The NSW Swifts would like to make the following statement regarding the abandonment of its Round 2 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) Match.
The Club can confirm that it was provided with a genuine opportunity to participate in Netball Australia’s investigation regarding the circumstances that led to its Round 2 SSN clash against the Adelaide Thunderbirds being abandoned at halftime and both Clubs being awarded two (2) competition points each.
While there were clearly some unexpected circumstances which contributed to the final outcome, in the Club’s opinion, the delay in actioning the removal of the decals remains disappointing from the Club’s perspective. In addition, the Club would have welcomed the opportunity on the night to work with both Netball Australia and the Adelaide Thunderbirds, to assess together, if the game could have somehow been completed, even if that was ultimately behind closed doors with no broadcast.
As a result of the incident, Netball Australia has reviewed and enhanced a range of processes and procedures related to addressing venue issues which may impact on the ability for a match to be commenced and/or completed. We acknowledge Netball Australia’s proactivity in this context to ensure that both Netball Australia and each of the SSN Clubs work together with clarity and efficiency to ensure as best we can that the focus on match day is the incredible contests brought to life by players, coaching staff, officials, broadcasters and match day staff.
Further, the Club will be actively advocating for an amendment to the current prescribed 120-minute allocated match session time for completion of a game. As a competition, we need to do everything we can to allow all contests be completed, notwithstanding the circumstances which may arise.
Finally, we commend the manner in which our players, coaching staff and Club staff have responded. In keeping with their professionalism, resilience and culture, the team’s entire focus since the abandonment of their Round 2 match has been future focused.
The Club has no further comment to make at this stage.
