2010 ANZ Championship season

Format

The format of the 2010 season was identical to those of previous seasons. During the round-robin stage, played over 14 weeks, each team played every other team once, and played teams from their home country a second time. Teams also had one bye somewhere between Rounds 6–10. Week 4 of the round-robin stage was the designated Rivalry Round, in which all games were trans-Tasman match-ups. The top four teams from the round-robin stage progressed to the finals stage, played over three weeks in a Page-McIntyre System.

Round 14 matchups in 2009 were identical to round 14 matchups in 2010, round 4 matchups in 2009 were identical to round 11 matchups in 2010, and round 1 matchups in 2009 were identical to round 3 matchups in 2010. Also, for the Rivalry Round, round 13 matchups in 2009 were identical to round 4 matchups in 2010. In addition, in trans-Tasman matches the home and away teams were switched around from 2009 to ensure that the teams got to play home and away games over two years: e.g., the Thunderbirds hosted the Magic in round 14 in 2009, but the same game in 2010 was hosted by the Magic.

The 2010 season saw the first use of the assistance package for teams that finished in the bottom two placings of the competition ladder for two consecutive seasons. The Central Pulse finished 10th in 2008 and 2009, winning one game in 26 outings, and were granted additional money as well as a second import player.

Rules

Matches were played under international test rules, with a few exceptions. Games that had tied scores at the end of regular time continued into extra time until a winner emerged. Starting from 2010, two additional rule changes were also implemented: coaching was permitted during time stoppages, and venue clocks showed the countdown of the final minute of play, rather than turning blank for that time.

Teams

All ten teams from the inaugural season continued in 2010.

Player transfers

The 2010 ANZ Championship season, the third year of the competition was expected to be the best yet. Teams organised their franchises, and then went on the hunt to poach opposition players. There was excitement on both sides of the Tasman, but in New Zealand it was all coming from one team. The Northern Mystics went on a shopping spree, signing Magic stars Maria Tutaia and Joline Henry. Along with Canterbury Tactix Silver Fern Larrissa Willcox and Jamaican international Althea Byfield, to join current internationals Catherine Latu and Temepara George in Auckland. The Magic, who lost the services of Tutaia and Henry, made up for it by inking former Silver Ferns shooter Jodi Brown and Australian Peta Scholz from retirement. The new duo, teamed up with Magic stalwarts Irene van Dyk, Laura Langman and Casey Williams.

In Wellington, the Pulse who lost Byfield, made up for it by bringing in English import Ama Agbeze and Adelaide Thunderbirds benchie Jane Altschwager. They also snared Silver Fern defender Katrina Grant from the Steel, to form a nice looking team. At the Canterbury Tactix, the retirement of captain Julie Seymour as well as losing Jodi Brown and Sonia Mkoloma left the red and black's midcourt in all sorts of trouble. Southlander Hayley Crofts was called into the franchise, but made no impact. They initially signed off out of favour Queensland Firebirds defender Peta Stephens, but an injury ruled her out of contention.

And down south at the Southern Steel, after the retirements of star players Donna Wilkins, Adine Wilson and Megan Hutton, along with Katrina Grant moving north, it left the Steel in trouble too. They still pulled together a play off potential side. Former Silver Fern and Sting player Leana de Bruin was back from pregnancy and was pulled into the backline. With the re-signing of internationals Daneka Wipiiti, Megan Dehn, Liana Leota, Wendy Frew and Sheryl Scanlan, Steel still had high chances for 2010.

Up north in Australia, the Queensland Firebirds answered their shooting problems, by snaring Australian Diamonds star Natalie Medhurst from the Adelaide Thunderbirds. She set up a wonderful combination with returning Jamaican import Romelda Aiken. In the Firebird's midcourt, Lauren Nourse led the way without fellow Wing Attack Tamsin Greenway. The English player decided to not return for a third year of ANZ Championships netball. At the NSW Swifts, the Sydney club picked up touring, English defender Sonia Mkoloma, to give her a third franchise to play at. Mkoloma, again along with Catherine Cox, Susan Pratley and Kim Green were the key players to their line-up.

In Melbourne, the Vixens opted against bringing in an import. The 2009 champions kept consistency in their lineup. Shooters Sharelle McMahon and Caitlin Thwaites, midcourter Natasha Chokljat and defenders Julie Corletto and Bianca Chatfield all inked again with the team. At the Thunderbirds, Coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson returned as coach, along with stars Natalie von Bertouch, Kate Beveridge, Mo'onia Gerrard and import Geva Mentor. After the loss of Medhurst, and which speculation since has arisen Woodlands-Thompson wanted rid of her, she was replaced by former netballer, turned basketball player Carla Borrego. The tall Jamaican would become a huge hit.

The cash strapped West Coast Fever again kept their coach Jane Searle, and the core group of players. There were no huge changes in the Perth team's line-up, apart from Leah Shoard returning to Australia, after a year with the Steel and Janelle Lawson returning home from the Firebirds.

Pre-season

An early pre-season tournament was held in early February in Christchurch. This tournament featured the Steel and Tactix, as well as a New South Wales state team, in which the Steel emerged undefeated. The first of the major pre-season tournaments in 2010 was held in Queenstown, New Zealand from 19–21 February, featuring the Firebirds, Mystics, Pulse, Tactix and Steel, along with a team from the Australian Institute of Sport. The Queensland Firebirds emerged undefeated from the Queenstown tournament.

The official pre-season tournament is the Netball Cup (formerly the SOPA Cup), which was held in Sydney from 5–7 March. In 2010, the tournament was contested between the Firebirds, Swifts, Vixens, Thunderbirds and Fever from Australia, and the Pulse and Steel from New Zealand. Once again, the Queensland Firebirds went through the tournament undefeated to emerge champions.

Round 3

Daylight savings ends on Sunday 4 April in New Zealand, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Round 4: Rivalry Round

All matches in this round were trans-Tasman clashes. Goals scored by all teams from each country were tallied together, and the country with the highest number of accumulated goals won. After five matches, Australia won the 2010 Rivalry Round with a 4–1 win-loss record and a goal aggregate of 288–230 against New Zealand.

Festival of the Stars

The Festival of the Stars is a charity match where two celebrity teams play each other to win money for their charities. The captains of the match in 2010 were the Australia's ONE HD Sunday commentators, Luke Darcy and Liz Ellis. The match was played in two 15-minute halves and umpired by Natalie Medhurst and Wendy Fleming. The celebrity teams were as follows:

During the match, Darcy's team scored the first two goals, giving them a two-goal lead, however Ellis' team came back with two goals from Spencer. Late in the half, Archer scored a goal on the goal circle (not legal in standard rules) and that was the only goal scored by him. At the end of the first half, Darcy's team lead 4-3. In the second half, a change was made by Ellis' team with Ellis moving to WD and shifting Archer and Swanson to GD and GK respectively to add more height in the defense circle, while Darcy placed Twigley to GA and Hughes to WD. Later on, Ellis called time to put Melbourne Vixens player Caitlin Thwaites at GS, moving Moloney to WD, Ellis to GK and benching Swanson. After a thrilling battle, despite Thwaites's goals and tricks and Spencer's long range shot on goal, Darcy's team won the match by two goals. As a result, the MARS Red beyondblue team won $10,000 for winning the match as well as $2,000 for scoring the first goal in both halves and $100 for every goal scored after, adding up to $12,900 for the beyondblue charity. The Holden Cruze National Breast Cancer Foundation team won $5,000 as runner-up prize and $100 for every goal scored, adding up to $5,900 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation charity.

Season statistics

Best Young Player Award

The MARS Red Best Young Player Award is awarded to the player who's under the age of 25, has not played more than five matches in previous ANZ Championship seasons and has not played in more than five international matches. Only five nominees are chosen, one selected each week from rounds 10-14. Sharni Layton won the award.

Holden Cruze Player of the Year