- Lots of drama at the Netball Australia Awards on Saturday night
- Many stars refused to appear at major sporting events
- The struggle for money has become a key issue amid financial stress
A host of stars boycotted the Netball Australia Awards on Saturday night as the sport’s pay dispute went nuclear and national team players only attended because they were legally required to do so.
Governing body Netball Australia sent a letter to the players hours before the ceremony threatening legal action if the stars did not attend. ABC reported.
No players from the Super Netball competition were present at the awards ceremony. Their representatives said they have not been paid for almost two months as the battle over a new pay deal continues.
“Tonight is the Netball Australia Awards and the Diamonds are attending because they are required by law to attend,” the Australian Netball Players’ Association (ANPA) said in a statement.
The stars’ smiles at the Netball Australia Awards (pictured) on Saturday night came despite major drama that saw many players boycott the ceremony over a pay dispute
Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan (pictured at the awards) is under pressure from players to resolve the dispute, which they say has left them unpaid for almost two months
‘Without an agreement on our Collective Player Agreement, SSN players have been unpaid for almost 8 weeks.
‘We continue with #FightFor Fair.
“What we have asked for is affordable and sustainable for the game and promotes a true partnership to grow the game.”
Super Netball pay deals expired on September 30, with the players’ futures left in limbo as they were all technically out of contract until the matter was resolved.
In October, ANPA blasted the governing body for rejecting the players’ “modest requests” and offering an “unfair three-year deal” that “rejected a genuine partnership with the players.”
The code has struggled financially since Australia’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart (pictured center with swimming legends Kieren Perkins, left, and Dawn Fraser, right) withdrew $15 million in sponsorship money in October 2022.
The Code is under financial pressure after Australia’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart, pulled out of a $15 million sponsorship deal after Indigenous star Donnell Wallam refused to wear the logo of one of her companies, Hancock Prospecting, on her jersey.
That was reportedly due to comments made by Rinehart’s late father Lang Hancock in 1984, when he suggested that indigenous Australians should be sterilized to ‘incubate themselves’.
Wallam’s stance was supported by her teammates.
Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan provided an update on the Code’s financial difficulties at the season launch in March, with them struggling to pay off a large debt due to the Covid pandemic.
“$4.2 million is the debt we have to repay,” she said.
Netball Australia has reportedly threatened legal action against stars if they boycott the awards – with members of the national Diamonds team contractually obliged to attend
‘We still have a significant, extensive debt that still needs to be repaid. So we are still very fiscally responsible and ensuring that any growth opportunities are realized.”
Netball Australia has agreed to mediation to settle the case, leaving foreign players concerned about their visas and all eight teams in the competition unable to announce their 2024 squads.
Courtney Bruce capped off her outstanding year by winning the 2023 Liz Ellis Diamond Award for the second time at the ceremony.
The 29-year-old defender was awarded the top gong – which she also collected in 2021 – for her stellar domestic and international seasons with the West Coast Fever and the Diamonds.
Courtney Bruce (pictured) was the big winner of the evening, taking home the Liz Ellis Diamond Award for the second time and also being named International Player of the Year
She was also crowned International Player of the Year, becoming the sixth diamond in the past decade to receive both awards.
West Coast Fever captain Bruce has been instrumental over the past twelve months in helping the Diamonds add to their trophy cabinet as series defender at the Netball Quad Series and in the triumphant Netball World Cup campaign.
“It’s absolutely crazy to win,” Bruce said. “Not many people see the hard work we put in behind the scenes to perform every day.
“This award is so special considering the group of athletes currently playing in Australia. “I am so grateful to be able to spend the time with my teams and cherish the memories on and off the field.”