NA takes first steps towards re-establishing secondary competition with Super Netball Reserves

Netball Australia has taken a dramatic step to arrest a gaping hole in the development pathway, with all but one Super Netball team will be involved. Find out more inside.

Netball Australia has taken the first steps towards re-establishing a genuine reserve grade competition with the introduction of Super Netball Reserves to be run over five weeks later this year.

The new pilot program, developed in consultation with member organisations and Super Netball teams and backed by the Australian Netball Players Association (ANPA) - will run over five weeks in June-July.

No finals will be held and competition points and ladders will not be kept.

The season will be contested by seven of the eight Super clubs, with all but the Melbourne Mavericks taking part.

Victorian Fury players Allie Smith and Rudi Ellis celebrate winning what would be the final Australian Netball League title in 2019 in a competition that introduced the likes of Sasha McDonald to competition. Photos: Getty Images

While they expressed an interest, the Mavericks have prioritised bedding down their Super Netball team in its inaugural season.

NA has held a week-long Australian Netball Championships (ANC) carnival for the past three years but has not had a genuine second-tier competition since axing the Australian Netball League (ANL) during Covid.

But in recognising there need to be additional pathway opportunities for athletes outside the 80 full-time Super Netball players, NA will trial Super Netball Reserves this year with an eye to “bolstering opportunities” in the future.

A full reserves competition running in parallel with the main competition at the same venue is likely to be the preferred option for the future, allowing for crossover of fringe players who do not get a run in the main game.

But cost is likely to be the main factor.

While Covid provided a genuine reason for axing the competition in 2020, funding is one of the main reasons it has not be reinstated and the continued perilous financial position of NA makes its total reinstatement a slightly tenuous proposition.

NA’s interim CEO and former high performance boss Stacey West said the concept had been led by Super Netball teams.

The Mavericks will not play in the inaugural Super Netball Reserves competition this season, focussing instead on their first season in Super Netball. Photo: Getty Images

“(They) identified a greater need to support talent identification and provide additional match play for athletes on the cusp of Suncorp Super Netball,” West said.

“We have worked closely with our member organisations, Suncorp Super Netball teams and the Australian Netball Players’ Association to develop this pilot program that will enhance high performance playing opportunities.

“We will trial Super Netball Reserves this year and continue to look at how we can bolster playing opportunities and provide more pathway opportunities into the future.”

The competition will feature athletes in or on the cusp of Super Netball, including training partners, state league players and other identified athletes.

The pilot program will provide an additional pathway opportunity to the under age national netball championships and Australian netball championships (ANC) .

The week-long ANC carnival pitted rising stars against one another but was a limited opportunity, while several high-profile players have also sustained serious injuries in the past few years playing multiple games over the week.

Super Netball Reserves matches will be open to fans, with several games to be played following Super Netball fixtures.

Originally published as NA takes first steps towards re-establishing secondary competition with Super Netball Reserves