Collingwood confirm its Super Netball withdrawal at end of 2023 season
Collingwood has confirmed it will withdraw from the Super Netball competition following the 2023 season.
The club revealed a week ago it was reviewing the netball program, which had yielded just two finals appearances from seven years in the league.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, chief executive Craig Kelly acknowledged the club "could have run a better netball program".
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"Collingwood is a better place for having had a netball team and the decision to not renew our netball licence has been an incredibly difficult one which has weighed heavily on us," Kelly said.
Magpies walk off after their loss to the NSW Swifts last weekend. Getty
"As a club, we are tasked with continuing to deliver growth across all areas of Collingwood and ultimately, the review, which analysed key aspects of the club's netball program and that of the governing body, determined that the program is not sustainable."
Despite the withdrawal, Kelly said the club "remains absolutely committed to growing, investing in and developing women athletes through our AFLW and VFLW programs".
In its own statement, Netball Australia said it remained committed to an eight-team competition next season, and negotiations with "interested parties" had begun.
"While we are disappointed by Collingwood's decision, we thank them for their participation in the Suncorp Super Netball competition," chief executive Kelly Ryan said.
The Magpies during Anzac Day commemorations. Kelly Defina
"In recent times it had become clear that Collingwood's priorities had shifted away from netball to focus on its core business of football.
"We are understanding of the impact Collingwood's decision has on its current players and staff, and we will support them during this time.
"We are currently talking to interested parties and look forward to communicating the next steps as this process unfolds."
The Magpies currently sit equal last on the Super Netball ladder with just two wins. They're ahead of only the Queensland Firebirds on percentage.
On Monday night, veteran journalist Caroline Wilson slammed the club for \.
Collingwood Magpies Head Coach Nicole Richardson speaks to her players. Graham Denholm via Getty Images
"Collingwood has done a lot of things right this year, but abandoning, as it might do, its netball team after seven years is not one of them," Wilson told Nine's Footy Classified.
"Collingwood won significant public funding from a government enamoured by women's sporting programs as a result of their netball team and then [women's] football team," she said.
"[The club's] got bigger, brighter facilities for them to thank."
Collingwood's withdrawal is a bigger concern for Super Netball, given no players from any of the Super Netball clubs are contracted beyond this season as a dispute over a new Collective Players' Agreement, which expires at the end of September, continues.
