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Netball Tasmania has announced they will apply for a licence to compete in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) competition for the period commencing in 2022.

With the Tasmanian Government now owning the Derwent Entertainment Centre, content for its new investment throughout the quieter winter months could come from professional netball.

The expression of interest process for SSN licences for the period commencing in 2022 is expected to open in April 2021. Netball Tasmania will seek a participation commencement date of season 2023, allowing the existing Tasmanian Government Agreement with Collingwood Magpies to expire prior to the creation of the new Club.

Netball Tasmania Chief Executive, Aaron Pidgeon notes that netball had been extremely lucky to partner with Collingwood since 2017 through which a joint Australian Netball League (ANL) team operated, and Collingwood have played SSN matches in Tasmania.

Pidgeon adds “this is an exciting time for Tasmanian Netball and Tasmanian sport in general as we see many sports push for Tasmanian teams in national competitions.

“We still have a number of matters to line up before this can become a reality, but we’re committed to the cause and we believe that it’s the right time to be expressing interest.

“We’re thankful to the Tasmanian Government for supporting that opportunity and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Collingwood to deliver SSN content in Tasmania throughout the remainder of the existing agreement.”

A team would cost approximately $3 million a season to run, with Netball Tasmania seeking $1 million a year in state government funding.

Pidgeon advises “we believe that the financial model we have created for the proposed Club is sustainable, but it is dependent, at least through the first licence period, on the financial support of the Tasmanian Government.

“While we would like to be able to deliver a financial model which can standalone without the support of the Tasmanian Government, that’s not a reality in the short term.

“That said, we are not looking for a handout but rather a mutually beneficial partnership that would see the Tasmanian SSN team deliver a value through regular and ongoing engagement with the Tasmanian community and an unwavering commitment to providing positive leadership and role models for young Tasmanians.

“We also understand a decision to support a Tasmanian SSN team may impact the Agreement with Collingwood beyond 2022.

“That is not a reflection on the relationship with Collingwood which has been fantastic, rather our need to prioritise the implementation of a Tasmanian team in the competition.”

As part of the strategy to operate a SSN Club in Tasmania, Netball Tasmania will be fielding a stand-alone team in the Australian Netball Championships for 2021 (formerly the ANL), rather than continue with the Tasmanian Magpies team.

“The Tasmanian Magpies has been a really valuable program and we’ve collectively achieved great things, including winning the ANL Premiership in 2018,” Pidgeon said.

“We do however need to be doing what we believe is in the best interest of our athletes in alignment with our SSN aspirations, and that means entering a stand-alone team so that we can provided greater elite competition exposure to a greater number of Tasmania athletes.”

Tasmanian Minister for Sport and Recreation, Jane Howlett welcomed Netball Tasmania’s announcement stating “this is an exciting opportunity for our state which could see SSN games played regularly here in Tasmania.

“A Tasmanian team could also lead to an increase in participation in the sport by giving young players a glimpse at world class netball, and a potential pathway from grassroots participation right through to the highest level of competition.

“Our Government looks forward to working with Netball Tasmania to see what support we could provide, should their expression of interest be successful.”

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