Netball Australia completes review into abandoned Thunderbirds vs Swifts game at Netball SA Stadium

Netball Australia has completed a review into two separate incidents from the Round 2 Super Netball match between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the NSW Swifts at Netball SA Stadium.

The review looked at all activity leading into the match, including the processes on the day, responsibility of Netball SA, as the venue operator and team owner of the Adelaide Thunderbirds, and avenues to prevent a similar situation reoccurring.

The findings of the review confirmed an inconsistency in the Netball SA Stadium playing surface between the decals and the court, and identified a need to adapt the process in which it is prepared for Suncorp Super Netball matches. 

On match-day, remedial action was taken once the issue was identified by the League, which resulted in the decals being removed after all other possible solutions were exhausted. This was due to concerns about the condition of the playing surface underneath the decals.  The playing surface was then signed off by the match delegate, in consultation with the Thunderbirds and the Swifts, and the match commenced.

In light of the review, Netball Australia will assess and approve courts prior to the first match of the season commencing to ensure they align with league standards. Netball Australia will also action an additional sign off of the Netball SA Stadium playing surface on Wednesday 5th April ahead of Thunderbirds Round 4 match.

The league is working to improve its critical incident management plan and will continue to work with venues and suppliers to ensure any court surface issues are identified and rectified in an improved timeframe. 

The second incident was a faulty transformer fuse that caused a power outage at Netball SA Stadium. A venue representative advised it would take several hours for the power to be restored.

The 120-minute match window session exists to ensure the health and safety of athletes, officials, and fans, as well as considering broadcast and venue implications.

Under Suncorp Super Netball’s Rules of the Game, it was determined the match could not be postponed further and subsequently concluded at half-time. A draw was declared, and each team was awarded two points. The final score stands at 25-25.

Commenting on the findings, Netball Australia Chief Executive, Kelly Ryan stated “we’d like to thank all fans for their patience, particularly those at the venue on Saturday night.

“We also want to acknowledge the cooperation and understanding of the Thunderbirds and Swifts in both managing these exceptional circumstances and supporting Netball Australia with the subsequent review.

“We will continue to work closely with all clubs to ensure the highest standards and procedures are in place.”

New Board appointment
Netball Australia has also announced the addition of former Australian Diamond Mo’onia Gerrard to its Board, taking on the position of Athlete Director. 

The new role, established under recommendations from the 2020 State of the Game Review, will contribute to Netball Australia’s ongoing stakeholder engagement and advise on overarching strategies for the growth of the game. 

Image: Netball SA Stadium. Credit: Netball SA.