It is a feat few sports teams in any code, in any part of the world achieve: an unbeaten season. However, that’s exactly what the Swifts did in 2006 when they claimed the third of their seven Premierships to date, and the second last of the Sydney Swifts and Commonwealth Bank Trophy era.
While the Swifts (who rebranded as NSW Swifts in 2008) have been on the scene for close to three decades and won titles in each era of the National League (Commonwealth Bank Trophy, ANZ Championship & Suncorp Super Netball), this was undoubtedly their most dominant season.
Under the leadership of Liz Ellis AM and players such as Cath Cox AM, Ali Broadbent and Susan Pettitt (then Pratley), the Swifts would prove themselves to be a cut above the rest.
For the team, and their Foundation Coach Julie Fitzgerald AM, 2006 would mark the first year of an unprecedented Swifts threepeat with the Club going on to win the final Commonwealth Bank Trophy competition in 2007 before the rebranded NSW Swifts claimed the inaugural ANZ Championship title in 2008.
The 2006 season was capped off with a dominant 65-36 Grand Final win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre. On the night Pettitt scored a remarkable 26 goals from 26 attempts, with Cox landing 39 from 43.
So impressive were the Swifts that year that The Daily Telegraph named them the Sports Team of the Year.
Team: Leah Shoard, Erin Bell, Mo’onia Gerrard, Adelaide Johnson, Jackie Byrne, Selina Gilsenan, Liz Ellis AM, Catherine Cox AM, Alison Broadbent, Kim Green OAM, Samantha May, Chelsea Pitman, Vanessa Ware, Susan Pettitt, Jo Sutton
Head Coach: Julie Fitzgerald AM
Assistant Coach: Jenny O’Keeffe
Manager: Jan Troy
Team Doctor: Dr Grace Bryant OAM
Team Physio: Sean Mungovan
