NS Editorial: Let’s get physical

NS Editorial: Let’s get physical

By |2019-10-12T01:28:57+10:00October 11th, 2019|Categories: AUS, NZ, World|5 Comments

Like Old Mother Hubbard, netball went to the cupboard, and found that it was bare. 

It’s been more than 30 years since Australia hasn’t held at least one of the pinnacle titles  – the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games* or the Netball World Youth Cup** – within a four year cycle. While the tangible and intangible factors behind the dearth of silverware are sure to be reviewed, it’s worth looking at the impact of physicality on the Australian game.

For some years now a premium has been placed on more athletic netballers. Strength and conditioning is a focus, with players spending more time in the gym than ever before. Clubs are desperate for wins, bodies are placed on the line, and the outcome is considered by many to be spectacular. Promotional clips for Suncorp Super Netball feature the thrills and the spills, with heavy collisions and falls making up a fair proportion of the highlight reels. 

But does such physicality create a winning formula? Netball Scoop examined statistics for all eight Suncorp Super Netball franchises this year, with some surprising results. We compared final ladder position after round 14 with a range of metrics, including Nissan Net Points, goals scored, gains, intercepts and penalties (contact and obstruction). 

Interestingly, the strongest correlation was between a team’s final ladder position and the number of penalties they incurred across the season. As a general rule, the higher a team finished, the less penalties they racked up, with the difference between 1st and 8th position on the ladder a massive 365 infringements. 

Why is a chicken and egg question. Were players from the winning teams more skilful? Could they have more impact on the result because they remained in play? Were lesser ranked teams in chase position, and therefore more likely to be penalised and stood beside their player? Either way, the top four ranked teams who made up the finals were the least penalised across the season.  

 

Figure 1: Ladder position vs penalties shows a strong line of best fit.

 

Figure 2: Ladder position vs goals scored 

 

Figure 3: Ladder position vs Nissan Net Points 

 

Figure 4: Ladder position vs gains had the lowest correlation of the measures. 

 

The impact of physicality and penalties was also felt on the bigger stage. The Suncorp Super Netball league is officiated solely by Australians; for international matches, umpires are neutral. What is acceptable in our domestic league becomes more penalised internationally, and the Diamonds struggle to adapt to the difference. Netball Scoop looked at the last seven matches between Australia and New Zealand, and in every game – bar one – the Diamonds had a higher penalty count. 

It’s interesting to note that New Zealand incurred their highest penalties during their worst loss (Constellation Cup match 1), while in a similar vein, Australia’s two losses were their most penalised games (Constellation Cup 3, NWC final).

 

Match Aust – score NS score Score

Difference

Aust – penalties NZ – penalties Penalty

Difference

Quad series 2018 60 55 +5 54 53 +1
Con Cup 1 – 2018 57 42 +15 36 63 -27
Con Cup 2 – 2018 56 47 +9 59 37 +22
Con Cup 3 – 2018 44 55 -11 81 45 +36
Con Cup 4 – 2018 58 47 +11 71 55 +16
Quad series – 2019 53 50 +3 64 54 +10
NWC 2019 – semi 50 49 +1 76 58 +18
NWC 2019 final 51 52 -1 82 49 +33

 

In the graphs below it can be seen that in general terms, the closer the match, the higher the Australian infringement rate was. In the Diamonds’ two losses against the Silver Ferns, their penalty count was higher by a hefty 33 and 36 infringements. It points to a lack of discipline among the Diamonds that begs the question – did it impact the result?     

 

 

 

Comparing the penalties between each Suncorp Super Netball team across the 2019 season, and the eight matches played between the Diamonds and the Silver Ferns during the period assessed was also interesting. Total penalty counts were averaged to give a figure per game, and the two New Zealand influenced sides – both coached by Noeline Taurua – were the least penalised teams. The Diamonds were the second most heavily penalised side, second only to the Firebirds.

Clearly, international umpires are calling more penalties against Australian athletes than our home grown umpires are.  While the number of games aren’t even, which skews any analysis, clearly there is a worrying trend. 

 

Team Average number of penalties per game*, **
Lightning 46
Silver Ferns 52
Vixens 54
Magpies 55
Swifts 56
Giants 57
Thunderbirds 59
Fever 60
Diamonds 65
Firebirds 71

* SSN teams average across 14 rounds of the 2019 season

**Australia and New Zealand average taken across their last eight games

 

Player welfare is also of concern when discussing the physicality of the Australian game. In recent seasons there have been a spate of head and facial injuries, which have included concussions or cuts to Emily Mannix, Charlee Hodges, Serena Guthrie, Hannah Petty, Sam Poolman, Geva Mentor, Gretel Tippett and Paige Hadley, among others. Natalie Medhurst – with her two sets of facial lacerations and two sets of fractured ribs in the last twelve months – is either very unlucky, or more likely being closely marked to try and curb her influence.

While some of these injuries were accidental, others were from late or clumsy challenges, while obstruction was also used to tactical advantage at times. They not only impacted the player – who in the case of injury had to leave the court for treatment  – but also their team and therefore potentially the result. 

With the head ruled sacrosanct in other codes, and the increasingly physical nature of netball, it’s time for our sport to address the issue. 

While many will argue that physicality adds to the spectacle of netball, it’s hard to go past skills that are perfectly timed and executed. A flawless intercept when Karla Pretorius uses her outside arm, or Geva Mentor rolls into the backspace, when Steph Wood or Maria Folau swish a long range goal, or Laura Scherian drives hard onto the edge of the circle.  They’re some of the least penalised players for their position, but their exploits still provide the thrills that we’ve come to expect from the modern game. 

Australian netball has never apologised for the physical nature of its game, but perhaps it’s time to ask: is it really effective?

 

* Netball at the Commonwealth Games commenced in 1998

** The Netball World Youth Cup commenced in 1988

 

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About the Author:

Physiotherapist, writer and netball enthusiast. Feature articles, editorials and co-author of "Shine: the making of the Australian Netball Diamonds". Everyone has a story to tell, and I'm privileged to put some of them on paper. Thank you to the phenomenal athletes, coaches and people in the netball world who open a door to their lives, and let me tiptoe in.

5 Comments

  1. alexj October 11, 2019 at 1:35 pm

    “While many will argue that physicality adds to the spectacle of netball, it’s hard to go past skills that are perfectly timed and executed.”

    Sure, from a purely technical perspective you can’t beat that sort of play. But it happens relatively rarely. A more physical game will (hopefully) lead to more turnovers, which should lead to a more exciting match too.

  2. twodogs October 12, 2019 at 12:55 am

    I have noticed that the advertising on TV for Netball has an emphasis on physicality. Then when they sow the highlights the show the thrills and spills. Like Rugby League I would rather see the skills of the players not the punch ups. The marketing of the physical side of netball was obviously pin pointed to appeal to the “toughness” of the players.You can’t have it both ways Mamma

  3. Scott October 12, 2019 at 1:41 am

    I would be interested in digging a little deeper into those numbers and ask some questions.
    1. Does the different defensive structures/styles play a role in these numbers. My understanding is the NZ teams play more off the body style of defense and the Aussie teams the opposite and would by the nature of this structure incur more infringements.
    2. Equally penalties awarded for obstruction or shortening are hardly dangerous or creating physical risk but may be due to lack of experience so it would be good to see a deeper breakdown of what the penalties are for in defence.
    3. Finally the SSN competition is focussed being an entertainment product with less impact of umpires, as is the case with many elite sports and this will also potentially be having an impact.

  4. Pardalote October 12, 2019 at 11:50 pm

    Great analysis, Jenny, and very thought provoking.

  5. Swifts1 October 14, 2019 at 9:13 am

    Great insight and great article. Pleased to see that after all the hype about the Giants physicality they are in the middle in terms of penalties.

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