The Collingwood Football Club has proudly presented its inaugural netball team for the new National Netball League starting in February 2017.
The star-studded ten player squad includes current Australian Diamonds April Brandley, Ash Brazill, Sharni Layton, Kim Ravaillion, Madison Robinson and Caitlin Thwaites, and is supported by rising stars Shae Brown, Cody Lange, Alice Teague-Neeld and Micaela Wilson.
It’s a coming home for Brown, Layton, Thwaites, Wilson and Head Coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell who all sought opportunities interstate in the previous league.
“These ten athletes are all amazing talents in their own rights, but just as importantly they are extremely motivated by the opportunity to build an elite club culture from scratch and be part of making history,” Keppich-Birrell said.
“The skill levels of the players and what they are going to be able to do together on court will be something to behold. It’s going to be a very exciting time to watch netball.”
“What’s really exciting from a coach’s perspective is that whilst they each come for different reasons, there’s a common theme around building a wonderful team that is going to be successful for many years.”
Collingwood President Eddie McGuire announced the side’s official name as the Collingwood Magpies Netball Team and spoke of the club’s long-standing vision to be a place where women can aspire to be great.
“Collingwood is proud to have a place at the forefront of Australia’s biggest female national sport – a sport that is gaining more and more prominence in Australia and around the world.”
“We have enormous respect for everyone in netball, for the traditions of this great sport and in particular for the players. These women are amazing, elite athletes and it is a privilege to have them at our club.”
“Girls around Australia can now grow up dreaming of a career in netball, of one day playing for the Collingwood Magpies and representing the Australian Diamonds.”
McGuire also unveiled the team’s logo, prominently featuring a netball and drawing on the gold in the club’s existing logo.
“It’s a great logo – clean, contemporary and bold - a strong logo that supports a team full of great athletes and powerful young women,” McGuire said.
Collingwood also confirmed the first commercial partners for team, with health product company IsoWhey as Major Co-Partner, Holden Australia and Three Three’s as support partners and Diadora as the team’s official apparel partner.
2017 Collingwood Magpies Netball Team
April Brandley
GK, GD, WD
Australian Diamonds
Formerly West Coast Fever, NSW Swifts & QLD Firebirds
ANZ Championship title 2011 (Firebirds)
Ash Brazill
C, WD
Australian Diamonds
Formerly West Coast Fever Captain, NSW Swifts
Shae Brown
C, WD, WA
Formerly West Coast Fever
Cody Lange
GA, GS
Formerly Adelaide Thunderbirds
Sharni Layton
GK, GD
Aus Diamonds (Comm Games Gold Medal, dual World Cup Gold Medals)
ANZ Championship title 2010 & 2013 (T’birds), Finals MVP 2015 (Swifts)
Formerly NSW Swifts, Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Vixens
Kimberley Ravaillion
C, WD, WA
Australian Diamonds (Comm Games Gold Medal, World Cup Gold Medal)
ANZ Championship title 2015 & 2016 (Firebirds), Finals MVP 2016
Formerly Queensland Firebirds
Madison Robinson
WA, C
Australian Diamonds (Commonwealth Games Gold Medal)
ANZ Championship title 2014 (Vixens)
Formerly Melbourne Vixens Captain, West Coast Fever
Alice Teague-Neeld
GA, GS
Formerly Melbourne Vixens
Caitlin Thwaites
GS, GA
Australian Diamonds (Comm Games Gold Medal, World Cup Gold Medal)
ANZ Championship title 2009 (Vixens)
Formerly NSW Swifts, Central Pulse, Melbourne Vixens
Micaela Wilson
GD, GK, WD
Formerly NSW Swifts, Melbourne Vixens
