The SSN is the toughest netball competition in the world and has an unlimited import policy. Players from countries such as England, Jamaica and South Africa have benefited from exposure to the rigours of the competition, but in 2027, New Zealand players will make up the largest percentage of import players.<\/p>\n
When she was in charge of the Diamonds, Alexander warned about the impact of the policy that has led to top Australian players missing out on SSN contracts.<\/p>\n
The Silver Ferns celebrate winning gold at this year’s Commonwealth Games. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Despite the influx of New Zealand athletes, Alexander did not think Netball Australia would budge on its import policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems that Netball Australia are very keen to make sure that this competition does remain the world\u2019s best, where everyone comes to play in it and you\u2019ve still got a significant number of Australians in the competition,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re the great majority, but I think what will happen in the future is there will be some expansion teams, because that will allow more Australians to have positions in the team and I guess help our pathway a little bit as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Australian Diamonds suffered a shock loss to Jamaica in the semi-finals at the recent Commonwealth Games and had to settle for bronze, their lowest finish at a pinnacle event.<\/p>\n
With their win in Glasgow earlier this month, the Silver Ferns won their first Commonwealth Games gold medal since 2010. In 12 months, Australia will host the World Cup in Sydney.<\/p>\n
Alexander said Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich would be wary about more Silver Ferns playing SSN netball next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think she should be. I think she might have been concerned if she had to play the Silver Ferns in the gold medal final at the Commonwealth Games, because it definitely has improved their performances as athletes individually.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the fittest I\u2019ve ever seen the Silver Ferns, so I think from that point of view, yes, it would be a concern, but you know Stacey\u2019s job is to take our best Australian players and create that into a team to defeat the New Zealand team.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, you do have advantages by playing against them week in week out, you get to know their strengths and weaknesses as well, so I think it\u2019s got advantages on both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Australian Diamond-turned commentator Bianca Chatfield was not surprised by the number of New Zealand players signed on for 2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially once we saw what happened in Super Netball this year and the impact players like Kate Heffernan had on the competition,\u201d she said. \u201cI just thought that it would only encourage more to come over and it\u2019s exciting to see that it\u2019s actually becoming a real global competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralian fans are going to have their own thoughts about the impact that it has on their local players, but in terms of Super Netball being the best competition in the world, we have to have the best athletes in the world playing in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chatfield said the Silver Ferns\u2019 performances at the Commonwealth Games helped propel some lesser-known players into the SSN conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a huge tournament for the Silver Ferns and I think it showed the versatility that a lot of the players have. For Mila [Reuelu-Buchanan], for example, I think seeing her play wing defence at Comm Games really opened up the eyes of everyone here and the Vixens, obviously, to see that she can play that position.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the Comm Games is a huge indicator that the Silver Ferns are right up there and that versatility they can play across different positions is only going to be an asset to a Super Netball team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chatfield said Marinkovich would be concerned that even more New Zealand players would get SSN experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cStacey has probably been preparing and knowing that this was happening. If anything, she\u2019s been probably trying to throw out the warning signals for the last few years that, if we keep having no import policy, we\u2019re going to have trouble when it comes to Diamonds and what happens at these major tournaments.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that has finally shown at a major tournament, like what\u2019s just happened at the Commonwealth Games, where teams like Jamaica and the Silver Ferns, they have a real chance now to knock Australia over.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately for Stacey, I feel like Netball Australia probably haven\u2019t listened to her concerns and they\u2019ve just carried on making sure Super Netball grows to what they want it to be. I think, if she could have her way, she would put a halt to it, but unfortunately, that\u2019s out of her hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are growing calls in Australia to add two teams to the eight-team competition to provide more local players an opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think our organisation has to look at expanding as quickly as it can, in order to have those players playing in the world\u2019s best competition, but you\u2019ve got to be mindful, you\u2019ve got to make money as well, so it\u2019s at a very interesting point in time,\u201d Alexander said.<\/p>\n
Chatfield also believed team rosters needed to increase to 12 players, rather than 10.<\/p>\n
New Zealand may still have some sort of domestic league next year and, if that\u2019s the case, Chatfield said some Australian players who missed out on a 2027 SSN contract could head to Aotearoa.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everything will be on the table for players that have missed out,\u201d she said. \u201cWe see some big names like Lucy Austin without a team, who just last year was making a debut for the Diamonds and now doesn\u2019t have a side.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of players that are sitting just outside that contracted list of 10, so they\u2019ll be looking for opportunities, and they\u2019ll want to go and test themselves. If the next best for them is going over and playing in the ANZ Premiership, if that exists and has a life next season, then I think you\u2019ll definitely see some Australians over there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kiwis playing in Australia\u2019s 2027 SSN league<\/p>\n
Mila Reuelu-Buchanan \u2013 Melbourne VixensAmelia Walmsley \u2013 Melbourne VixensCarys Stythe \u2013 Melbourne VixensKimiora Poi \u2013 Queensland FirebirdsGeorgia Heffernan \u2013 Sunshine Coast Lightning \u2013 two-year contractAmeliaranne Ekenasio \u2013 West Coast Fever*Te Paea Selby-Rickit \u2013 Queensland Firebirds*Kate Heffernan \u2013 Adelaide Thunderbird \u2013 two-year contract*Maddy Gordon \u2013 West Coast Fever \u2013 two-year contract*Kelly Jackson \u2013 Queensland Firebirds*Karin Burger \u2013 Sunshine Coast Lightning*Grace Nweke \u2013 Sydney Sirens \u2013 three-year contract<\/p>\n
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