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A new Victorian side, owned by media mogul Craig Hutchison and his Sports Entertainment Network (SEN), will enter the Super Netball competition – replacing the Collingwood Magpies.
Super Netball announced that SEN had been granted the licence after a tender process run by Netball Australia, who will operate the franchise in 2023 before handing the reins to SEN for 2024 onwards.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds defeated the NSW Swifts in the Super Netball grand final at John Cain Arena earlier this month.Credit: Getty Images
The new team will be based in Melbourne’s south-east, with its name and colours yet to be revealed.
SEN already owns four sports teams – all in basketball.
In a statement, Hutchison said: “We see an opportunity here to step up and ensure the Victorian netball community gets the second team it deserves.
“We believe firmly in the direction of the Netball Australia Board, its chief executive Kelly Ryan and the leadership team. ”
After Collingwood announced their withdrawal from the Super Netball competition, Magpies players released a scathing statement calling for greater transparency and leadership from Netball Australia.
The criticism was rejected by Ryan, but Collingwood had cited the financial woes of the sport’s governing body as a key factor in the club’s decision not to continue its netball endeavours.
The Magpies confirmed the withdrawal a week after their shock announcement that they were reviewing their netball program. While the club conceded it “could have run a better netball program”, it cited the sport’s financial woes and ongoing pay disputes as a major reason it was walking away.
With Carla Jaeger, Marnie Vinall, and Billie Eder
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