Super Netball players boycott Australian Netball Awards over pay dispute

Australian netball’s pay dispute has taken another ugly turn, with Super Netball players boycotting the sport’s major awards night.

Super Netball players boycotted the Australian Netball Awards on Saturday in the latest ugly chapter of the ongoing pay dispute between the playing group and the governing body.

Superstar goal keeper Courtney Bruce received the Liz Ellis Diamond award for the second time, capping a sensational year for both the West Coast Fever and the Australian Diamonds.

But taking the gloss off the evening was the fact Bruce was contractually obliged to attend the awards evening along with the Diamonds players who represented Australia this year.

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But apart from the Diamonds, other Australian and international Super Netball players were not present.

ABC Offsiders host Kelli Underwood said: “Netball Australia has confirmed to us that it sent a legal letter to players just hours before the awards threatening legal action if they didn’t comply with their contracts and actually attend the ceremony.”

The Australian Netball Players’ Association issued a statement that was shared by many players on social media.

“Tonight are the Netball Australia Awards and the Diamonds are attending because they are legally obligated to be present,” the statement read.

“With no agreement on our collective player agreement, SSN players have been unpaid for nearly eight weeks.

“We will continue to #FightForFair.

“What we have requested is affordable and sustainable to the game and promotes a genuine partnership to grow the game.”

Diamonds defender and players association president Jo Weston posted: “Thinking of our SSN (Suncorp Super Netball) playing group tonight, unpaid yet still united.”

Courtney Bruce won her second Liz Ellis Diamond award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan at the awards. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

NSW Swifts and England star Helen Housby said she chose not to attend the awards in solidarity with the playing group.

“Personally took the decision not to attend tonight’s event after receiving an invitation,” she wrote in an Instagram story on Saturday.

“We as a collective playing group remain strong and supportive of each other despite challenging circumstances.

“We also fully support the Diamonds players who have contractual obligations to be there this evening.

“I’d like to praise the efforts from @ausnetballpa and our player representatives across the last few months and hope that a resolution can be found soon with @netballaust.

“What we are asking for is fair.”

It’s now eight weeks since the previous collective playing agreement expired, leaving players without contracts and in limbo heading into next year’s Super Netball season.

After negotiations broke down again in October, the players handed over their intellectual property rights to the ANPA, meaning Super Netball would require permission to use the players in promotions for next season.

The World Cup winning Diamonds attending the awards out of obligation. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Jamaican defender Shamera Sterling was named the Super Netball player of the year after a stellar campaign with the premiership winning Adelaide Thunderbirds.

AUSTRALIAN NETBALL AWARD RECIPIENTS

Hall of Fame Legend - Jill McIntosh AM

Hall of Fame - Sue Kenny OAM and Pam Redmond

Joyce Brown Coach of the Year – Stacey Marinkovich (Australian Diamonds)

Lorna McConchie Umpire of the Year – Josh Bowring

Suncorp Super Netball Rookie of the Year – Lucy Austin (Adelaide Thunderbirds)

Australian National Championships Player of the Year – Emily Andrew (Victorian Gury)

Fast5 Netball World Series Player of the Series – Matilda Garrett

Liz Ellis Diamond – Courtney Bruce

International Player of the Year - Courtney Bruce

Suncorp Super Netball Player of the Year – Shamera Sterling (Adelaide Thunderbirds)

Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year: Goal shooter – Donnell Wallam (Queensland Firebirds, goal attack – Helen Housby (NSW Swift), wing attack – Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts), centre – Jamie-lee Price (GIANTS Netball), wing defence – Latanya Wilson (Adelaide Thunderbirds), goal defence – Latanya Wilson (Adelaide Thunderbirds), goal keeper – Jodi-Ann Ward (Collingwood Magpies), attack reserve – Steph Wood (Gold Coast Lightning), centre reserve – Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens), defence reserve – Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever)

Originally published as Super Netball players boycott Australian Netball Awards over pay dispute