SSN Expansion Teams

[al_ex]

#1312891

Whenever we see SSN matches go to regional areas, I always become a bit curious about whether these areas would be able to support SSN teams, if the number of teams in the league would expand to 10. Personally, I would like to see a 10 team comp and unlimited imports rather than put a limit on imports, as without ANL this year it’s become quite clear that the pathway players need to be handed more opportunities.

If it were to become a financial possibility, where could theoretical teams be? I’ve been impressed by the crowd support (and the amount of Queensland talent from the region) that we’ve seen in the FNQ games this week. There have also been good crowds in Tasmania, Canberra and Darwin. I personally would like to see a FNQ team and a team in Camberra or maybe Albury/Wodonga, which would look to promote both NSW and Victorian talent.

[Tully]

#1312894

Outside of those you mentioned maybe Geelong.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Tully.

[Jbss]

#1312903

I’m thinking Canberra or like you said Albury Wadonga to support regional areas and get a mix of NSW and Vic players since those states have the most depth atm. Newcastle could be an option for NSW. Id like to see a NT or FNQ team too. I think the ideal number would be 12 with x2Qld x1WA x2SA x1Tassie x1ACT x1NT x2Vic x2NSW. Obviously the Tasmanian team could be supplemented by a few Victorians and same goes for the act team for NSW. I think if there were 12 teams 10 player squads with about 4 paid TPs would be ideal. If only 10 teams then 12 player squads would be better. This would lengthen the season substantially so I’d like to see a more defined preseason, actual season and international period rather than it fluctuating dramatically each year. Obviously COVID has made it difficult this year though.

[al_ex]

#1312910

12 teams would be great. A 22 round competition plus finals would be such an improvement on what we had now. With the teams and states you suggested, they could even run a conferenced system if such a long season was unaffordable (i.e. Southern being TAS/VIC/SA/WA and Northern being ACT/NSW/QLD/NT).

I’d like some of the midweek games to stay as well, even with the 8 team comp. If they structured it as one midweek game and four on the weekends, teams in the existing comp would only need to play midweek every 4 weeks. Saturday/Wednesday/Sunday is enough time to recover I think, especially for teams where not so much travel is involved. It also means we can consider taking matches away from Saturdays when a lot of fans are out playing and cannot watch.

[Tully]

#1312913

It would be great to see a team in FNQ but not sure QLD has the depth of talent for 3 teams. The Lightning already have a very weak bench and both teams rely on imports and/ or interstate players.

NSW or VIC would be the only states capable of supporting a 3rd team from their talent pools.

Townsville do well in supporting the Fire in Basketball and they are a successful club so it would be great to see netball expand there.

Maybe Lightning could relocate?

[Jbss]

#1312919

I dont mind the midweek game idea as long as teams like Fever were given a bit of an advantage/consideration of their travel demands. I don’t like the conference system however as I would prefer the teams to all play each other twice in rounds and then take top four to finals.

[Jbss]

#1312921

I’m also aware that 12 teams is ambitious at this stage so wouldn’t mind if only one or two were added this year as I also agree with Tully that NSW and VIC are the only ones with the depth necessary. An Albury Wadonga team would make people happy as it ticks the regional box and represents both states a bit better, though would always have troubled drawing non locals that way, getting funding etc. So I think a Canberra team could do the same job it just means that its another metropolitan team. If not maybe a Geelong or Newcastle team if more footy clubs wanted to get on board(not saying I agree with the partnerships in every case since I’d want teams to be able to stand on their own two feet). Personally best case scenario would be a Canberra or Newcastle team and a Tassie or FNQ/NT team added next year with eventual plans to add two more in the next 5 or so years.

[Montyandpoppy]

#1312948

I think there are tentative plans in Perth to have a second team, similar to the Eagles/Dockers split in AFL. And they will have affiliation with those clubs too.

[Zara Collings]

#1312959

I do not have the in depth knowledge of Australia being from the UK to make a real contribution here, but I would love to see two more teams added to the SSN, with 12 players and 4 TP’s per team. Will surely help develop international netball as you would have the opportunities to increase imports and their spread across the teams as well as allowing the talent which clearly exists in Aus to get even more exposure. Would certainly make for an exciting season! Then those that really should be starting if there was the space in their teams, I’m thinking Garbin, Fraser, MiMi, Gardner, COB, Aryang, Lewis and the list really goes on, would get the exposure they need to reach potential, whatever that may be. Surely that can only be good for Aussie international netball?!

[Ian Harkin]

#1312960

Geelong, Newcastle, N Qld, Canberra, Tassie.

All of them could be a success in my opinion.

[Netballcrazy1]

#1312968

I think expansion would be great but I would rather add one or two extra teams and grow the number of contracted players to 12 over having 3 or 4 new teams. I think slow and steady is the way, more than one or two extra teams is too risky for the competition and we risk having a massive gap between the best and worst teams. We also don’t want to grow so fast that we don’t have enough Aussie talent and coaches bring EVEN more imports to the competition.

[Tully]

#1312989

I agree Netballcrazy1, I would rather expand teams to 12 plus 4 TPs than add new teams. Once that is established then maybe one team even if it would add a bye scenario.

[Ian Harkin]

#1312991

Well, with Chelsea Pitman not being offered a contract, that kind of suggests we’re going back to 10 player teams next year.

[Tully]

#1312996

They could still do the same as this year. 10 contracted players plus 2 TP for each game.

[museboy]

#1312997

Considering the Federal Government bailed out Netball Australia recently (due to profits from the Nine deal being much less than expected), unfortunately I don’t think this will happen anytime soon.

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