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News
Netball and the two-team town (15 August)
Melbourne is the only remaining two-team town in the national netball league, but for how long?
Th e future of Melbourne’s status as the only Australian city to host two netball teams in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy (CBT) competition might be under threat. Melbourne Kestrels had a slow start to season 2006 and have missed the finals. Meanwhile, negotiations to explore a competition combining the current Australian and New Zealand national leagues have been reported.
In the final round of CBT home and away matches Kestrels had a sound win against the McDonald's Hunter Jaegers but the coveted fourth finals berth went to Queensland’s Firebirds under the coaching of former star-gaoler Vicki Wilson.
In 1997, eight teams formed the original National Netball League that later became the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. There were two teams each from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and one each from Queensland and Western Australia. In 2002 Adelaide Ravens were abolished to make way for the AIS Canberra Darters and, in 2003, Sydney Sandpipers made way for the Hunter Jaegers. This left Melbourne as the only capital city with two teams.
The options for a trans-Tasman competition include a play-off each year between the best teams in both competitions, or a fully-fledged trans-Tasman league. Would a fully-fledged league between Australia and New Zealand require further consolidations of CBT teams?
Kestrel’s future seemed assured when the international removalists Allied Pickfords became the club’s naming rights sponsor in 2006. But missing the finals combined with a trans-Tasman competition in the wind could augur future consolidations.
“In terms of the details, it is early days yet, but at this stage we believe a trans-Tasman competition could strengthen the sport both nationally and internationally,” said Netball Australia President Noeleen Dix.
But Australian netball acting CEO John Bissett cautions there will not be a trans-Tasman competition any time soon.
A decision is expected by the end of this year.
By Chris Callanan
Links
Netball Australia -- http://netball.asn.au/newsitem.asp?id=1375&orgID=1&O1c=11&O10c=25
ABC -- http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200607/s1700007.htm
Netball online -- http://www.netballonline.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=4
MSN NZ -- http://xtramsn.co.nz/sport/0,,12053-6120514,00.html
Netball Vic -- http://www.netballvic.com.au/apps/news/news_story.php?PBID=877
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