Super Netball: NSW Swifts to wear iconic yellow dress in Heritage Round

Netball has come a long way since the days of Liz Ellis and the legend has heaped praise on how much investment has been put into the athletes poised to start the season.

Strapping tape rations, BYO team dinners and job juggling — that’s what Sydney Swifts legend Liz Ellis recalls from elite netball in the 1990s.

The former Diamonds captain recently dusted off an old contract from that period stipulating that she — as one of the highest paid players — would receive a $3500 sign-on fee, $50 for each time she was named to play in a match, and $20 per quarter she played in that match.

Plus, of course, strapping tape — but no more than 30 rolls.

“Now, you wouldn’t even think about (tape),” Ellis said. “But back then, it was like, I don’t know if I should use it for training. You spent your whole time doing calculations about what you could afford to do.

Liz Ellis won four premierships with the Sydney Swifts. Picture: AAP Image/Per Groth

“We used to fundraise so we could afford to eat out at the hotel when we used to travel (for games). Another team, their manager would cook and bring food, and a little oven to heat it up. It’s amazing how things have changed.”

Ellis and her teammates — one of whom is NSW Swifts coach Briony Akle — would train two nights a week, after clocking off from their day jobs.

Still, they won four Commonwealth Bank Trophy premierships and became household names

Today, Super Netballers are largely semi-professional and the Super Netball league has established itself as one of the most exciting sporting products in the world.

This season, the Swifts, who rebranded as the NSW Swifts in 2008, will don the iconic yellow dress during Super Netball’s Heritage Round (Round 12) to honour players such as Ellis who paved the way.

NSW Swifts Lauren Moore, Paige Hadley and Maddy Turner will wear the iconic blue and yellow dress for Heritage Round this year. Picture: Nigel Owen

“When the Swifts switched over to the red dress (after rebranding), I thought a lot of the heritage of the yellow dress was lost, that the club almost turned its back on the yellow dress and the people who had worn it,” Ellis said.

“To hear that the players will wear the yellow dress during Heritage Round, I actually got quite emotional. It means a huge amount to those who played for the club during that formative and successful period.

“We were laying down the foundations for where the game is now. I love that some players can now be very close to full-time professional athletes, if that’s what they choose, and they’re really well supported.”

Swifts co-captain Paige Hadley believes the gesture is the perfect way to celebrate the club’s 25th anniversary.

“The likes of Liz Ellis and Cath Cox, they paved the way for us to be semi-professional athletes we are today, if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have TV rights and the conditions that we work in,” Hadley said. “We owe those who have come before us, and we’re trying to pave the way for those who come after us to.”

The details of Liz Ellis’s contract with the Sydney Swifts. Picture: Twitter/Liz Ellis

Looking ahead, Ellis is optimistic about the future of Australian netball and believes that a Super Netball league expansion is inevitable. First, however, the legend wants the league to ensure that players across the spectrum are looked after financially.

“For the top tier players it’s fantastic, but you need to make sure you’re looking after the bottom tier of players and training partners too,” Ellis said.

“You don’t want them to be doing what we did in the old days, driving home at night after training tired because you’re trying to make ends meet.”

Ellis also wants netballers to become household names.

“We have terrific athletes who deliver week in, week out,” she said.

“I want to see netball get back to a position that, if there’s a list of Australia’s best female athletes, netballers will head that list.”