Netball SA’s recruiting rules should be overhauled to make the top tier competition fairer, clubs say
Contax or Matrics have won the past nine Premier League netball titles and some bottom-ranked clubs want the state body to overhaul the rules to help those struggling.
Struggling Premier League netball clubs say the state’s governing body needs to overhaul its recruiting rules to create a fairer top-tier competition.
Newton Jaguars, who have failed to post a win in their past two seasons in a losing streak now stretching to 754 days, wants Netball SA to give more help to clubs languishing at the bottom of the ladder.
Jaguars last tasted victory when they beat Metro Jets 67-61 on August 4, 2017, and their average losing margins for the past two seasons are 28 and 22 goals, respectively.
Newton Jaguars coach Jim Haldane said it had been a tough couple of years.
Haldane said his club needed to work harder on developing its juniors but was also hoping Netball SA would consider measures to fast-track improvement for struggling clubs.
“I think to even the competition out between the top teams and the bottom teams something needs to be done,” Haldane said.
“It’s difficult to recruit for a team that’s not playing finals when other teams can use that (on-court success) as a carrot to get players.
“Whether that be a draft, whether that be something like zones (implemented) within the metro and country area so players from areas must come to certain clubs.
“I think that would help balance it out.”
Netball SA’s recruiting laws operate on a points system and players attract value from 0 to 5 depending on experience and talent.
Each season every club has a maximum of 10 points they work with during the recruitment window to finalise their lists.
Jags, meanwhile, have not claimed a premiership since 2007.
League powerhouses Contax and Matrics have claimed the past nine titles and both clubs earned a berth in the finals series, which began last Friday night.
Woods Panthers ended this season second-bottom with a 3-11 record and coach Judi Andrewaretha said a change was overdue.
“I think the coaches need to get together because I think something needs to be done,” Andrewaretha said.
“We need to sit down and work through it and work out what is the best option for the four teams that didn’t make the (top) four.”
After finishing 2019 sixth with six wins and eight losses, Metro Jets coach Andrew Plenty said his club also found it hard to attract and keep players.
“Everybody wants to go and play for the top teams,” Plenty said.
“To their (Contax and Matrics) credit they do develop within their club, too.
“But then the potential players you have coming through, it gets to a certain point and then Matrics and Contax come knocking anyway.”
Matrics coach Jacqui Illman said a more even competition would be better for the sport but also did not want strong clubs to be penalised.
“I agree in theory and in an ideal world it (the competition) would be a lot closer and there would be a fight every year for finals spot and there wouldn’t be teams going through the year without a win,” Illman said.
“The biggest measure of success for us is if we can develop our juniors.
“But at the same time we wouldn’t be doing our job if we weren’t doing any recruiting and all clubs are out there doing that.”
A Netball SA spokeswoman said there were no “immediate plans for significant changes to recruitment”.
“Netball SA works closely with clubs, such as Newton Jaguars, to provide extra support in developing coaches, setting up … programs,” the spokeswoman said.