Crucial Wednesday meeting will decide players’ next steps in pay dispute

A crucial all-player meeting on Wednesday will decide the next steps to “escalate the campaign,” as netball’s bitter pay dispute looks to stretch all the way to Christmas.

Netball’s bitter pay dispute could drag into Christmas.

A crucial all-player meeting on Wednesday will decide the next steps to “escalate the campaign” but also accelerate plans for access to financial aid for athletes in distress.

The Australian Netball Players Association has sent its members an email that alleges Netball Australia left the negotiating table when talks broke down last Saturday. The sticking point was again the revenue-share model.

In an update to its members, ANPA said hopes had been high for a breakthrough after NA had agreed to a revenue-share principle in the lead-up to the weekend talks.

However, ANPA argues the model put forward was profit share in all but name and accused NA officials of being “cynical”.

The 2023 Australian Netball Awards were missing a host of Super Netball players. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

“The model they have proposed and refused to amend appropriately, however, ensures there will be no revenue left to share,” ANPA wrote in its update.

“It was revenue share in name only and in the view of ANPA, quite a cynical move.

“Put quite simply, Netball Australia has reintroduced a profit-share arrangement which players rejected from the outset. Profit share does not align with partnership principles which we thought Netball Australia had agreed.

“The whole concept of a ‘profit-based model’ is itself an oddity given Netball Australia is a not-for-profit entity.”

ANPA will hold a board meeting on Tuesday and there will be an all-player meeting on Wednesday to discuss its next steps.

“I assure you all again that the players’ requests are modest, affordable and sustainable for Netball (sic); and we have bent over backwards to reach agreement,” ANPA said.

“We remain committed to mediation and would welcome a more sensible and respectful approach by Netball Australia.”

Super Netball players have now been unemployed and unpaid for eight weeks, something ANPA acknowledges its members are “all feeling”.

“Over 8 (sic) weeks with no income and current cost of living in Australia is plainly taking a toll,” it wrote.

The association also highlighted the difference between players and NA executives.

“Also of note is the size of the NA Executive Salary pool of $1.9 million to be shared by a handful of executives and the Player Payment pool of $6.5 million shared by all 80 players,’’ it wrote.

Kelly Ryan, Netball Australia CEO speaks during the 2023 Australian Netball Awards. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

“This is the sort of inequity a revenue-sharing model can address steadily over time.

“To pay the players, ANPA will now have further discussions with third parties.

“As talks with Netball Australia have broken down, we will accelerate this process so the players can pay their bills and make ends meet.

“The funding provided by the Australian Cricketers’ Association is still able to be accessed by players in need. So please reach out to ANPA to process applications.”

The breakdown in talks last weekend seems to have completely soured an already fragile relationship between NA and the players.

It is understood the players’ next steps may include plans to put more heat on not just CEO Kelly Ryan but the entire board and chair Wendy Archer.

It is understood the players will consider ramping up their social media blitz by extending their #fightforfair hashtag campaign to include #fightforfairwheresthechair?

The board, which includes Archer, Marina Go, Peter Legg, Todd Deacon, John O’Sullivan, Gabbi Stubbs, Cheryl Kickett-Tucker and former player Mo’onia Gerrard, could soon face pressure not just from players but state associations.

Sources have pointed to last week’s Rugby Australia boardroom coup, orchestrated by the powerful state unions to oust Hamish McLennan as chairman, as an option that may be worth pursuing for netball to end the impasse.

Aussie netball great Liz Ellis recently called out Netball Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Netball legend Liz Ellis said the “callous disregard” NA had shown players made her question if the current leadership could take the sport forward.

England international Geva Mentor, formerly of Collingwood who has now left Super Netball, echoed the thoughts when she posted a screenshot of Ellis’s Instagram post on her account calling for change.

“It’s frustrating, heartbreaking and baffling!” Mentor wrote on Instagram.

“A sport so many have helped to grow over the years can be destroyed by the lack of vision or partnership.

“How does that saying go … ‘a fish rots at its head’.

“I know it takes great courage but the best thing now would be for those halting the growth to step aside and let more other forward thinking and collaborative people take the lead!”

Originally published as Crucial Wednesday meeting will decide players’ next steps in pay dispute