Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander has cautioned Collingwood and GWS Giants must understand the responsibilities of an international sport when they take on netball franchises.
The national team mentor has backed netball's growing ties with the major football codes in the new competition starting next year, but says they must appreciate the importance of international commitments for their players.
The revamped Australian competition - replacing the trans-Tasman one - will include three new teams, all connected to either AFL or NRL clubs.
AFL clubs Collingwood and GWS Giants will be aligned to new franchises in Melbourne and Sydney respectively, while NRL heavyweight Melbourne will be associated with a side on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Alexander says there are lots of advantages that will flow from the professionalism of the football codes, but pointed out some aren't used to dealing regularly with national team commitments for players during a season.
"I've seen the benefits myself personally because I've had times visiting Collingwood with Nathan Buckley and working with him and also Melbourne Storm with Craig Bellamy and Dean Benton, who is now working with English rugby," Alexander told AAP.
"It really enabled me as a coach to broaden my outlook of high performance and see the good things that work and work well at a professional club.
"But there are are points of difference and there are things that those clubs are going to have to learn about netball, which is an international sport, and that is the major difference.
"I think Melbourne Storm will understand that to a certain extent because of their having to provide players for State of Origin.
"But for AFL its pretty much a foreign territory to them and that's something that they are going to have to learn about, how they manage that."
With the three new franchises set to spark an unprecedented demand for players and the likelihood of more movement between clubs than ever before, Alexander believes the Diamonds program will provide stability in a tumultuous year for the sport.
"They (players) will know and understand what they have to do for us, whilst there's a bit of flux going on underneath," Alexander said.
"What we need to now focus on and put our eyes on are the Commonwealth Games which is going to be in our home country.
"We've got a good two years to work on that and I think the Diamonds will be a nice stable base and a bit of a sanctuary for the players at this stage."
Alexander emphasised the Diamonds staff would be neutral and not get involved in telling players where they should play next year, as the competition for their services grows.
"That's going to be really important that the clubs know and understand we are not in the position of telling players where to play or anything like that," Alexander said.
"We are focused on what the Diamonds need to do and the players and the clubs have to work that out and hopefully as amicably (as possible) and without too much fuss."
Share
