Net Gains: Netball Australia’s financial health likely to be taken off critical list

Given the end of Covid and sponsorship gains they’ve made over the last year, Netball Australia should be able to report a better financial position at AGM.

If it was a patient, Netball Australia’s financial health condition would likely be rated serious but stable rather than critical when the organisation outlines its position at its annual general meeting this week.

A News Corp investigation last year revealed the sport was on the brink of financial ruin just 12 months ago, with CEO Kelly Ryan confirming a “going concern” notice had been issued to the organisation after it lost $7.2 million over two years and had $4 million in bank debt.

Ryan had to outline a $4.4 million loss for the 2021 financial year to members at the last AGM due in large part to the cost of several Covid-enforced hubs.

That cost was eradicated in the 2022 financial year and Ryan and chair Wendy Archer are expected to be able to reveal a healthier situation this week despite the well publicised loss of the $15 million Hancock Prospecting sponsorship last year.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan will present the sport’s returns for the 2022 financial year to the AGM this week. Photo: Getty Images

The decision of the Victorian Government’s events arms Visit Victoria to step in with a $15m four-year deal was an immediate fillip.

But it’s the ongoing support that is likely to see netball take strides in both its ongoing position and its ability to pay down debt.

Long-term Diamonds sponsor Origin underlined its support for the national team at the time the Hancock deal broke down, while Suncorp renewed its deal, which includes Super Netball naming rights for another five-year term in 2021.

Blue chip companies Flight Centre, Westfield and Guzman y Gomez have also linked with netball this year and while those deals will not show among the 2022 financials to be reported at Thursday night’s AGM, they will help the sport continue to claw its way back into a healthier position.

Ryan was forced to disclose the sport’s perilous position last year when making the decision to sell the Super Netball grand final to Western Australia, revealing significant losses and bank debts.

And while there has not been a complete turnaround, members at Thursday night’s AGM are likely to be told the future is looking rosier.

Any gains have been hard won but the money has been earmarked already to secure the future of the sport.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. (AAP Image/James Ross)

Ryan said before the start of the season the sport’s priority had to be paying down debt.

“Our absolute priority has to be in paying off the debt. Until you pay that off, you can’t invest another dollar, really, into what new opportunity looks like,” Ryan said.

“We’ve always said we’ll be mindful though, we don’t want just to pay down the debt at all costs.

“But you have some pretty structured time frames in which that debt needs to be repaid and we would rather not have that hanging over our head to free ourselves up to really continue to reinvest in the sport.

“It’s a legitimate thing that we have to be incredibly mindful of and think about it on a daily basis as to how we’re tracking financially and how much is going towards reinvestment versus how much is going towards paying off debt – and we’ve got a really long way to go.”

Any improvement in financial position will put pressure on Netball Australia to deliver at least a small increase for players in the current Collective Player Agreement (CPA).

Negotiations remain ongoing, although time is running out for a deal to be struck with every play in the competition off contract at the end of the season.

With the Diamonds heading into camp two days after the Super Netball grand final to prepare for a World Cup, no one in the sport wants focus taken away from their preparations by ongoing contract negotiations.

Australian Netball Players Association (ANPA) president Joanna Weston said negotiations were continuing.

“I’m not able to comment on what’s going on behind the scenes but … we’re continuing to build that relationship with Netball Australia and the other parties involved,” Weston said.

Australian Netball Players Association (ANPA) president Joanna Weston. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images for Netball Australia

“We’re hoping to be able to deliver something that our playing group will be very pleased by and also will potentially still be an attractive prospect to younger athletes.

“I feel like that is the overwhelming feeling perhaps, that the other sports have taken big steps forward over the last few years, especially with the recent cricket deal announced – and the maternity aspect of that too.”

Weston said netball had to remain competitive for the future but players realised that had to be done “within the needs of the sport”.

“I feel like that’s always something that we’ve always been very clear about, we’re not going to be asking for things we don’t think are possible due to the current (financial) state.”

Unusually, coaches and players are starting to speak out on the frustrations caused by the delay in securing the CPA.

When the last deal expired two years ago, there were enormous delays although these could be partly forgiven due to Covid and the two seasons the sport spent in a hub, as well as a mid-season change in CEO in 2021.

There have been no such delays this time though and both sides are at loggerheads over a deal. Netball Australia has been adamant it cannot fund pay rises, while ANPA is pushing for a revenue share agreement under which the Super Netball cohort would only benefit if the entire competition grows.

Any improvement in the sport’s bottom line reported this week will only increase pressure for a pay rise to be delivered as part of the CPA.

Watch this space.

FINAL FOUR ALL BUT SET

The teams set to take part in the finals series have all but been decided after the Melbourne Vixens withstood a furious final-quarter fightback by the Sunshine Coast Lightning on Sunday afternoon, giving the top four a significant buffer over the rest.

The fifth-placed Lightning headed into the match with their season on the line, needing a win against the Vixens (4th) to keep their hopes of playing finals alive.

While they finished a single goal short after a super shot masterclass from Diamonds goaler Steph Wood, who finished with nine-of-11 from long range, the Lightning sealed their own fate early with a horror first quarter in which they fell behind by as many as 13 goals.

Steph Wood of the Lightning shoots during the round nine Super Netball match between Sunshine Coast Lightning and Melbourne Vixens. Photo: Getty Images

The loss puts them three wins behind fourth place with just five games remaining.

While it’s not yet mathematically impossible for them to make finals, especially as they take on the three teams level with or below them on the ladder, they’ll also need to knock off competition leaders Adelaide and defending premiers West Coast if they are to make a miraculous recovery.

The Giants joined them on 12 points after their 69-56 victory over the Magpies on Sunday afternoon but the absence of captain Jo Harten was all but a concession that they can’t go the distance this season.

INJURY SCARES FOR T-BIRDS

The Adelaide Thunderbirds will be sweating on the results of scans to goaler Tippah Dwan on Monday after she finished Saturday night’s match in a moon boot on the bench having twisted her ankle in the second quarter.

Captain Hannah Petty will also have scans after suffering a quad into late in the game.

But in brighter news, Jamaican defender Latanya Wilson has been cleared of injury, with the issue that forced her from court late in Saturday’s win over the Queensland Firebirds confirmed as cramp.

Tippah Dwan of the Thunderbirds sits on the sidelines injured during the round nine Super Netball match between Adelaide Thunderbirds and Queensland Firebirds. Photo: Getty Images

Wilson was a nightmare for the Firebirds’ midcourt players, sweating on the several players Bec Bulley rotated through centre and wing attack in a bid to get clean ball to her shooters.

Her partnership with Shamera Sterling and Matilda Garrett has been a major reason for the Thunderbirds’ charge to the top of the competition ladder and they will want her in full health for the playoffs.

The Firebirds had their own issues, with Gabi Simpson forced off in the second term with an ankle injury and is likely to have scans on Monday after travelling back to Brisbane with the team on Sunday.

NAT’S STILL GOT IT

When Natalie Butler (nee Medhurst) made an impressive cameo in the Fever’s pre-season Team Girls Cup campaign, she showed she was still able to compete with the best.

But few thought it likely she would make an impact during the season given the form and fitness of shooters in the West Coast full-time squad.

Natalie Butler of the Fever looks to pass the ball during the round nine Super Netball match between West Coast Fever and NSW Swifts. Photo: Getty Images

But when Sasha Glasgow was ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Covid, along with midcourter Jess Anstiss, Butler earnt a Super Netball recall after retiring in 2020.

While she did not earn the start at goal attack – that went to Emma Cosh, Butler was injected in the second half, as much for her ability to create space for Fever star Jhaniele Fowler as her own shooting ability.

Like Cosh, Butler finished with four-of-five shots overall at 80 per cent but in a pre-Mother’s Day “Super Mum” showing, Butler also had 12 goal assists, 12 feeds and 13 centre pass receives.

Butler may not get many more chances to play this season but Fever coach Day Ryan can feel comfortable that if he needs to call on her again, she is ready.

Originally published as Net Gains: Netball Australia’s financial health likely to be taken off critical list