Collingwood Magpies Super Netball: Geelong out of race to fill possible void

A hot favourite to replace Collingwood Magpies — amid doubts over their Super Netball future — has withdrawn from the race to join Australia’s top competition.

Geelong Netball Club, touted as a favourite to replace Collingwood Magpies netball club, should it fold, have declared they have no intent on applying for a Super Netball licence for 2024 should one become available.

Code Sports broke the news that Collingwood Magpies were considering folding its netball club and handing back its Super Netball licence last week,

When Netball Australia confirmed that if the Magpies were to depart the competition an eighth team would been to be found, as per the broadcast agreement, fans were quick to speculate on which club could fill the hole.

Newly formed Titans, in Queensland, ruled themselves out and now Geelong Netball Club has followed suit.

Alright so assuming we lose the Magpies and the license doesn’t go to Tassie or Canberra… @GeelongNetball takeover with the Brownes coaching? Wilder things have happened 😅

— Joey Nicita ☀️ (@JoeyNicita) May 16, 2023

Many factors but being attached to Collingwood is the biggest in terms interest. It’s Pies fans who aren’t already avid Vixens fans which is limited & needing a lot of new netball fans.

Always thought Geelong was the go. Loosely associated with Cats, more focus on the area

— Anne Miller (@TidoteAnne) May 19, 2023

Unlike the Titans, Geelong Netball Club has a long history with the sport. Several SSN players including Emily Mannix, Simone McKinnis, Madi and Kelsey Browne, Tegan Phillip, Mel Bragg, Alice Teague-Neeld and Allie Smith all developed their skills in the region.

But in a statement released on social media on Wednesday the club said it was not in the position to enter the Super Netball competition for the 2024 season, should a licence become available.

Collingwood’s Super Netball future is uncertain.

“We appreciate the positive discussion regarding developing a SSN team out of Geelong,” the statement said.

“We also acknowledge this is a very difficult time for the Collingwood SSN players and staff while they await the decision from the Collingwood Football Club regarding their future.

“We hope they are able to remain in the competition and continue to provide more opportunities for athletes and officials to be a part of the strongest domestic netball competition in the world.

“Our Club’s main focus at this time is working through our Victorian Netball League (VNL) Licence submission which we hope will secure our VNL licence from 2024 – 2028.

“The Club has recently completed a strategic plan taking us through until 2028 which does include as one of our longer term goals, being in a position to secure a SSN Licence when the opportunity arises.

“To do this we must have an appropriate local venue for training and to host SSN games. Such a facility is not currently available in Geelong and we are optimistic that new facilities being built for the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be made available for this purpose.

“We will continue to work with the City of Greater Geelong, Netball Victoria and other stakeholders to realise this goal.

“When the time is right and all the required resources are in place, we will take the next step in establishing a SSN team in Geelong.”

Geelong Cougars Netball team players. Picture: Mark Wilson

Originally published as Collingwood Magpies Super Netball: Geelong out of race to fill possible void