Jo Harten
2019[30] Samantha Poolman
2020[32] Kiera Austin
2021[43][44] April Brandley
2022[45] Jo Harten
Amy Parmenter
2023[46] Jamie-Lee Price
2024[47] Amy Sligar
2025[48] Erin O'Brien
Members' Player of the Year
Season Player
2017[15][16] Jo Harten
Samantha Poolman
2018[20][21] Jo Harten
2019[30] Amy Parmenter
2020[32] Amy Parmenter
2021[43][44] Sophie Dwyer
2022[45] Jo Harten
2023[46] Jamie-Lee Price
2024[47] Jamie-Lee Price
2025[48] Amy Sligar

Competition Award winners

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SSN Rookie of the Year
Player Season
Amy Parmenter 2019[49]
Sophie Dwyer 2021[50]
SSN Team of the Year
Player Season Position
Serena Guthrie 2017 Reserve
Rebecca Bulley 2017 Reserve
Serena Guthrie 2018 C
Jo Harten 2018 Reserve
Kimberlee Green 2018 Reserve
Kiera Austin 2020 GA
Jo Harten 2021 GA
Maddie Hay 2021 WA
Jamie-Lee Price 2021 Reserve
Amy Parmenter 2022 WD
Jo Harten 2022 Reserve
Jamie-Lee Price 2023 C
Amy Sligar 2025 WD

GIANTS Netball Reserves

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Main article: Giants Netball Reserves

The reserve team of GIANTS Netball is known as the GIANTS Reserves, and previously played as the Canberra GIANTS and GIANTS Academy. This team currently plays in the Super Netball Reserves competition, which began in 2024, after rebranding from the Australian Netball Championships and prior to that, the Australian Netball League. [51][52]

Premierships

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Giants Netball.

References

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  1. ^ "History". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b "GIANTS Netball". supernetball.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b "GIANTS Netball Joins the Family". www.gwsgiants.com.au. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Eight team Australian national league to begin in 2017". www.abc.net.au. 11 May 2016.
  5. ^ "New netball League a breakthrough for women's sport". www.abc.net.au. 16 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Netball Australia confirms new eight-team division and bumper broadcasting deal". www.abc.net.au. 19 May 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Netball Australia – Annual Report 2016" (PDF). netball.com.au. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Netball NSW – 2016 Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Julie Fitzgerald leaves Waikato-BOP Magic to head up new franchise in Sydney". stuff.co.nz. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Julie Fitzgerald returns to Netball NSW as head coach of new team". www.smh.com.au. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Former Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald to helm new netball team backed by AFL Giants". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Fitzgerald excited by new team venture". giantsnetball.com.au. 25 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  13. ^ "NSW Swifts departures continue as crosstown rivals announce team". www.theguardian.com. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Green appointed inaugural captain". giantsnetball.com.au. 17 December 2016. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "2017 (GIANTS Netball)". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Netball NSW – 2017 Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Lightning named Suncorp Super Netball Champions". supernetball.com.au. 17 June 2017. Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Super Netball: Sunshine Coast Lightning emphatically beat Giants in inaugural grand final". www.abc.net.au. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Sunshine Coast Lightning blow out Giants to win inaugural Super Netball title". www.theguardian.com. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d e f "2018 (GIANTS Netball)". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  21. ^ a b c d e "Netball NSW – 2018 Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  22. ^ "GIANTS claim minor premiership". supernetball.com.au. 7 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Giants clinch minor premiership to set up preliminary final against Swifts". www.smh.com.au. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  24. ^ a b "2021 Grand Final Wrap". supernetball.com.au. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  25. ^ a b "NSW Swifts celebrate Super Netball grand final triumph over Giants". www.theguardian.com. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  26. ^ a b "NSW Swifts beat Giants in Super Netball grand final to win second title in three seasons". www.abc.net.au. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  27. ^ a b "NSW Swifts win 2021 Grand Final". supernetball.com.au. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Swifts dedicate 'incredible' grand final win to locked-down NSW". www.smh.com.au. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Super Netball 2017 wrap: Highs, lows, stars, stats and moments that mattered". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 11 July 2017. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  30. ^ a b c d e "2019 (GIANTS Netball)". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  31. ^ "Netball New South Wales – 2019 Annual Report" (PDF). nsw.netball.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  32. ^ a b c d "2020 (GIANTS Netball)". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  33. ^ "Ladder 2020". supernetball.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  34. ^ "Ladder 2021". supernetball.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  35. ^ "Suncorp Super Netball 2022 Ladder". Livesport.com.
  36. ^ "GIANTS Netball to open season at home". giantsnetball.com.au. 26 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  37. ^ "Netball's plea: Don't forget us in stadium splurge". www.smh.com.au. 6 July 2018.
  38. ^ "Giants Netball forced out of Canberra due to indefinite AIS Arena closure". www.canberratimes.com.au. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  39. ^ "Kim Green Announces Retirement From Netball". supernetball.com.au. 21 August 2019.
  40. ^ "2020 GIANTS Netball Captains Announced". giantsnetball.com.au. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  41. ^ "Price to Join Harten at the Helm - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  42. ^ "Nerida Stewart Appointed Head Coach of GIANTS - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  43. ^ a b c "Harten Claims Third MVP". giantsnetball.com.au. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  44. ^ a b c "Harten, Dwyer and Brandley take home GIANTS honours". supernetball.com.au. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  45. ^ a b c "2022 - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  46. ^ a b c "2023 - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  47. ^ a b c "2024 - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  48. ^ a b c "2025 - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  49. ^ "Parmenter Takes Out Rookie of the Year". supernetball.com.au. 30 November 2019.
  50. ^ "Australian Netball Awards". Netball Australia. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  51. ^ "GIANTS Netball Launch New Academy". giantsnetball.com.au. 9 September 2019.
  52. ^ "GIANTS Netball Academy - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
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