Collingwood crisis: Magpies CEO, Netball Australia, player agents, club owners, Nat Medhurst react

Last week, stunned Collingwood players and staff learned that the AFL club’s troubled Super Netball program could be finished after this season. The bombshell came hours after CODE Sports published part one of a special investigation into the team’s woes.

Confirmation the Magpies’ netball team was folding came on Thursday, when chief executive Craig Kelly called it an “incredibly difficult” decision.

In addition to needing to urgently find a replacement team, Netball Australia is also mired in a pay dispute that looms over the Super Netball finals and ensuing Netball World Cup.

Here is everything you need to know after two weeks of netball chaos.

What is going on at Collingwood?

The club has walked away from Super Netball, deciding its seventh season in the competition will be its last. CODE Sports’ Linda Pearce broke the news that got the netball world talking.

Magpies CEO Craig Kelly called a meeting of players and staff to advise the stunned group that whether or not the club fielded a Super Netball team next season would be determined after working through money and other issues with Netball Australia (NA) over the next seven days.

The bombshell: “They are all in a panic at the moment.”

It appeared to be a case of when, not if, from that point on. The following week, Kelly confirmed the inevitable.

The confirmation: “Not sustainable.”

How did it come to this?

Collingwood arrived as a frightening new force in netball, yet quickly plummeted into nastiness and enduring failure. A dysfunctional, damaging birth set the tone for a club that was ultimately doomed to fail.

Part I of CODE’s special investigation: “Collingwood was like a bastardisation of the football team and it never worked.”

Part II of CODE’s special investigation: “They should have stuck to footy.’’

Part III of CODE’s special investigation: “Losing a hell of a lot of money.”

Red flags were evident during her days at the club, but Nat Medhurst has mixed feelings about the saga.

Medhurst: “The timing is the worst part.”

What does it all mean for players?

Leading Super Netball players were already being offered to overseas leagues from next year. The high probability that the Magpies’ netball experiment was over had added to uncertainty that reigns league-wide.

Player agent Trent Tavoletti: “It’s a complete shemozzle.”

Are any other Super Netball sides in danger of folding?

Sunshine Coast Lightning chair Matt Tripp admits his Melbourne Storm Group is keen to see some “improvement” in NA’s performance.

But Tripp explained to CODE why his NRL club won’t walk away from its Super Netball commitment.

Storm boss Matt Tripp: “We’re committed, absolutely.”

What happens now the Magpies have exited Super Netball?

NA is committed to an eight-team competition. The governing body says negotiations were already underway with interested parties regarding next season. Tasmania looms as one obvious option.

CODE recently looked at the case for and against a Tasmanian team: “You have to go to Tassie.”

Super Netball captains made their thoughts clear on Tassie in our pre-season poll: “I know that they love their netball down there.”

Netball Tasmania ready to throw hat in the ring: “This may open a window.”

The Gold Coast Titans notably have a team in Netball Queensland’s elite Sapphire Series.

Titans CEO Steve Mitchell: “The timing is not ideal for us.”

Geelong is also out of the race.

Geelong Netball Club: “When the time is right.”

Collingwood’s players will need to find a new team, with the club vowing to “support athletes and staff on their transition”. Clouding that process is the fact that pay talks are yet to be finalised for the 2024 Super Netball season.

What about Netball Australia?

The governing body staged its annual general meeting last week. The organisation announced a $300,000 profit, but remains $4.2 million in debt.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan: “We need to build a buffer.”

NA remain in pay talks with players about the next Collective Player Agreement (CPA).

Time is running out for a deal to be struck with every player in the competition off contract at the end of this season. The Diamonds head into camp two days after the Super Netball grand final to prepare for a World Cup.

Meanwhile, the prospect of a new IPL-style netball competition has been floated by potential investors.

Rival comp: “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

What about on the court?

Nat Medhurst’s recent return was a big talking point. The CODE columnist wrote about why it was a dream come true in some ways, but painful in others.

Medhurst: “I have lost sleep over that one-goal loss.”

Round 11 begins with the Lightning hosting Collingwood at UniSC Arena on Saturday.

You can watch the action on Kayo Sports and read a wrap of every game on CODE.

Bianca Chatfield’s latest SSN report card: “It’s so sad to watch all this unfold.”