Super Netball news: Kelly Ryan responds to criticism of Grand Final being sold to Perth

Netball is at war over the controversial 11th-hour call to sell the Grand Final to the highest bidder, with players demanding change at the top of the sport.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan.

Furious players have demanded “either behaviours must change or the people must change” at head office as civil war broke out following Netball Australia’s eleventh-hour decision to sell the Super Netball final to the highest bidder.

The Australian Professional Netball Players association released an extraordinary statement on behalf of players from every club after Netball CEO Kelly Ryan confirmed the final would be played in Perth – regardless of how West Coast Fever fared in the final two games of the season or semi-final.

Players said they had been treated unfairly and Netball Australia had not even bothered to ask their opinion.

“To move the goalposts after Round 12, when every team has busted their guts for the chance to host the grand final in front of family, friends, members and fans after two years of Covid compromises without even asking a single player what they thought is just shattering,” the statement read.

“It demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of why we play and what we have sacrificed.”

Ryan revealed the move was spurred by a $4.4 million debt – bizarrely, in an attempt to appease disgruntled players they will give prize money to the premiers for the first time in history leaving them with less than $200,000 from the sale of the game.

The move has had the opposite affect though with players “devastated” by the decision and the way it has been handled.

“The professional netball players in Suncorp Super Netball have called for a change of culture at Netball Australia in the wake of the organisation’s unilateral, rushed, late-season and fundamental change of the competition playing arrangements and the manner in which the players have been treated before the decision,” the statement read.

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COMMENT: WHY SELLING GRAND FINAL WAS RIGHT CALL

As a playing group all that we want is respect and transparency. @AusNetballPApic.twitter.com/Tuk8r4yd1h

— Jo Weston (@joannamweston) June 2, 2022

“The players are devastated both by the decision and the way it has been handled. It was extremely disappointing to learn of such a major decision after the fact and yet again not to have been consulted in the process.

“Netball Australia tells us that we are the ‘game’s most important asset’ and a priority partner and yet they treat us as the lowest priority.

“Either the behaviours must change or the people must change.

“We want to work with a Netball Australia that understands that if they want to grow the game and they want the players to be valuable in that venture, then they need to change the wat the engage with us.

“What netball Australia does not seem to understand is that one of the best things about playing netball is that the sport attracts and develops strong, smart, independent thinking women.

“We want Netball Australia to recognise the great talent, on and off, the court that we have in our playing group and be treated with respect and trust.”

News Corp Australia revealed on Wednesday the grand final would be held in Perth, regardless of how Fever fared in the final two rounds and semi-final.

The news was met with criticism from fans, clubs and players – especially Vixens supporters whose team are top of the table but missed watching their team play in a home final in 2020 due to the Covid-19 hubs.

When Ryan addressed the media more than 24 hours later she revealed the move was simply an effort to try and put a dent in the organisation’s growing debt.

“(On Thursday) we released our financial results for 2021 which highlighted that we have a $4.4 million loss and as a result of that we have $4 million in loans – that is a significant amount of money hanging over a sport of our size,” Kelly said.

“And we also now have a going concerns notice from our auditors which also highlights the sensitivities of NA’s financial position at this particular moment.”

Jo Weston shared a statement on behalf of “shattered” players on Thursday.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan.

It is understood Netball Australia will pocket $300,000 from the sale, and a bonus $350,000 of support from the Western Australian Government in other parts of the commercial deal.

Close to half the money from the sale will be put up as prize money with $100,000 going to the premier and $25,000 to the runner-up.

While players and clubs were only informed of the decision to hold the grand final in Perth late last week, Ryan said club CEO’s had been aware it was a possibility since mid-season.

“I am not shying away from the fact that it is late in general, but conversations were happening within hours of a decision being made,” Ryan said.

“It was a decision we didn’t make lightly.

“If we didn’t think it was worth the opportunity we wouldn’t pursue it. We want to continue to find new ways to generate revenue.”

Ryan said the rotating venue for the grand final would continue for the foreseeable future but the plan moving forward would be to announce the chosen venue at the start of the season, when fixtures are announced.

“We are fully aware of the timing and we fully appreciate this is not an ideal scenario,” Ryan said.

“We appreciate there are emotions in this and what this might mean for (players), we just hope they appreciate we do not take these decisions lightly and it is a decision based on shoring up the future of the sport.”

She was unable to reveal how many other states had shown an interest in hosting the final due to commercial in-confidence rules, but said there had been more than one.

“Having a fixed venue each year will deliver a better overall event experience by maximising attendance in the stands at the Grand Final, and by boosting viewership of the match,” Ryan said.

The game has also been moved from its original 7pm Saturday July 2 spot to 7pm on Sunday July 3.