Netball Australia chair Wendy Archer discusses the game’s protracted industrial dispute, leadership and finances

Wendy Archer breaks her silence on the damaging split between NA and its players. She speaks to LINDA PEARCE.

Netball Australia chair Wendy Archer has flagged a review of the processes involved in the sport’s industrial impasse, while expressing support for chief executive Kelly Ryan and sympathy for the unemployed players as the parties prepare for mediation.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the ongoing industrial dispute between the governing body and the eight Super Netball clubs on one side and the athletes represented by the Australian Netball Players’ Association on the other, Archer did not deny the dispute has been damaging.

“It certainly hasn’t been shining, that’s for sure,’’ she said. “And it’s not what I want for the sport. I don’t think it’s what anybody wants for the sport.’’

Asked whether she was happy with the way NA has handled negotiations so far, Archer declined to comment on the organisation’s specific processes, but said: “I’ve got no doubt that once this is all settled we will have a look and see what we could have done better, differently.

“I mean, we’re only one party in this, and I’m not saying we’ve been perfect. I don’t think there’s any such thing. But we will certainly look at our process, what we’ve done, could we have done things differently, or better, and try to improve for the next process.’’

Super Netball’s damaging pay war is ongoing. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

An elected director since 2018 and chair since Marina Go stepped down last October, Archer declined to comment on last week’s resignation of Queensland board member Jane Seawright other than to say it was not a sign of an internal fracture.

But she did confirm she would meet former Diamonds’ captain Liz Ellis over the coming weeks to discuss her potential candidacy for the casual vacancy the board can choose to fill until the AGM next May. The NA board is due to meet on Friday.

Archer also addressed the statement made to CODE Sports this week by coaching legend Joyce Brown, who described the dispute as “unseemly” and “harmful”, while declaring that “ordinary netball people are bruised by it, sick of it, and want a solution now.’’

The parties have been unable to come to terms on a new Collective Player Agreement over — largely — the players’ demand for a hybrid revenue-share deal.

“I think that sentiment is probably held by many in the netball environment, and I don’t wish to add any angst into the system,’’ Archer said of Brown’s criticism.

“There is a lot of hard work happening away from the media to try and resolve the issues that we have currently, and there’s a lot of dedicated, passionate people in our system who are working extremely hard to try and get resolution.’’

Wendy Archer (R) said the length of the dispute was far from ideal. Picture: Narelle Spangher/ Netball NSW.

As to whether it should have taken this long, given that NA’s first offer was tabled back in February but all player contracts expired on September 30, Archer agreed the extended nature of the conflict was far from ideal.

“Any negotiation is and can be quite difficult, as I’m sure you would see if you look at other sports. They’re not always straightforward,’’ she said. “Did I want it to take this long? I don’t think anybody did. But people are working extremely hard to try and get resolution.’’

That includes Ryan, appointed in mid-2021, and since at odds with the players over issues such as selling off the SSN grand final without consultation, and now the current CPA stalemate. While the Team Participation Agreements are also yet to be finalised, Archer confirmed CODE Sport’s understanding that it is imminent.

“I’m extremely supportive of Kelly, and I guess I’m an individual who works very closely with her, sees what she puts into the job,’’ Archer said.

“She’s very passionate about it, and she works damn hard to try and get the best outcomes for the sport as a whole, so I’m very supportive of her, as is the board. Stand very squarely with her.’’

Archer backed in Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images for FOX Sports)

Archer reiterated the association’s need to pay down debt that ballooned during the coronavirus pandemic, and thus to be mindful of the finances of the entire netball eco-system rather than just the national league.

“Yes, SSN is our ‘jewel’, if you like, so it’s a very fine balancing act, and I know that the Netball Australia staff are turning themselves inside out trying to find a solution to that revenue-share,” she said.

“I’m a parent, and I’m a grandparent, and I know a lot of the players, particularly in NSW, so I do feel for them, and care for them, and worry about them, so none of this sits easily with my board, or the NA staff.

“In fact, none of it sits easy with anyone. I think there’s great concern for the players, and that’s where the fine balancing act is that we have to be looking after the players, and the system, because if we don’t look after the system, there’s nowhere for the players.’’

But, nor is there a system without the players, and although Archer was not aware of any starting date for the mediation, she said NA’s commitment was clear, and that there was confidence “a result that everybody’s going to be able to move forward with’’ would be reached.

Meanwhile, the world champion Diamonds are travelling the length of the country today for their final stop in a busy international year, after beating South Africa 62-43 on Wednesday night in Cairns. The final two Tests are in Hobart, starting on Sunday.

Originally published as Netball Australia chair Wendy Archer discusses the game’s protracted industrial dispute, leadership and finances