Netball ACT general manager Adam Horner hopes to create a pathway to the elite level through a potential alliance between the Canberra Darters and Giants Netball in the revamped National Netball League.
The Australian Netball League was expanded to eight teams on Tuesday – the same number of clubs that will appear in next year's inaugural NNL.
Kim Green has signed with the Giants in the inaugural NNL competition next year.Credit:Getty Images
With the Darters playing in the ANL, aligning with the Giants would create a genuine pathway from Canberra's junior ranks through to the best league in the world.
Netball ACT were also working towards bringing Giants games to Canberra, similar to AFL team GWS Giants playing three games at Manuka Oval each season.
A relationship between the Darters and the Giants would not only create pathways, but would allow fringe Giants players to represnt the Darters.
"We have been very clear since the minute they [Netball Australia] had announced the NNL that we would like to have some sort of presence with the NNL and with the ANL becoming an underpinned program to that," Horner said.
"That's where we have seen our ability to do so."
Giants Netball are affiliated with the Giants in the AFL and will be entering the inaugural season of the NNL, which starts in February.
They have already signed former NSW Swifts captain Kim Green and Susan Pettitt, English internationals Jo Harten and Serena Guthrie, as well as recent Australian Diamond debutant Kristiana Manu'a.
Netball Australia head of high performance Andrew Collins said the new ANL format will provide the best platform to develop future Diamonds.
The increase in teams means every state and territory will have a place in the competition.
"The revised ANL competition will ensure that we are continuing to best prepare our athletes for elite competition, both in the NNL and longer term to become future Diamonds," Collins said.
"The training environment will be enhanced, with NNL and ANL teams in some locations becoming integrated in their training, performance support and preparation."