Super Netball buyout bid: Why frustrated players are embracing the bold $6.5 million take over plan

Frustrated players have felt ignored by Netball Australia on two key issues for years. But the investor behind the bold $6.5 million takeover bid wants that to change.

Elite netballers have embraced a bold $6.5 million plan to take over Super Netball which promises to deliver better mental health support and give players a seat at the table.

Netball Australia Players’ Association president Jo Weston said players had felt ignored for several years and to have an investor willing to not only back the sport but give the athletes a say in how the game was run was “exciting”.

Mental health support and being heard are the two demands players have felt Netball Australia has ignored for years.

Now with a private investor, bankrolled by a tier 1 global investment company with former Diamond Liz Ellis on the board, the players are keen to see where the new group could take the game.

Tier 1 global put forward their proposal, to buy out the sport’s debt and takeover the Super Netball league, to Netball Australia on Friday.

Netball Australia responded by calling an emergency meeting with SSN CEOs.

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Matt Berriman has lodged a bid with Netball Australia to buy the Super Netball competition. Picture: Supplied.

Matt Berriman, the chair of Mental Health Australia, entrepreneur and avid netball fan, has taken the lead on the bid – which he didn’t submit until consulting with the players’ association.

A step Netball Australia has been heavily criticised for skipping in the past – most recently with the decision to sell the grand final to the Western Australian government in a bid to recover some of their $4.5 million debt.

Weston, who plays for the Vixens, said it was an exciting proposal and it was nice players had been part of the discussion.

“Obviously Netball Australia went public with their financial position a couple of weeks ago and for a large amount of our playing group that was quite a scary situation to read,” Weston said.

“It really makes you question the stability of the competition and what the future could have looked like, so for someone to be investing in the competition is a really exciting prospect for our playing group.”

Berriman’s proposal includes $4.5 million to Netball Australia for the Super Netball competition plus an additional two $1 million payments over two years to be invested in grassroots and the Diamonds.

The equity group also have a “significant amount” more to invest directly into the Super Netball and cover running costs.

Part of that includes a plan to increase the support available to players, particularly for their mental health.

Netball Australia Players’ Association president and Vixens star Jo Weston. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

A survey conducted by NewsCorp earlier this year found 72 per cent of players didn’t think

Netball Australia was doing enough to protect their mental health and wellbeing.

Weston said the playing group had been advocating for more support for several years, particularly since the pandemic.

“We have struggled to get a whole lot of traction from some of the clubs,” Weston said.

“So for someone who wants to invest in the sport and its financial viability but also come from that angle really makes it incredibly attractive and they are also willing to have player input.

“That is what our group has felt over the last year or even couple of years has been really, really difficult for us, feeling like we’re not included in any conversations or that we are not listened to.”

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan responded to the bid on Friday telling NewsCorp it was not the only proposal they had received and it would be considered following the review of the Super Netball competition.

Netball Queensland CEO Kate Davies was not surprised by the interest in the league.

“This is the best netball competition in the world so it’s not surprising it has attracted this type of attention. This comes at a time when the NA is completing a State of the Game review into the SSN,” Davies said.

“NQ encourages and looks forward to being an active participant in the review and welcomes the outside interest as it reflects the strength of our elite national competition.”

Netball NSW, which owns the Swifts and Giants, issued a statement as well – saying it would reveal its stance following the review and a more detailed look at the proposal.

“Further NNSW has been advised that netball Australia has spoken with a number of people and organisations who want to support our sport, showing strength of the netball brand

“Alongside Netball Australia Netball NSW is committed to growing the game at all levels from grassroots through to the world’s best netball competition, the Suncorp Super League and the world number one ranked Diamonds.”

Netball Victoria and the Vixens declined to comment.