‘Untenable dysfunction and disharmony’: Players lash Netball Australia as Pies quit Super Netball

Collingwood’s netballers have released a scathing statement calling for greater governance, transparency and leadership from Netball Australia after the club announced it would withdraw from the Super Netball competition at the end of the 2023 season.

The Magpies confirmed the withdrawal on Thursday, a week after their shock announcement that they were reviewing their netball program. While the club conceded it “could have run a better netball program”, it cited the sport’s financial woes and ongoing pay disputes as a major reason it was walking away.

But Netball Australia boss Kelly Ryan rejected Magpies’ criticisms of the code, describing the saga as disappointing.

Collingwood have withdrawn their licence to compete in the Super Netball competition. Credit: Getty

In a statement released on Thursday night, the players described the club’s decision as overwhelming and said the prospect of playing out the remaining games of the season “right now seems inconceivable”.

“We acknowledge the club has been transparent with the commercial realities that led to this decision. We acknowledge the club has also accepted the program could have been better. We appreciate and respect their candidness,” the players said.

“As athletes we consider ourselves part of the netball program and acknowledge we also had a role to play in the program’s viability. Success on court translates to commercial gain.

“However, we feel compelled to highlight the role (or lack thereof) Netball Australia played in today’s decision.

“We feel like collateral damage in a much larger issue for Netball Australia. There is untenable dysfunction and disharmony between administration and the playing group. There is also no confidence in the strategic direction of Netball Australia.

“As a playing group we care deeply about sport at every level. From grassroots to the elite level, we want to see as many people playing, watching and being connected to netball as possible. We want to leave the sport in a better position than we found it. We want the best netball and opportunities within netball for generations to come.

“We call on greater governance, transparency and leadership from Netball Australia.”

‘Financial wellbeing’

Magpies chief executive Craig Kelly said the club analysed key aspects of its netball program, which determined it was no longer viable.

“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.

The club entered Super Netball in 2017, and are on the bottom of the ladder. Their crowds are reportedly the lowest in the competition.

“Throughout this process, we met with Netball Australia and SSN on multiple occasions to explore potential solutions. The challenges Netball Australia has experienced and continues to experience in terms of profitability combined with the current impasse in regard to finalising the TPA and CPA, played a key role in our decision-making.”

But Ryan said the club’s priority was football and that was the primary reason for the withdrawal.

“We feel very disappointed in the fact that they’ve decided to leave the competition, without a doubt. And I don’t think that any of us are going to hide that disappointment,” she said.

The withdrawal follows Netball Australia’s $300,000 profit announced at last week’s AGM, following two years of multimillion-dollar losses. Despite this, the sport remains more than $4 million in debt and has extended its long-term loans to 2025 as part of resetting finances.

Adding to the tension, the governing body and the Australian Netball Players’ Association are locked in negotiations over pay and conditions for a new collective player agreement, which will replace the one that expires at the end of September.

Kelly told this masthead that while the club concedes it mishandled its netball program, these issues are chief among the Magpies’ decision to walk away from the competition.

“I’m not throwing all the blame at Netball Australia,” he said.

“But we haven’t got clarity on what it looks like long-term, in relation to the financial wellbeing of the code because they are predicting multiple years of losses for the next coming years.

“The Players’ Association Australia still are nowhere near reaching agreement, and the players want more money, which I understand them wanting more money. The reality is that competition can’t afford it and yet that’s where they’re heading.”

A Netball Australia spokesperson would not “publicly speculate on forecasts for future Suncorp Super Netball seasons.

“However, last year Netball Australia posted a profit of $300,000 above budget, with a financial turnaround of $4.7 million.”

And Ryan denied those concerns gave legitimate cause to leave the competition.

“I don’t really understand when there’s nothing materially changing in either of those agreements, how that changes the direction midway through a cycle.

“It is clear that they have wanted to prioritise their footballing program, so I’m not sure what other support we could potentially provide at this time,” she said.

‘If I don’t do that quickly ... it’s not fair for anyone’

The Magpies boss denied that the scrapping of its program was a reflection of the club’s commitment to women’s sport, but said the players “should be very annoyed and unhappy with me”.

“Our women’s program [is] a key pillar in our future, and will continue to be so, and more so. Netball, unfortunately, is the one that won’t be.”

Kelly first addressed players and staff last week, telling those in attendance the club had officially placed its netball arm under review, with a decision on the future of the program expected in the coming weeks.

Kelly said the fast-tracking of the decision was made to provide players and staff the opportunity to seek employment before the season’s end in September.

“If I don’t do that quickly, and we just drag along for another two or three or four months. It’s a horrible end date for them, and it’s not fair for anyone.”

A Victorian government spokesperson said: “This is disappointing given Collingwood were among the first AFL clubs to establish a professional women’s netball team, but this is a matter for Collingwood”.

Netball Australia said it had been informed of the decision on Thursday, and that negotiations were under way with various interested parties to take Collingwood’s spot in the league.

Under the sport’s broadcast deal with Fox Sports, the Super Netball competition must have eight teams. Ryan confirmed the broadcaster will have strong influence in choosing the replacement team, as part of its contractual agreement.

Meanwhile, Netball Victoria publicly supported a Victorian-based team as a replacement.

“We firmly believe Victoria has the talent and the fan base to sustain two teams at the elite level, and we are working closely with Netball Australia and the Victorian government on the best way forward,” Netball Victoria boss Andrea Pearman said.

In an initial statement, Ryan said Netball Australia was disappointed by the decision, but thanked the club for its participation.

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

Collingwood captain Geva Mentor, who last week called on Netball Australia to “sort [its] shit out], shared a photo of her team huddled together, with a link to the club’s departure statement.

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.