Netball Australia has caused a firestorm after Code Sports revealed that the grand finale of Super Netball will be hosted by the highest bidder for the first time.
Western Australia has been reportedly outperformed by two rival state governments for hosting rights this season, which will make Perth host the decisive one regardless of the results, and despite the recent history of non-compliance with the West Coast wage cap. Fever.
Apart from the last two seasons in which Covid-19 forced the decision to be held in the centers of Queensland, the rights to host the Grand Final have always been granted (except in 2007) to the winner of the main semifinal, between the top two teams of the regular season, since a national competition was formed in 1997.
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The Vixens are closer to the Minor Premiership 01:05
According to Code Sports, Netball Australia first reported the players and coaches of the new deal this week – already 12 rounds in a regular 14-round season. Players are furious at the lack of consultation behind the 11 a.m. move, and the players’ union will release a statement this afternoon.
The startling move was only presented to club executives in April, according to Code, and reportedly will be pocketed in Netball Australia for $ 300,000 in cash in a deal valued at up to $ 650,000 in total. The governing body has suffered significant financial stress due to the impact of Covid-19 in recent years.
The deal is also scheduled to take place in the Grand Final on Sunday evening, July 3 (17:00 local time, 19:00 AEST), instead of the time slot on Saturday afternoon last season.
The Fever are currently second on the ladder, enough to earn them a place in the main semi-final against the Melbourne Vixens, who are on the verge of blocking in the top ten.
If Fever had sold to the Vixens in that grand semifinal, they would have won the host rights for the grand final independently.
But Netball Australia also run the risk of Fever missing the final, which could seriously affect the size of the crowd for the decisive one.
Most likely, the move will frustrate the Vixens, who won the title in 2020 despite losing the grand final due to the Covid-19. His fans now face the possibility of winning his main semi-final only to be forced to fly to Perth during the school holidays to watch his team play a second grand final away from home in three seasons.
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