Opportunities for Australian netball talent are set to grow in 2023 with the addition of an eleventh team to compete in next month’s Australian Netball Championships.
The second edition of the open age championships will be contested from August 21 to 27 between eleven teams from state and territory Member Organisations and Suncorp Super Netball clubs.
Moreton Bay Council is set to host the tournament-style event at Morayfield Sports and Events Centre in Brisbane's north, providing an opportunity for both local and interstate fans to experience the action across the week.
This 2023 line-up includes Netball NT's representative team, the Territory Storm.
“For the first time since the competition's inception, we are thrilled eleven teams will participate in the 2023 Australian Netball Championships,” said Netball Australia’s Executive General Manager of High Performance Stacey West.
“The event plays such an important role in the development of our athletes, coaches, umpires and officials. Furthermore, it provides a key transition pathway for emerging talent to be identified and selected for the 21/U Australian squad, and feed into the world’s best netball league, the Suncorp Super Netball League.”
The 11 teams include reigning champions the Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures, as well as the Firebird Futures, Capital Darters, Collingwood Magpies, Giants Netball Academy, QBE Swifts Academy, Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts, Tasmania Wild, Territory Storm, Victorian Fury and the West Coast Fever Reserves.
Netball NT's Executive Officer, Penny Shearer, expressed her excitement for the Storm to rejoin the Australian Netball Championships in Queensland.
“Our Territory Storm program provides an important opportunity for our athletes to continue to develop within the Australian pathway against the best in the country,” she said.
“Our Darwin and Alice Springs athletes have been working hard and are looking forward to showcasing their skills come August.”
Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the region was thrilled to host the 2023 Australian Netball Championships at Morayfield Sports and Events Centre in August.
"We are delighted to partner with Netball Australia on this opportunity and secure this event through our major events sponsorship program", Mayor Flannery said.
"We're looking forward to the action on the court, and excited to welcome the players' family, friends, staff and supporters to our beautiful part of the world.
"If you've never been to Moreton Bay before, you should definitely plan on extending your visit because there's so much to see, and our hospitality is second to none.
"We estimate the Australian Netball Championships event will inject close to $900,000 into our local economy for shops, cafes, accommodation providers, suppliers and many more, which is a great boost for local businesses.”
The 2023 Australian Netball Championships will be available to watch live, on-demand and free via Kayo Freebies.
Kayo Freebies can be accessed by downloading the Kayo Sports app or visiting www.kayosports.com.au/freebies and creating an account. Kayo Freebies are free with no credit card details required.
Fixtures and ticketing information for the 2023 Australian Netball Championships will be made available in the coming weeks.
