Giants Netball

GIANTS Netball
Founded2016
Based inGreater Western Sydney
RegionsNew South Wales
Home venueKen Rosewall Arena
Head coachNerida Stewart
Asst coachJen Wright
CaptainWhitney Souness
PremiershipsNil
LeagueSuper Netball
2026 placing8th
Websitewww.giantsnetball.com.au
Playing dress
Playing dress
Playing dress
Alternate
Alternate
Alternate
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).

History

New franchise

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. The 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.

Julie Fitzgerald era

In August 2016, Julie Fitzgerald was announced as the inaugural head coach of Netball New South Wales's new franchise. Two veteran New South Wales Swifts players, Kimberlee Green and Susan Pettitt, subsequently switched to the GIANTS. Green was named the inaugural GIANTS captain. The GIANTS went onto finish the 2017 season as runners-up after losing 65–48 to Sunshine Coast Lightning in the grand final.

In 2018, Fitzgerald guided the GIANTS to the minor premiership. However, in the final series they lost out to both West Coast Fever and Sunshine Coast Lightning. In 2021, Fitzgerald guided the GIANTS to a both a second minor premiership and a second grand final. However, in the grand final they lost out to New South Wales Swifts.

Regular season statistics
Season Position Won Drawn Lost
20173rd1004
20181st1013
20195th716
20206th527
20211st905
20223rd806
20236th509
20248th3011
20256th509
20268th1013

  Runners Up

New ownership

In August 2026, the team's license was acquired by Sports Entertainment Group. The new ownership confirmed the team's name and branding would change. The new franchise was renamed Sydney Sirens.

Grand finals

Season Winners Score Runners up Venue
2017Sunshine Coast Lightning65–48GIANTS NetballBrisbane Entertainment Centre
2021New South Wales Swifts63–59GIANTS NetballNissan Arena

Home venues

As of 2021, the GIANTS have played all of their home games at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney Olympic Park. The 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.

The club's administration and training base is shared with the NSW Swifts and Netball NSW at Netball Central in Sydney Olympic Park.

Notable players

2026 squad

2026 GIANTS Netball roster
PlayersCoaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
New Zealand Whitney Souness (c) WA, C (1995-10-12) 12 October 1995 (age 31) 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 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 23) 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 Skye Thompson (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 32) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
New Zealand Jane Watson 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 20) 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: 10 June 2026
  1. ↑ Injured, out for the season with foot fracture
  2. ↑ Season-long permanent replacement for injured Lucy Austin

Internationals

 Australia

 England

 Jamaica

 New Zealand

Captains

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

Club Award winners

HCF Most Valuable Player
Season Winner
2017Serena Guthrie
2018Jo Harten
2019Jo Harten (2)
2020Kiera Austin
2021Jo Harten (3)
2022 Jo Harten (4)
2023 Jamie-Lee Price
2024 Jamie-Lee Price (2)
2025 Jamie-Lee Price (3)
2026 Sophie Dwyer
Players' Player
Season Player
2017Rebecca Bulley
2018Jo Harten
2019Samantha Poolman
2020Kiera Austin
2021April Brandley
2022 Jo Harten
Amy Parmenter
2023 Jamie-Lee Price
2024 Amy Sligar
2025 Erin O'Brien
2026 Erin O'Brien
Members' Player of the Year
Season Player
2017Jo Harten
Samantha Poolman
2018Jo Harten
2019Amy Parmenter
2020Amy Parmenter
2021Sophie Dwyer
2022 Jo Harten
2023 Jamie-Lee Price
2024 Jamie-Lee Price
2025 Amy Sligar
2026 Amy Sligar

Competition Award winners

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

Head coaches

Coach Years
Julie Fitzgerald 2016–2025
Nerida Stewart 2026

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.

Premierships

References

  1. ↑ "History". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 "GIANTS Netball". supernetball.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Green appointed inaugural captain". giantsnetball.com.au. 17 December 2016. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "2017 (GIANTS Netball)". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 "Netball NSW – 2017 Annual Report" (PDF). Netball NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  17. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Super Netball: Sunshine Coast Lightning emphatically beat Giants in inaugural grand final". www.abc.net.au. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  19. 1 2 "Sunshine Coast Lightning blow out Giants to win inaugural Super Netball title". www.theguardian.com. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "2018 (GIANTS Netball)". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  21. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "2021 Grand Final Wrap". supernetball.com.au. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  25. 1 2 "NSW Swifts celebrate Super Netball grand final triumph over Giants". www.theguardian.com. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  26. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "NSW Swifts win 2021 Grand Final". supernetball.com.au. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  28. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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. ↑ Pearce, Linda (4 August 2026). "Media mogul Craig Hutchison set to take over another team". 7NEWS. AAP. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  37. ↑ "Giants Super Netball team set for big takeover". ESPN. AAP. 4 August 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  38. ↑ Snape, Jack (11 August 2026). "Sirens call: Super Netball heading for wrangle over name of new Sydney team". The Guardian.
  39. ↑ "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.
  40. ↑ "Netball's plea: Don't forget us in stadium splurge". www.smh.com.au. 6 July 2018.
  41. ↑ "Giants Netball forced out of Canberra due to indefinite AIS Arena closure". www.canberratimes.com.au. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  42. ↑ "Kim Green Announces Retirement From Netball". supernetball.com.au. 21 August 2019.
  43. ↑ "2020 GIANTS Netball Captains Announced". giantsnetball.com.au. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  44. ↑ "Price to Join Harten at the Helm - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  45. ↑ "Harten Claims Third MVP". giantsnetball.com.au. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  46. ↑ "Harten, Dwyer and Brandley take home GIANTS honours". supernetball.com.au. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  47. ↑ "2022 - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  48. ↑ "2023 - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  49. ↑ "2024 - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  50. ↑ "2025 - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  51. ↑ "2026 - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  52. ↑ "Parmenter Takes Out Rookie of the Year". supernetball.com.au. 30 November 2019.
  53. ↑ "Australian Netball Awards". Netball Australia. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  54. ↑ "Nerida Stewart Appointed Head Coach of GIANTS - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  55. ↑ "GIANTS Netball Launch New Academy". giantsnetball.com.au. 9 September 2019.
  56. ↑ "GIANTS Netball Academy - GIANTS Netball". giantsnetball.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2026.