Premier League netball undergoes third review in seven years

REGIONAL clubs will be considered for promotion to Netball SA’s Premier League as the elite competition undergoes its third review in the past seven years.

Action from last year’s Premier League netball grand final between Matrics and Contax. Both clubs will be required to reapply for next year’s competition as it undergoes a review. Picture: Stephen Laffer

REGIONAL clubs will be considered for promotion to Netball SA’s Premier League as the elite competition undergoes its third review in the past seven years.

The governing body last week called for applications to take part in the eight-team league for the 2017-18 seasons.

Netball SA high performance manager Helen Mortimer said clubs from outside Adelaide would be eligible to nominate for the top flight in a potential shake-up of the metropolitan-based competition.

“We would certainly be open to reviewing the application (from a regional club),” Mortimer said.

“Obviously it would come with some logistical challenges, but it wouldn’t be closed to just metropolitan clubs.”

Applicants will be assessed on a raft of criteria including playing performance, service to the community, finances, and coach, player and umpire development.

Current clubs will be required to reapply to retain their place.

“We’re keeping the clubs accountable, as well as supporting them,” Mortimer said.

“If we don’t keep on reviewing it (the league) then we’re going to fall short of ensuring our players are developing at the rate we need to keep up with rest of the country.”

Accepted clubs would be required to field senior and reserves sides.

Mortimer said the competition would again be reviewed ahead of the 2019 season.

Harlequin in 2010 and Cougars in 2014 were the last clubs to be culled from the top flight.

Cougars president Jenny Burg said the club – which plays in the Adelaide Metropolitan Netball Division – would not lodge an application for 2017.

Burg said the club was in a “rebuilding stage” after it lost several promising juniors following its relegation.

“We took a hit from losing our Premier League (place),” she said.

“Some positive signs are there but it takes a bit of time to get everything back together.

“We want to make sure that when we get there (Premier League) we don’t come straight back out.”

Clubs need to submit applications by July 15.

Mortimer said a four-person panel would consider the submissions in August and successful clubs would be announced by mid-September.