Balls still up in the air as Super Netball prepares to get season going
Super Netball officials are contemplating a condensed competition with teams playing more than once at week, in a bid to ensure a full draw is completed at a reduced cost.
Victorian teams will relocate interstate on Wednesday due to spiralling coronavirus cases in Melbourne and as a consequence Netball Australia, which does not have the funds of a football code, is considering a number of scenarios. One is a reduced draw while another is for teams to play midweek as well as on weekends, although the broadcast deal with Nine Network could be a stumbling block.
Super Netball is set to announce on Tuesday the first three rounds of the draw, with the competition starting on 1 August.
Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies will travel to Sydney, where they will be in quarantine together for two weeks before the opening match. Whether they remain in NSW for the season’s duration, shift interstate, or even return home, if Victoria can get on top of its virus cases, is yet to be determined.
Vixens defender and Diamonds veteran Jo Weston believes her teammates are all on board with the arrangements.
She said it was tough not knowing exactly what the long-term plans were, but the players are happy to do whatever is needed to get the competition under way.
“It’s going to be a longer period than a lot of us initially anticipated but given the current situation in Victoria it might be best to be away for a bit of time,” Weston, who is the players association vice president, said.
“That doesn’t discount how difficult it’s going to be for those people who have significant others or even pets. I’m trying to stay optimistic, the novelty may wear off, but if we weren’t going we wouldn’t be playing at all.”
After clubs were shocked by a rule change last month to introduce twopoint shots, Weston said players felt their views had been heard this time.
“Not every individual player wants the same thing so it’s difficult reaching a consensus within our own playing group as to what the non-negotiables are ... and that’s counteracted by what the league can afford in the current economic climate,” she said.
“But I do feel lots of things have been listened to in terms of where we’re going, and it feels as much like home as it can be. Hopefully that will help make the competition as even as possible because other teams who don’t have to go to these sort of extremes will have an advantage, no doubt.”