17th February 2021
Netball Tasmania to apply for Suncorp Super Netball licence
Netball Tasmania will apply for a licence to compete in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) competition for the period commencing in 2022. Netball Tasmania CEO Aaron Pidgeon said;
“This is an exciting time for Tasmanian Netball and Tasmanian sport in general as we see many sports push for Tasmanian teams in national competitions”.
“We still have a number of matters to line up before this can become a reality, but we’re committed to the cause and we believe that it’s the right time to be expressing interest.”
The expression of interest process for SSN licences for the period commencing in 2022 is expected to open in April 2021. Netball Tasmania will seek a participation commencement date of season 2023, allowing the existing Tasmanian Government Agreement with Collingwood Magpies to expire prior to the creation of the new Club. Mr Pidgeon said netball had been extremely lucky to partner with Collingwood since 2017 through which a joint Australian Netball League (ANL) team operated, and Collingwood have played SSN matches in Tasmania.
“We’re thankful to the Tasmanian Government for supporting that opportunity and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Collingwood to deliver SSN content in Tasmania throughout the remainder of the existing agreement,” he said. Netball Tasmania has submitted a request to the Tasmanian Government for financial support for an SSN licence, a critical component of the application and the implementation of a sustainable financial model.
“We believe that the financial model we have created for the proposed Club is sustainable, but it is dependent, at least through the first licence period, on the financial support of the Tasmanian Government,” he said.
“While we would like to be able to deliver a financial model which can standalone without the support of the Tasmanian Government, that’s not a reality in the short term.”
“That said, we are not looking for a handout but rather a mutually beneficial partnership that would see the Tasmanian SSN team deliver a value through regular and ongoing engagement with the Tasmanian community and an unwavering commitment to providing positive leadership and role models for young Tasmanians.”
“We also understand a decision to support a Tasmanian SSN team may impact the Agreement with Collingwood beyond 2022”.
“That is not a reflection on the relationship with Collingwood which has been fantastic, rather our need to prioritise the implementation of a Tasmanian team in the competition.”
While committed to securing a team in the SSN and optimistic about the submission, Mr Pidgeon said Netball Tasmania remained realistic about the challenges in both obtaining a licence and operating a team in the competition.
“As noted, the sustainability of our proposed program is initially dependent on securing government funding, but beyond that we still have much to do to in order to present the strongest submission possible”.
“Realistically, that submission needs to be strong enough to beat out a submission from one of the existing SSN teams or to convince the SSN Commission and the broadcaster to expand the league.”
As part of the strategy to operate a SSN Club in Tasmania, Netball Tasmania will be fielding a stand-alone team in the Australian Netball Championships for 2021 (formerly the ANL), rather than continue with the Tasmanian Magpies team.
“The Tasmanian Magpies has been a really valuable program and we’ve collectively achieved great things, including winning the ANL Premiership in 2018,” Mr Pidgeon said.
“We do however need to be doing what we believe is in the best interest of our athletes in alignment with our SSN aspirations, and that means entering a stand-alone team so that we can provided greater elite competition exposure to a greater number of Tasmania athletes.”
Netball Tasmania sees a SSN team as a fantastic opportunity for the Tasmanian community. If approved, the new Club will provide local jobs, new entertainment product, a boost to local participation and strong role models in the community inspiring young Tasmanians.
For all media enquiries please contact:
Kirstin Palfrey
Netball Tasmania Media and Events Manager
kirstin.palfrey@tasnetball.org.au
0422 077 831
