Super Netball to build on women's sport momentum in Australia
Updated
You know that glass ceiling people keep referring to when it comes to women's sport breaking the boundaries of the gender divide?
Well let us be done with it, for as much as the past few years have been monumental, the conversation can now be shifted to treat it as normality.
Retired Diamond and netball legend Liz Ellis will frontline an established selection of journalists, commentators and former players involved in the broadcast of the Super Netball competition.
And her opening comments at the inaugural season's launch in Sydney on Wednesday reflect my point.
A usually outgoing personality, Ellis was in fine form with the microphone, especially when recounting a recent conversation she had with her daughter in front of the TV.
With so much women's sport headlining media and broadcast in recent times, Ellis' daughter asked: "Mummy, why don't boys play sport?"
Her reply?
"They're ironing, honey," she said.
Women's sport being front and centre has become something the younger generation is becoming accustomed to and that is a theme we are increasingly seeing in many of the codes.
Netball Australia set a precedent of what is to come with its professional - yet cheeky - event on Wednesday and one of my colleagues remarked there were more people present than he had ever seen at any sports launch.
While it is true women's sport is in good stead, it is important we continue to shape the conversation around the league as an expected base for future competitions now.
But while it is all onward and upward as a general scope on women's sport, Super Netball is a new product of a long-standing popular code.
With so much riding on this new season, we have aimed to answer the burning questions netball fans may have in the lead-up to the opening whistle.
The ones to beat?
The Collingwood Magpies are obvious favourites, with five current Diamonds and some of the biggest names in domestic netball in their stacked squad.
Sharni Layton and April Brandley lead their defence, Kim Ravaillion and Maddi Robinson power the midcourt and Caitlin Thwaites is the finisher up front, meaning they have got Australian representation spread all across the court.
No doubt they will be tough opponents and the players have already made an outspoken stance to change the minds of sports fans about the Collingwood club in light of the ill feeling often shown towards their AFL counterparts.
Another new franchise, however, will definitely give them a run for their money.
The New South Wales-based Giants, also aligned with an AFL club, have experience on and off the court.
Bec Bulley and Susan Pettitt, the two most capped players in Australian domestic netball, are in the squad and coach Julie Fitzgerald tops the list for highest games coached at national level.
Pettitt will record her 200th national league appearance this weekend and with the likes of captain Kim Green and English imports Serena Guthrie and Jo Harten, the team have an extremely strong core of leadership players.
In pre-season friendlies, the Giants beat every team they faced, even in a five-period match against Collingwood, where they went from trailing to leading after the final stage.
If anyone in this league can challenge the powerhouse Magpies side, it will be the unexpected might of the experienced Giants.
Who are the players to look out for?
With so many superstars lined up to take part, we have selected a player from each club to keep your eye on.
Sharni Layton (Collingwood Magpies)
Australian favourite Sharni Layton's name is known for her menacing efforts in defence and fierce personality.
The best goal keeper in the game worldwide right now, she is an obvious one to watch.
Mwai Kumwenda (Melbourne Vixens)
Malawian shooter Mwai Kumwenda received MVP honours during the 2015 Netball World Cup.
She played for New Zealand club the Tactix last season and will be a threat to teams with her consistent accuracy.
Kristina Brice (Giants)
With plenty of experience in their line-up, the Giants also boast the signing of Kristina Brice. The shooter is a strong New South Walews and Australian pathways product, representing her state and country in under 17, 19 and 21 levels, before making the move to Adelaide to be apart of the Thunderbirds.
In January, she was selected as a training partner for the Diamonds in the Quad Series and adds another dimension to the endless list of attacking options up the Giants' sleeve.
Geva Mentor (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
English keeper Geva Mentor has been named as the first international captain of an Australian domestic team.
Having played in the trans-Tasman comp since 2008 for Adelaide and the Vixens franchises, the approachable defender will lead by example at the back of the court.
Kate Beveridge (West Coast Fever)
Versatile talent Kate Beveridge played the entire eight years the trans-Tasman competition existed, for the Thunderbirds, Vixens and West Coast Fever.
Representing Australia at Test level from 2008 to 2011, she has also featured in the Fast5 netball format, meaning her long bombs may come in handy for the new league.
Caitlin Nevins (Queensland Firebirds)
She may be one of the oldest players on the Firebirds squad, but midcourter Caitlin Nevins has had a stellar year in netball.
Part of Queensland's back-to-back success in last year's final, Nevins debuted for the Australian Diamonds this January and had an immediate impact on court.
Chelsea Pitman (Adelaide Thunderbirds)
Diamond Chelsea Pitman might have ruffled some feathers when she put her hand up to play for England and declared she wanted to beat Australia this summer, but her well-rounded experience will come in handy for the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Pitman has played in the UK, New Zealand, won a premiership with the Firebirds and won a world championship with Australia in 2011.
Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts)
A usual powerhouse in the Australian midcourt, Paige Hadley fell away a bit in last year's trans-Tasman finals. But this year she is decided to use that fall-back as motivation, opting to step up and help lead the new-look Swifts side, alongside captain Abbey McCulloch.
One of the youngest last year, she is now one of the oldest meaning she will be looking to take charge in a lot of the plays on court.
How will the three new teams do with fanfare?
It is hard to gauge how the three new teams will rate with fans, especially considering they have popped up in areas where most netball lovers already have a team.
And will AFL/NRL footy fans be enticed to watch their favourite club take on another code?
These questions will ultimately come down to the effectiveness of netball's marketing at league and club level.
So far, there has been a lot of hype surrounding the new competition and franchises, and if kept up, that will transfer into spectator and ratings numbers.
What about the new broadcast deal?
Netball Australia has done a great service to the game by signing a broadcast deal that provides players better wages and conditions across the board.
But some fans are upset they will lose access to every game live on television with Channel Nine only broadcasting double-headers on Saturday nights and two delayed games a week.
To their credit, Nine did a good job on the Fast5 Series and the advertisements leading up to this weekend look promising.
So while it is important to have games on free-to-air and in primetime slots, streaming does continue to grow in popularity and now all games are live online and via app portals, the game is accessible from anywhere on your smartphone.
Topics: netball, sport, sydney-2000, sippy-downs-4556, brisbane-4000, melbourne-3000, perth-6000, adelaide-5000
First posted
