The Commonwealth Bank Trophy is the elite national competitition in Australian netball. It was established in 1997 as a true national league to replace the ailing, state club-based Mobil League. Designed from the beginning to be more marketable to the general public, it has seen large increases in crowd sizes and sponsorship over its predecessor. From 2008, it will be replaced by the Tasman Trophy Netball League. Image File history File links Cbtlogo. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... The Tasman Trophy Netball League will be a netball competition contested between five teams each from both Australia and New Zealand. ...

Competition

The Trophy is an eight-team, single division round-robin competition, based around a fourteen week season starting in May and ending in August. The top four teams play off in a knockout finals series, culminating in the Grand Final in the first week of September. While crowd turnout falls short of that in the three football codes, matches are generally attended by several thousand people and growing, with a record crowd of 13,436 being achieved in 2004. This has necessitated a shift to larger venues, with smaller suburban venues of earlier years having to be abandoned in favour of larger city arenas. A significant number of games are shown both on free-to-air ABC TV and on pay television. Round Robin = A sexual act between two partners. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ...

While the Commonwealth Bank Trophy is an elite competition, it lacks the attention and sponsorship of the three main football codes. This means that there is not the money to pay high player wages - indeed, according to Australian Workers Union National Secretary Bill Shorten, many earn less than $4,000 a year from the sport. This means that the vast majority of players - including most of those in the Australian team - must juggle training and game requirements with part-time or full-time employment, and must raise their own funds if they are to afford added assistance such as the services of a physiotherapist. In an attempt to address this somewhat, most players in the competition made the decision to join the Australian Workers Union in late 2005. The Union changed its registration rules to allow this to occur. The Australian Workers Union (AWU) is one of Australias largest and oldest trade unions. ... Bill Shorten William Richard Shorten (born 1967), Australian trade union official, is National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), one of Australias oldest and largest unions. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

Australia had not had a national netball league of any form until 1985, when the Esso Superleague was formed. It saw the top teams from each state league face off against each other in a short national season. However, this meant that the teams representing each state changed from year to year, and many teams struggled to raise the sponsorship necessary or attract sizable enough crowds to meet the requirements of travelling interstate. The competition became the Mobil League in the early 1990s, but when it continued to struggle, Netball Australia decided to terminate it and look at setting up a permanent national league. Finally, they announced that the Mobil League would fold at the end of the 1996 season and be replaced by a new format in time for the next season. Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Logo of Netball Australia. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

The National Netball League, as it was initially called, had a more commercial focus from the beginning. Eight teams were created - two from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and one from Queensland and Western Australia. These were representative sides made up of the best players from each state, rather than being limited to members of whichever state club had qualified that particular year. The season was doubled in length, and the unpopular double-header contests (made necessary due to the financial limitations of the previous competition) were abolished. The teams were given generic mascots with the theme of birds in order to assist with marketing and merchandising, and the uniforms were revamped, with new brightly-coloured bodysuits being introduced to attempt to improve the image of the game. These last two moves did attract some controversy among players - several felt the use of birds as their mascots was condescending and sexist, and some felt that the new uniforms were using sex to sell the games. Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... Slogan or Nickname: Garden State, The Place to Be Motto(s): Peace and Prosperity Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Constitutional monarchy Governor David de Kretser Premier Steve Bracks (resigning effective 30th July 2007) (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 37  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05... Capital Adelaide Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 11  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $59,819 (5th)  - Product per capita  $38,838/person (7th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  1,558,200 (5th)  - Density  1. ... Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd)  - Product per capita  $40,170/person (6th) Population (End of November 2006)  - Population  4,164,590 (3rd)  - Density  2. ... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person...

The changes had an immediate impact in terms of sponsorship, as the Commonwealth Bank signed on as naming rights sponsor and several others followed suit, bringing in far more than the Mobil League had. They also brought sizable media attention in the months leading up to the first season of the new Commonwealth Bank Trophy. While netball authorities were disappointed with the low turnout at the early games, crowds rose substantially throughout the first season, and by its end, some smaller venues, such as Melbourne's Waverley Netball Centre were already becoming too small. People had to be turned away at some later games; an event that had rarely, if ever, happened in the Mobil League. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (commonly just the Commonwealth Bank) is the second largest bank in Australia, after the National Australia Bank. ... Melbourne (pronounced ) is the second most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3. ...

The Commonwealth Bank Trophy received a major boost in 2006, receiving a prime-time television deal with on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ABC2 digital-only channel. This will see matches televised live every Friday night for the first time, with additional highlights packages broadcast on regular free-to-air television. Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ...

Teams

Locations of teams

Team	Logo	City	Home Venue 1
Adelaide Thunderbirds		Adelaide, South Australia	ETSA Park
AIS Canberra Darters		Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	AIS Arena
Hunter Jaegers		Newcastle, New South Wales	Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Melbourne Phoenix		Melbourne, Victoria	State Netball and Hockey Centre
Melbourne Kestrels		Melbourne, Victoria	State Netball and Hockey Centre Waverley Netball Centre
Perth Orioles		Perth, Western Australia	Challenge Stadium
Queensland Firebirds		Brisbane, Queensland	Chandler Arena
Sydney Swifts		Sydney, New South Wales	Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre/ Sydney Superdome

¹ Note: Many clubs play several "home" matches at alternate grounds.

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 645 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (944 × 878 pixel, file size: 43 KB, MIME type: image/png) Australian Netball teams, Australia map based on Chuqs GNU map Image:AustraliaNumbered. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 645 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (944 × 878 pixel, file size: 43 KB, MIME type: image/png) Australian Netball teams, Australia map based on Chuqs GNU map Image:AustraliaNumbered. ... The Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ... Image File history File links Adelthunderbirdslogo. ... Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia, with a population of over 1. ... Capital Adelaide Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 11  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $59,819 (5th)  - Product per capita  $38,838/person (7th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  1,558,200 (5th)  - Density  1. ... ETSA Park is a sporting venue located in Adelaide, South Australia. ... The AIS Canberra Darters are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ... Image File history File links Aiscandarterslogo. ... For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... Capital Canberra Government Constitutional monarchy Administrator none Chief Minister Jon Stanhope (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 2  - Senate seats 2 Gross Territorial Product (2006)  - Product ($m)  $19,167 (6th)  - Product per capita  $57,303/person (1st) Population (End of November 2006)  - Population  333,667 (7th)  - Density  137. ... AIS Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Canberra, Australia. ... The Hunter Jaegers are an Australian netball team. ... Image File history File links Hunterjaegerslogo. ... Newcastle CBD Newcastle is the seventh largest and the second oldest city in Australia [1] and the second largest in the state of New South Wales. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... Newcastle Entertainment Centre is an Australian stadium. ... The Melbourne Phoenix are an Australian netball team. ... Image File history File links Melbphoenixlogo. ... Melbourne (pronounced ) is the second most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3. ... Slogan or Nickname: Garden State, The Place to Be Motto(s): Peace and Prosperity Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Constitutional monarchy Governor David de Kretser Premier Steve Bracks (resigning effective 30th July 2007) (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 37  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05... State Netball and Hockey Centre is an indoor sporting arena located in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Melbourne Kestrels are an Australian netball team. ... Image File history File links Melbkestrelslogo. ... Melbourne (pronounced ) is the second most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3. ... Slogan or Nickname: Garden State, The Place to Be Motto(s): Peace and Prosperity Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Constitutional monarchy Governor David de Kretser Premier Steve Bracks (resigning effective 30th July 2007) (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 37  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05... State Netball and Hockey Centre is an indoor sporting arena located in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Perth Orioles are an Australian netball team. ... Image File history File links Perthorioleslogo. ... The Perth skyline viewed from the Swan River This article is about the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. ... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person... Challenge Stadium, Perth The Challenge Stadium is the premier sports complex in the western suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. ... Official logo The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ... Image File history File links Qldfirebirdslogo. ... Brisbane (pronounced ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, as well as the third largest city in Australia. ... Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd)  - Product per capita  $40,170/person (6th) Population (End of November 2006)  - Population  4,164,590 (3rd)  - Density  2. ... The Sydney Swifts are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ... Image File history File links Sydswiftslogo. ... The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... The Sydney Superdome is a large entertainment complex located in Homebush in Sydney, Australia. ...

Defunct Teams

• Adelaide Ravens (1997-2002, abolished to make way for the AIS Canberra Darters)
• Sydney Sandpipers (1997-2003, abolished to make way for the Hunter Jaegers)

Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... The AIS Canberra Darters are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ... The Sydney Sandpipers were an inaugural team in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, Australias national womens netball league. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hunter Jaegers are an Australian netball team. ...

Future expansion

With two of the most obvious potential new teams having been created in the past three years (Australian Institute of Sport/Canberra and Newcastle), it seems unlikely that there will be a change in the immediate future. If the competition remains capped at eight teams, the next most likely candidate for axing would appear to be the Melbourne Kestrels (the weaker of the city's two teams), as Melbourne is now the only city to have two teams in the Trophy, and removing any other would leave that area without a team at all. The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) headquarters is sited in Canberra, the Capital city of Australia. ... For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... Newcastle CBD Newcastle is the seventh largest and the second oldest city in Australia [1] and the second largest in the state of New South Wales. ... The Melbourne Kestrels are an Australian netball team. ... Melbourne (pronounced ) is the second most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3. ...

If a change were to made, the most likely candidate for promotion would probably be a team from New Zealand, as there was some interest when the league was created of including New Zealand teams in the competition, and this has not yet occurred. However, there was also the possibility of a team from Tasmania, which has no team in the trophy, or, the Kestrels would've been replaced with another Victorian team, a team from Geelong, which has a venue that is being used for some Melbourne home games at present. It now looks that the kestrels and the phoenix will have to merge due to the introduction of the Tasman Trophy in 2008 Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $16,114 (7th)  - Product per capita  $33,243/person (8th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  489,600 (6th)  - Density  7. ... Slogan or Nickname: Garden State, The Place to Be Motto(s): Peace and Prosperity Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Constitutional monarchy Governor David de Kretser Premier Steve Bracks (resigning effective 30th July 2007) (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 37  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05... - - Nickname: City by the Bay Geography Area: 1,240 km² Coordinates: Time Zone UTC +10:00 Population (2003) 200,067 Among Australian cities: Density: persons/km² Political Mayor: Shane Dowling Governing body: City of Greater Geelong Geelong is a port city of 200,067 people (2003 census) located on Corio... Melbourne (pronounced ) is the second most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3. ...

Commonwealth Bank Trophy Champions

• 1997: Melbourne Phoenix
• 1998: Adelaide Thunderbirds
• 1999: Adelaide Thunderbirds
• 2000: Melbourne Phoenix
• 2001: Sydney Swifts
• 2002: Melbourne Phoenix
• 2003: Melbourne Phoenix
• 2004: Sydney Swifts
• 2005: Melbourne Phoenix
• 2006: Sydney Swifts
• 2007: Sydney Swifts

Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... The Melbourne Phoenix are an Australian netball team. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... The Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Melbourne Phoenix are an Australian netball team. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... The Sydney Swifts are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... The Melbourne Phoenix are an Australian netball team. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Melbourne Phoenix are an Australian netball team. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Sydney Swifts are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Melbourne Phoenix are an Australian netball team. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Sydney Swifts are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Sydney Swifts are an Australian netball team, playing in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. ...