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Collingwood Withdraws from Super Netball Competition
Collingwood Football Club has announced that it will withdraw from the Super Netball competition at the end of the season. The decision followed a review of the club’s future viability and aims to provide clarity to players and staff regarding their future plans. Craig Kelly, the club’s CEO, acknowledged that the AFL giants could have done better with their Super Netball team but said the review showed that the side was not “sustainable”.
Financial Woes
According to Kelly, the governing body’s ongoing financial woes had contributed to the decision to withdraw. “The challenges Netball Australia has experienced and continues to experience in terms of profitability combined with the current impasse in regard to finalising the TPA (Team Participation Agreement) and CPA (Collective Player Agreement), played a key role in our decision-making,” he said.
Development of Female Athletes
Despite the withdrawal, the club will continue to develop female athletes through the AFLW and VFLW programs.
Netball Australia’s Response
Netball Australia needs to maintain an eight-team competition under the current broadcast deal and is already in talks with potential new franchises, with their preference for another team in Melbourne. NA said they were disappointed but not surprised by Collingwood’s call. “In recent times it had become clear that Collingwood’s priorities had shifted away from netball to focus on its core business of football,” NA CEO Kelly Ryan said in a statement. “We are understanding of the impact Collingwood’s decision has on its current players and staff, and we will support them during this time. We are currently talking to interested parties and look forward to communicating the next steps as this process unfolds.”
