A respected male netballer has detailed the bold claim that will get netball into the Olympics

One of Australia’s leading male netballers has challenged the nation’s governing body to introduce a professional men’s league that can stand equal to their female counterparts if it hopes to reach the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. HAVE YOUR SAY

ONE of Australia’s leading male netballers has challenged the nation’s governing body to introduce a professional men’s league that can stand equal to their female counterparts if it hopes to reach the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

It comes just 16 months after the nation’s governing body Netball Australia announced their bid to have netball included in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics for.

Queensland Suns open mens captain Glenn Ormesher detailed how improving the level of mens competitions nationwide is the only way to reach Netball Australia’s goal.

The former Australian squad member believes a professional mens league must be introduced, and stand equal to the current HART Sapphire and Ruby Series women's league.

“To show everyone it’s not a ‘girls’ game and boys can be a successful too.

“If we want to introduce netball to the Olympics, we need boys and other countries to come on board with that,” Ormesher said.

Ormesher’s hopes for the sport extend to having an established national competition.

“I would like to see a mens professional league, the same as the Firebirds and Lightening, where we get to travel around Australia and play the sport we love at a competitive level.

“We know and everyone in the sport knows … we have the skills to do that,” he said.

With the sport growing rapidly among senior statewide competitions in previous years, the inclusion of boys netball at junior level is expected to make positive change for future generations of athletes.

Queensland junior competitions including QISSN (Queensland independent Secondary Schools Netball) and the Vicki Wilson Cup and Shield series have already taken the step to include mens netball divisions.

“I start training my boys in netball at such a young age, so when they’re 12 and 13 we start creating boys netball teams,” Ormesher said.

In 2020, the Vicki Wilson Cup series, named after ex-Australian Diamond Vicki Wilson, were successful in launched the inaugural boys competition which featured six teams from across the state.

Southport State High School Vicki Wilson Cup boys division winners. Picture: Netball Queensland

Since, the competition has grown in numbers to included two pools in the state finals.

In 2021, the QISSN series followed suit of the Vick Wilson series to introduce a boys division.

But the development of mens netball in Queensland, has come with what can only be described as controversy.

In September 2021, the Queensland Suns U17s boys team were invited to compete at the U16s and U18s Nissan State Titles.

The series is played annually to determine a reduced squad ahead of the U17s and U19s netball Australia nationals.

The Suns were included as an U18s side with the objective of providing additional competition to the mix of seven girls teams.

But after winning the grand final 46-12, the side were met with alleged abuse online.

Despite angered fans, Netball Queensland remained firm on their belief that the boys side deserved an opportunity to play.

“We want to make it clear that there is a place for everyone in out sport,” a statement read.

“We stand by our decision to choose inclusion over exclusion … to invite the Queensland Suns to return to the State Titles given they have limited opportunities to play in high performance environment due to … limited pathways.”

The controversy made headlines, and highlighted the need for more opportunities for men to play high-level netball without impeding existing girls competitions.

Following the success of the Vicki Wilson Cup and QISSN boys divisions, high profiles schools across Queensland have taken on board the initiative to include mens netball in curriculums.

Director of Netball at Canterbury College and Logan City Coach of the Year, Deanne Hamilton says efforts to improve the game need to be directed at skill development.

“From a schools perspective I definitely think there is a lot of space for boys involvement, whether that be inter-school level, curriculum level or representative avenues,” she said.

“It is something that will assist with people understanding the game.”

Mr Walker (principal) Maddy Iva Jada Anstee The winning first netball team Aloma Otuafi Tia Crombie Telisha tafa Ema wood Kadasha Ma’afu Seilala otuaifi Front row: Keelie Nason Miah ward Lathia Sheppard Deanne Hamilton (coach)

The 2022 Netball Queensland Teacher of the Year recipient believes schools are a huge part of changing the game of mens netball.

“That is where the numbers are, and if numbers are big in schools then it will start to make clubs and associations realise they need to also open their doors to more competitions for boys and men.

“The inclusion of the game in competitions that have coverage is what will lead to it [men’s netball] being an accepted part of the sporting fabric,” Hamilton said.

Speaking about the exposure of mens netball, Hamilton believes the sport will continue to grow in the community as people become more aware.

“Boys and men in netball are about five or so years behind that trend.

“It has been ongoing and there have been a number of competitions set up for the inclusion of boys and men … It is still quite new and people are getting to use to what that might look like,” she said.