The Netball Break-up: How are Australia and NZ's Domestic Leagues Now?
- June 13th, 2018
- Tom Bean
It's the half-way stage of Australia and New Zealand's respective netball leagues and after the unexpected results at the Commonwealth Games, we take a look at how they're recovering domestically in the second year after the Trans-Tasman league split.
ANZ Premiership
Public confidence in New Zealand Netball is at an all-time low. After an unceremonious split with Australia to play second fiddle to the shiny, new Super Netball, and a Commonwealth Games where they failed to medal for the first time in history, faith has diminished amongst the netball community. After a season of domestic unrest, the result on the Gold Coast was a damning culmination of Netball New Zealand's struggles.
Questions over whether the league structure was doing enough to develop young athletes for international competition were understandably raised post Gold Coast. As last year's competition saw the Southern Steel win the league at a canter, which did nothing to develop the competitive edge that was so lacking over the summer, it was clear why doubts over the league grew.
This time round, NNZ needed a competitive, high-quality competition to re-establish the faith so many had lost over a turbulent few years. Thankfully, that's exactly what they got.
As we sit at the half-way stage, top spot is split by just the one bonus point with Aliyah Dunn dragging Central Pulse to the peak with a streak of ruthless goal shooting. At only 19 and leading the goal scoring charts, Dunn is taking full advantage of the league system that now acts as an audition for a black dress as established names from around the globe head to Australia instead. The lack of star names from overseas may well be a blessing in disguise for future prospects both this season and beyond.
With a complete reshuffle surely to come for the Silver Ferns, the rise of young talent in the Premiership this season is exactly what NNZ would have been hoping for. With only three overseas imports in the league, opportunities are rife throughout; that coupled with a battle for top spot and the finals places, the second half of the season is set to be an exciting prospect.
This is hopefully the turning of a corner for New Zealand Netball. As the ANZ Premiership finds its feet without its bigger sister, things can only go up after a period of discontent. If Dunn et al continue their step up to the limelight with as much panache as they have so far, we could well be looking at the start of an exciting new era for the Silver Ferns.
Game of the Round
The Northern Mystics take on last years Premiers, Southern Steel on Wednesday 20th June as they both look to cement their place in a fiercely competitive race for a place in the finals.
Suncorp Super Netball
When the split happened back in 2017, big things were planned for the glitzy new Super Netball and it has not disappointed. With viewing figures of Australian derbies over double the figures of the New Zealand derbies, an all-Australian league was the obvious choice to help grow the game in the country.
The inauguration of Super Netball created a league to really be excited about. Star names, packed out arenas and names up in big lights thrust the sport into the realms of the other big players in Australian domestic sport.
The new opportunities that Super Netball offered saw big sporting franchises jump at the opportunity to join, with AFL outfit Collingwood and NRL team Melbourne Storm getting on board. With over a million supporters and 80,000 members, Collingwood brought with it a completely new fan-base as well as state of the art facilities and the financial backing to bring the professional game to the next level.
Collingwood used the big European soccer teams as inspiration for their new venture into Netball. Clubs with multiple teams in multiple sports playing at the highest levels is commonplace in Europe and its the shared assets and culture which have helped to breed success amongst the respective sports. Already a huge player in AFL and establishing themselves in netball, the Magpies journey has just got going but it is an exciting prospect for all involved.
The investment from broadcasting, the increase in wages and the growth in its overall exposure has also developed a much clearer pathway for girls to get into netball to allow the national team to develop its players to cope with the highest levels of competition.
However, with financial benefits come the star names from overseas; a double-edged sword in some quarters. The star names help grow the game no end, people want to come and watch the best players in the world play their trade on their own doorsteps. However, the success doesn't come without its dangers, it's a worrying prospect for those young Australian girls who wait in the wings for their opportunity to shine.
With only two of the top eight goal scorers in the league being Australian and both 30+, it does raise the question, what does this all mean for the Australian team in the future? After the disappointment of not securing gold at their home games in the Autumn, the Commonwealth Games verdict would have been 'could do better'; but when the young talent is having to play second fiddle to the overseas stars, what should the expectations really be?
In its second season, Super Netball is in a very good place. The competition is fierce, the quality has boomed and it has placed Netball into a whole other bracket of professional sport in Australia. Those amongst the Super League are reaping the benefits, we just hope that the emerging talent doesn't get lost in the crowd.
Game of the Round
The two AFL backed teams go head to head this weekend with GWS Giants hosting Collingwood. Experienced head Caitlin Thwaites will be hoping to continue her push to the top of the goal scoring charts whilst Kimberlee Green will be hoping to continue her fine form this season and create more goals. What is for certain is there will be drama as 2nd take on 6th, split by only 6 points.