Magpies players statement

The below statement is to be attributed to Collingwood’s netballers.

Today we were advised CFC will withdraw its licence from the Super Netball competition, exiting the sport at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

As a playing group the decision has been overwhelming. The impact on each athlete has been significant and the prospect of playing out the remaining games, right now, seems inconceivable.

We acknowledge the club has been transparent with the commercial realities that led to this decision. We acknowledge the club has also accepted the program could have been better. We appreciate and respect their candidness.

As athletes we consider ourselves part of the netball program and acknowledge we also had a role to play in the program’s viability. Success on court translates to commercial gain.

However, we feel compelled to highlight the role (or lack thereof) Netball Australia played in today’s decision.

We feel like collateral damage in a much larger issue for Netball Australia. There is untenable dysfunction and disharmony between administration and the playing group. There is also no confidence in the strategic direction of Netball Australia.

As a playing group we care deeply about sport at every level. From grassroots to the elite level, we want to see as many people playing, watching and being connected to netball as possible. We want to leave the sport in a better position than we found it. We want the best netball and opportunities within netball for generations to come.

We call on greater governance, transparency, and leadership from Netball Australia.