Thunderbirds left behind in netball’s Super era

Netball South Australia has flagged the need for stronger equalisation measures in Super Netball.

Chelsea Pitman of the Thunderbirds and Ashleigh Brazill of the Magpies compete for the ball.

Netball South Australia has flagged the need for stronger equalisation measures in Super Netball amid rising concerns the Adelaide Thunderbirds are being left behind in the new competition.

“I think it’s important to have a level playing field, on and off the court, for the competition to be sustainable long term,” said Netball SA chief executive Ben Scales. “With that in mind there needs to be appropriate measures to ensure that every club is successful.”

Adelaide haven’t recorded a single win in 15 months. The team lost their first three matches this season by a combined 61 goals; the rest of the league’s losses amount to less than half that figure.

Netball SA has the lowest revenue base of any organisation running a Super Netball team. The body isn’t asking for extra cash, but Scales did point out that the lack of a transfer fee or compensation ­system when players leave their system has hurt.

According to the Thunderbirds’ front office, the team was caught out by a frantic free agency period in the lead-up to last year’s Super Netball period.

“We were surprised by the challenges to recruit and retain talent when Super Netball came into existence last year,” Scales explained.

With many players committing to two-year contracts, the Thunderbirds have remained behind the eight ball as a result of that small transaction window. There are now more South Australians playing for the NSW Swifts than the Thunderbirds.

When Adelaide were caught out by the exodus of young talent from the South Australian system — notably Maddy Proud, Sarah Klau and Kristina Bryce — the team ­responded by recruiting experienced talent from interstate and abroad.

English defender Ama Agbeze played one season in Adelaide ­before jumping the ditch to New Zealand, captaining the Roses to a gold medal en route.

Former Diamond Renae Ingles was coaxed back to netball mid-season from her home in Utah, where her husband Joe plays in the NBA. She retired at the end of 2017.

Adelaide felt the need to win some games in the short term to arrest the team’s slump, but the concern is that came at the cost of sustainable growth.

“I’m not happy with the fact that South Australia is not appearing to perform as they should be with South Australians in the team. I am the national coach, I want to see Australians out on the court,” said Lisa Alexander.

“South Australia is the only state with a Super Netball team that didn’t have a single player train with the Diamonds last year.”

The West Coast Fever were in a similar position last year, but the acquisition of Jamaican goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler in the off-season has helped transform the team into a championship contender.

The Thunderbirds made a very competitive offer for Fowler, but the team’s lack of off-court ­resources cruelled their chances.

Partnering with a football club has provided many Super Netball teams with access to better facilities and a higher profile.

The Thunderbirds are still exploring opportunities with third parties, “whether that be another sporting club, a university or some other entity” according to Scales.

Netball Australia declined to comment on the situation in South Australia, but executive general manager of events Chris Symington did say it would look at the league’s balance after the season.

Head coach Dan Ryan insisted his team was improving, and ­Alexander agreed. The problem is simply the rest of the league is ­improving at a faster rate.

“We just need to be patient, because we know that even if we’re up after the first quarter of a game, what kind of difference that will make to the psyche of our athletes in whole,” Ryan said.