The Netty Life

The Adelaide Thunderbirds are through to their first grand final in exactly a decade after an extra-time thriller against the NSW Swifts in the semis.

Meanwhile, the West Coast Fever keep their back-to-back title dreams alive after knocking the Melbourne Vixens out of the race.

We’ve got some thoughts about how extra time is played and the umpiring, before we analyse all the action.

The final round of the regular Super Netball season for 2023 gave us fairytale finishes for two retiring stalwarts of the game, April Brandley (Giants Netball) and Ash Brazil (Collingwood Magpies). The black and white dress of Collingwood was also retired as the club played their last game in Super Netball after what has been an emotional few weeks for all involved.

The Diamonds World Cup squad was finally announced after an ugly stand-off between the playing group and Netball Australia. We discuss the fallout from this soured relationship and if this is indeed the team that can win back the final trophy missing from our national cabinet.

The NSW Swifts have won the minor premiership for the first time in 13 years!

Every title they’ve won in the Super Netball era has been from an underdog position in second place, so this is now a very happy and comfortable territory for the team who are on a nine-game winning streak heading into the final round of the regular season.

Helen Housby has been a huge part of their success this year, as has her new shooting partner Romelda Aiken-George. Here, we catch up with the England Roses shooter to hear about what makes the Swifts so great in 2023.

Assistant coach and former Diamond Nat Avellino also shares her secrets about her work with the shooting end.

As the news breaks that the Diamonds World Cup selection details are being held over the players heads by Netball Australia until they sign their next CPA, we are beginning to get tired of the unnecessary mess.

Something needs to change at the top, as the sport has been dragged through the mud in the media more times than we can count in the past few years and enough is enough.

Beyond that disturbance, there is plenty of Super Netball analysis to be discussed as we wrap the penultimate round of the 2023 season. Including the Swifts’ efforts to lock up the minor premiership with a nine-game winning streak before the last weekend of action ahead of finals.

Indigenous artist Krystal Dallinger joins us on this bonus episode to talk about her experience designing the Giants’ Super Netball First Nations Round dress for the last six years and this season – for the first time – the official competition artwork ‘Gather as One’ that was printed on all the netballs used over the last two weeks for game play.

As a Gamilaroi woman, Dallinger explains how her painting style has evolved since she first picked up a paintbrush at age 16, how a sentimental gift she made for a Super Netball great has changed her life, which dresses feature her all-time favourite designs and the cultural journey she has been on to learn more about her family’s history.

After two weeks of turmoil, the Collingwood Magpies pulled off the upset of the season against the ladder leading Adelaide Thunderbirds at their final home Melbourne game.

The Swifts have rocketed their way to the top of the Super Netball ladder, winning eight straight matches to peak in form right before finals.

Meanwhile, Sasha Glasgow has accepted a 2023/24 national contract with the English Roses. We ponder, have the Aussie Diamonds missed out on a golden opportunity?

Round 11 marked the beginning of a two-week celebration honouring the First Nations people who are involved in all levels of netball, and we reflect on whether Netball Australia has done enough since signing the Declaration of Commitment in 2020. With confirmation that Collingwood's netball program has been axed, we discussed the possibility of a fresh start for some of the players and a possible location for the eighth team in 2024.

With only three rounds until the end of the regular season, the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the NSW Swifts are tied for first place, enjoying wins in round 11. While the Firebirds celebrated First Nations Round with Noongar woman Donnell Wallam, and Wakka Wakka woman Leesa MiMi, all but dashing the hopes of Giants Netball making the finals.

After one of the closest Super Netball seasons in history, we saw some huge unexpected blowouts in Round 10.

Three of the matches of the round were very lopsided, particuarly the contest between the West Coast Fever and Queensland Firebirds, which saw the home side record the highest-ever total in a game (97 goals) and the largest-ever winning margin (34 goals).

Beyond the results, we discuss the Collingwood Magpies and their doubtful future, Netball Australia’s improving finances, and concussion protocols (again).

The sky is the limit for Tonga captain Hulita Veve and her Tala team as they prepare to play in their very first Netball World Cup at Cape Town.

The team have recently defeated Africa’s best netball team, world number six the Malawi Queens, to defend their third Pacific Aus Sports Netball Series crown.

Here, the Queensland Firebirds training partner joins us for a one-on-one chat.

We hear all about her Super Netball aspirations, her experiences leading the undefeated Tala side over the last 12 months and the significance of ‘the lift’ hand gesture amongst the team.

These are bleak times for the Collingwood Magpies, with reports circulating that their club might not renew their license for the 2024 Super Netball league.

In other news, the England Roses have announced their World Cup squad, a former legend makes her return to the court sending social media into meltdown and we've got just five rounds let to play before the semi-finals as teams look to find their peak form.