Netball Tasmania boss Mitch Coulson opens up on all the sport’s big issues

Ahead of a massive weekend of competition, Netball Tasmania’s boss reveals how and why the sport is in a boom period and outlines ambitious plans for the future.

Netball Tasmania CEO Mitch Coulson Picture: Linda Higginson

Tasmanian netball is continuing to thrive.

Ahead of the start of the TNL this weekend, Netball Tasmania chief executive Mitch Coulson opens up on all the big issues surrounding the sport.

He tells Brayden May why there’s so much to look forward to.

HEALTH OF NETBALL

The numbers tell the story of the growth of netball’s growth across just the last 12 months.

Throughout last year, there were a record 9699 participants in games of netball throughout the state at different levels.

“The last 12 months, netball in this state is really going from strength-to-strength,” Coulson said.

“We’ve had a record number in terms of overall participation. We’ve had some really positive results in terms of performance of our state teams, some athletes getting called into the under-21 national team.

“Across the board, we’re excited about the health of the sport in the community.”

But even with the game continuing to grow, Coulson is aware the challenges aren’t slowing down anytime soon.

“It’s always nice to deliver growth but it’s important you’re able to back that up and provide a little bit of consistency,” he said.

“We think netball is on a great trajectory in this state but we’re very mindful as well of what we need to do to keep that going.”

HIGH PERFORMANCE SUCCESS

On the national stage last year, there was plenty of reason for the state’s governing body to be excited.

The under-19s finished fifth at the National Netball Championships while the state was involved in the Marie Little Shield and First Nations tournaments for the first time.

Then you throw in the likes of Charlotte Walker and Paige O’Neill who featured in the Australian under-21 squad, the growth of the sport is there for all to see.

“I think it wasn’t too long ago from an on court perspective, we were pretty up against it at national tournaments, and it was a struggle to just get a win on the board,” Coulson said.

“In the last five to 10 years, the job’s not done, but we’ve certainly worked our way up relatively quickly.

“That’s a credit to all of the staff here involved in coaching as well as a number of athletes. It obviously has to do with their talent but their work ethic and desire.

“I’m firmly of the view, they’ve put Tassie on the map in showcasing to the rest of the country that Tasmania is more than capable of producing elite athletes.”

Paige O'Neill. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

Coulson said it was fair to suggest keeping the best netball athletes in the sport was often a challenge with other professional sporting avenues continuing to emerge.

“Tasmania is certainly going through a pretty big change in terms of the number of professional teams who are setting up here with lots of different options for all young people,” he said.

“It is critically important for us (to keep young women in the sport). It is a bit of a challenge.

“There’s a lot of choice available, which is great for the individual. At a young age, we do like to work with athletes and support them if they are trying to juggle multiple codes.

“We’ve got to keep finding ways to present the best aspects of our sport and ultimately be able to provide direction and clarity through pathway systems.

“I don’t have a crystal ball but I’d have a pretty high degree of confidence, you’ll see a couple more in the next year or two.

EXCITEMENT FOR THE TNL

The new season of the TNL kicks off this weekend with all teams travelling to Launceston to kickstart what Coulson believes will be an even season.

“We should kick the season off with a bang,” he said.

“I think this year is shaping up to be a little more open than previous seasons.

“There’s a few more unknowns which is exciting.”

Despite some of the competition’s biggest names departing including the legendary Ash Mawer, Coulson is confident new stars will emerge.

“Yes there’s some great players in other leagues around the country but that’s a ringing endorsement of the types of players the TNL is able to produce,” he said.

“There’s a great potential to highlight to the younger generation coming through that if they put their best foot forward who knows where that can take them.”

Sophie Brewer is one of the state’s best young talents.

SUPER NETBALL CONNECTIONS

In recent years, Netball Tasmania has worked closely with Super Netball clubs to play games in the state, plus present opportunities for the most talent locals.

In 2024, Walker signed as a training partner with the Adelaide Thunderbirds while the Melbourne Mavericks played their first game in Tassie.

“Over the last three years, we’ve all talked about and we’re all really clear on lifting the standard of Tasmanian netball,” Coulson said.

“In order to do that, we’ve got to continue to find ways to expose our athletes and coaches, everybody in the game, to the elite standards at the very top.

Burnie netballer Charlotte Walker has signed as a training partner with Adelaide Thunderbirds. Picture: David Bellamy

“We’ve been working very hard to forge that relationship with the Adelaide Thunderbirds. We’ve had small groups travel over and join them for training and have access to their world class coaches and facilities.

“But equally outside of that, we’ve got to continue to seek opportunities to connect with other programs, bring them down.

“It’s a never ending pursuit but we’ve got to continue to do it to continue presenting opportunities to our homegrown talent.”

CHASING A SUPER NETBALL TEAM

While there’s been visiting teams in the past, Coulson is still dreaming of Tasmania being home to its own Super Netball franchise.

“I think the work we’re doing at the moment is really important to showcase that we’re able to produce quality athletes,” he said.

“In a lot of ways, we’re doing that the hard way. We don’t have as great of the splash of facilities as many of the mainland states, we have a smaller pool of coaches and players.

“That’s great here and now but it also proves the case to why it does align and make sense this would be the place for an elite and professional team in the future.”