Western Jets promoted, Cougars dumped as part of SA Premier League netball revamp

WESTERN Jets have been promoted to SA netball’s top flight for the first time in their 19-year history – at the expense of Premier League cellar-dweller Cougars.

Cougars Netball Club, pictured this past season, has been dumped from the state’s top two tiers as part of a Netball SA revamp. Pic. Noelle Bobrige.

WESTERN Jets have been promoted to SA netball’s top flight for the first time – at the expense of Cougars.

Netball SA today announced the Jets, who were runners-up in the reserves competition this past season, would join Contax, Garville, Matrics, Newton Jaguars, Phoenix, Tango and Woods Panthers in the Premier League next year and in 2016.

Those clubs will also play in the eight-team reserves competition.

As part of the revamp, Cougars, which has not won a game the past two seasons, has been dumped from the top two tiers.

Jets vice-president Judith Dingwall said the 19-year-old club was eyeing a bright future.

“We’re thrilled and excited about our acceptance into the Premier League,” Dingwall said.

“There’s been a lot of hard work and sleepless nights by the people who have built the club from the start.

“We look forward to a strong showing in the league in the seasons to come.”

Netball SA assessed clubs on criteria including on-court performance, service to the community, governance and the development of players, coaches and umpires.

The competition restructure comes four years after the governing body demoted Oakdale, Tango and Harlequin from the state league to the reserves, and removed the SA Sports Institute altogether in a bid to provide a better pathway to elite netball for juniors.

Harlequin today lost its spot in the reserves competition, which had 10 teams this past season.

Cougars and Harlequin can reapply to enter the top flight ahead of the 2017 season.

Netball SA president Graeme Gilbert said the organisation made no apologies for setting a high bar for Premier League selection.

“This has been done in the best interest of the sport and the clubs themselves,” Gilbert said.

“Harlequin and Cougars will be disappointed with the result, but Netball SA will continue to work with both clubs to build on the work they have done ... to assist them to reach the standard required.”

Cougars president Chris Howie could not be reached for comment.