Stars fume as Super Netball sells Grand Final to highest bidder

Netball stars have produced a scathing open letter after the administrators made a massive call on the eve of the finals series.

Netball players aren't happy. Photo: Twitter and Getty Images

Australia’s best netballers have been left furious as Netball Australia has changed the way the Grand Final venue has been decided just two weeks before the start of the finals.

In previous seasons, the Grand Final has been hosted by the team which wins the major semi-final, held between the teams ranked one and two on the ladder at the end of the regular season.

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However, on Thursday, Super Netball revealed it was undertaking a new Grand Final format, with Perth’s RAC Arena hosting the match.

This is despite the Melbourne Vixens sitting on top of the ladder undefeated, while the West Coast Fever sit second, having lost two of their 10 matches.

The league revealed it would announce venue for the Grand Final ahead of each season.

CODE Sports reported the move would see Netball Australia pocket $300,000 in cash in a deal valued at an estimated $650,000.

The champions will also win $100,000 in prizemoney, while the runners up will win $25,000.

The decision has been widely panned however, as the Australian Professional Netball Players (APNP) released a statement on behalf of the players from the eight clubs planning the move.

“The professional Netball Players in Suncorp Super Netball have called for a change of culture at Netball Australia, in the wake of that 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 and after the decision,” the statement read.

“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. But it was even more distressing to then be deliberately misled by Netball Australia, about the status of the decision and the nature of their engagement with us.

Jo Weston. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

Netball players aren't happy. Photo: Twitter

“To move the goalposts after Round 12, when every team has ‘busted their guts’ for the chance to host a 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.

“It demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of why we play, and what we have sacrificed. The players commit our heart and soul to our sport, and to its promotion and development- commercial and community.

“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 partners in that venture, then they need to change the way they 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.”

ANPA president and Melbourne Vixens star Jo Weston posted the letter on social media, writing: “As a playing group all that we want is respect and transparency.”

In a statement, Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan spoke on Fox Sports’ Centre Circle and said it wasn’t taken lightly but that “Netball Australia is in a difficult finanical position”.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said it was disappointing the story had leaked.

Ryan said Netball Australia had a $4.4m loss for the 2021 season and had $4m in bank loans.

As for whether Netball Australia discussed the move with players, Ryan said there “is a significant group of stakeholders" including players.

But she added: “Sometimes it’s absolutely not possible when you’re moving at speed to ask for everyone’s opinions and we understand that not everyone possibly agrees with this move for this year but we know actually everyone supports an alliance and move for future years and we did move through it quickly and we’re not hiding away from that fact.

“We’re making this decision in what we genuinely think is in the best interests of the sport and we’re really confident and proud of some of the things we’ve been able to put in place today as a result of that.”

In a statement about the move, Ryan said: “We will do everything necessary to ensure our sport remains strong for every level of the community across the country.

“We understand the netball community is disappointed by the timing of this announcement. We had to move quickly to secure this funding investment for our sport.”

It comes after fans and players took aim at the drama before it was confirmed.

Netball legend Natalie Medhurst wrote in an article on CODE Sports that “All hell will break loose” if the Fever lose the expected major semi-final but make the Grand Final.

Medhurst did say to not blame the Fever. Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images

She called it a “complete slap in the face”, placing the blame firmly at the feet of the administrators.

“Netball’s greatest rival, the AFLW, is flourishing before our very eyes, particularly on the back of their recent bargaining agreement,” she wrote. “Meanwhile, netball keeps asking to be taken seriously while acting in a way that stinks of rank amateurism, with total disregard for the playing group. Rather than these incidences reducing, they are instead becoming more frequent.”

ABC netball reporter Brittany Carter wrote: “A truly awful idea! If @MelbourneVixens win the major semi, they deserve to host the @SuperNetball decider. Also no guarantee WA fans will turn up if Fever isn’t in it!

Netball journalist Erin Delahunty tweeted: “This appears to be an opaque cluster*** of epic proportions, even by NA’s historically low standards.”