Super Netball crisis: Victoria, Tasmania could combine for new franchise licence

With just months before the start of a new Super Netball season and a Magpies-replacement needed, a unique model could be the way to get an eighth team up and running to save the league.

A hybrid model could be the way forward for Netball Australia as it scrambles to find a club ready and able to enter the Super Netball competition in just months.

Netball Victoria (NV) has emerged as the frontrunner for an eighth Super Netball licence after Collingwood withdrew from the competition on Thursday, the state body putting its hand up just hours after the Magpies news to say it was working with NA to ensure there were adequate pathways for players from the state.

But a new team could come with a Tasmanian flavour given that state’s desire to provide its players with a pathway to Super Netball.

Netball Tasmania (NT) chief executive Mitch Coulson has been bullish about his organisation’s readiness for a Super Netball licence.

Netball Tasmania chief executive Mitch Coulson

But the reality of the quick turnaround for the 2024 season - including hiring of high performance staff, contracting players and all the legwork needed to ensure the success of a new franchise - is hitting home and the state could be open to a partnership.

“In terms of the make-up … I think we’ve got a pretty open mind is what I would say,” Coulson said.

“We know that we want to keep providing more and more access and exposure into elite level programs, environments and coaches, and potentially some sort of partnership arrangement in the SSN (Super Netball) world is, I think, definitely a way that could help that be achieved.”

The key for NT is being able to provide a pathway for its players so they are not lost entirely to the state.

With interest from NV - and a key component of NA’s broadcast deal with the Foxtel Group being two teams in Melbourne - the way forward seems clear.

But jut as the Magpies had a partnership with Collingwood funded by the Tasmanian Government, a hybrid team could deliver games to the Apple Isle, as well as provide apprenticeship-type opportunities for elite Tasmanian players who could immerse themselves in the high performance culture and graduate to training partners or fully-contracted players as NT continues to build towards a stand-alone licence.

NT would not be starting entirely from scratch, having started a licence bid in 2021.

It has a stadium in place, an engaged fan base and is desperate to provide a pathway to the elite level for its top juniors.

Magpies netball will cease to exist at the end of the 2023 regular season. Picture: Getty Images

But to be ready to go in nine months’ time is a massive ask.

“It’s not it’s not impossible,” said Coulson, who has held several discussions with NA hierarchy this week with the Magpies collapse looking likely.

“There would be a whole list of criteria and things that Netball Australia would look at in terms of where’s the right place for the licence and we don’t know yet exactly what that criteria looks like.

“We have a really great stadium here, particularly in Hobart, so game-day venue is ticked; I think the training and admin base is possibly a bit of a question mark; the fan support I’m really confident in.

“We know where we think the strength of a Tassie proposition would be but we also know what the challenges are and one of those challenges is the size of that Melbourne market and how we could hypothetically present a model that says, can we do things a little bit differently.

“In a perfect world, of course it would be easier if you had more time to have a have a really strong runway and platform to build something world class.

“But on the other hand, you never know when opportunity presents, so we’ll wait and see and keep in contact with Netball Australia and get more information about what they’re looking at and the priorities for them in assessing all the options.”

NV is already working with NA on a second licence that would have to have access to the state’s data base and all other support enjoyed by the Vixens if it was to be successful.

“We believe having two Victorian-based SSN (Super Netball) teams is important if we are to develop and retain the best netballers in this state and continue to encourage grassroots participation,” a Netball Victoria statement released just hours after the Magpies collapse said.

“Victoria has the depth of players, officials and administrators, as well as the passionate netball fanbase, to enable two SSN teams to compete successfully, on and off the court.”

Originally published as Super Netball crisis: Victoria, Tasmania could combine for new franchise licence