Journalist Caroline Wilson tears ‘poor’ Collingwood to shreds

Caroline Wilson saw the writing on the wall and took a pre-emptive strike on Collingwood before the club made a brutal decision.

The Collingwood Magpies have landed in the crosshairs after making the brutal decision to cut its netball program.

As had been swirling around over the past week, the Magpies finally ripped off the Band-Aid and announced it was withdrawing its Super Netball licence from the 2024 season.

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The Magpies will play out the remainder of the season with four rounds to go but will then cease to exist in the Super Netball.

Netball Australia has already announced it would be negotiating with interested parties for the eighth licence for 2024-26.

Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly said the financial difficulties faced by Netball Australia and the fact there is currently no collective player agreement and team participation agreement for the 2024 season were the reasons behind the withdrawal.

“Collingwood is a better place for having had a netball team and the decision to not renew our netball licence has been an incredibly difficult one which has weighed heavily on us,” Kelly said.

“As a Club, we are tasked with continuing to deliver growth across all areas of Collingwood and ultimately, the review, which analysed key aspects of the Club’s netball program and that of the governing body, determined that the program is not sustainable.

“We acknowledge we could have run a better netball program at Collingwood.”

Collingwood will play out the season. Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images

In March, Netball Australia was revealed it was still trying to pay off a debt of $4.2m.

The sport also lost a $15m sponsorship with Hancock Prospecting but recovered, signing a deal with Visit Victoria.

But despite the issues, Collingwood has been slammed for its decision.

Earlier this week when the decision was looming, veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson unloaded on the football club for its decision.

“Collingwood has done a lot of things right this year, but abandoning, as it might do, its netball team after seven years is not one of them,” Wilson told Nine’s Footy Classified.

“Launched back at the end of 2016 as a team of champions but never a champion team, Collingwood won significant public funding from a government enamoured by women’s sporting programs as a result of their netball team and then (women’s) football team.

“It’s got bigger, brighter facilities for them to thank.

“With just five weeks to go in the season and no women’s pay deal in place, Collingwood decide that it all might be a bit too hard, a bit too expensive and Netball Australia a bit too poorly run to stick around.

“Now, placing careers in jeopardy and an eight-team competition. This is poor by Collingwood.

“It costs less than $3 million to run a netball team and Collingwood is one of the richest clubs in the land. Not good enough.”

Caroline Wilson hit out at Collingwood. Photo: Channel 9

Now the decision has been officially made, Collingwood has been slammed.

Angry and sad 💔 thinking of Richo and the players.

“Collingwood is a better place for having had a netball team.”

Well of course they’re better off. Having cashed in on government funding for their so-called ‘commitment’ to women’s sport. #netball#SSN2023https://t.co/7cItPG5f60

— Brittany Carter (@_BrittanyCarter) May 25, 2023

Just asked Netball Australia CEO @kellyfryan whether netball feels a bit used, considering Collingwood has recently updated its HQ with $$ received from a govt infrastructure grant linked to providing improved facilities for women’s sports teams 👇#SSN2023#netball#Collingwoodpic.twitter.com/CkC83flFH8

— Brittany Carter (@_BrittanyCarter) May 25, 2023

Side by side, huh?

— Jessica Currie (@Jess_M_Currie) May 25, 2023

It's actually a pretty big scandal that Collingwood used a Super Netball and AFLW team to get government money for women's sports then punted the netball team. Outrageous actions. https://t.co/UVT8KL9yHD

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) May 25, 2023

This really is outrageous imo. https://t.co/ShmRfTb46h

— Clare Heasly (@SocialNetball) May 25, 2023

Devastating news, love to all my Pies fam ♥️ the club that gave me my first job in sports, forever grateful. https://t.co/FK7AWhAZ6G

— Hayley Hamp (@_heyhay) May 25, 2023

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan thanked Collingwood for its participation and trumpeted the more than one million participants across Australia.

“In recent times it had become clear that Collingwood’s priorities had shifted away from netball to focus on its core business of football,” Ryan said via a statement.

“We are understanding of the impact Collingwood’s decision has on its current players and staff, and we will support them during this time.”