Quiet start for Super Netball player moves

The player contracting period for the 2018 Super Netball competition is under way but will be less eventful than last year when a host of stars changed clubs.

After the recruiting frenzy that preceded the inaugural Super Netball competition, the early signs are it will be a much quieter second year for big name player movements.

The three-week contracting period for 2018 started on Monday and ends on July 10.

Prior to season one, many top players opted to jump from established clubs to the three new franchises, with Collingwood alone recruiting six Diamonds.

Over the past seven weeks, clubs had an exclusive right to sign any of their existing contracted athletes, permanent or temporary replacement players or training partners, as one of their 10 contacted players for the 2018 season.

The first two clubs to make player 2018 roster announcements, Queensland Firebirds and NSW Swifts, largely stuck with the bulk of their 2017 squads and retained their stars.

Australia under-21 defender Tara Hinchliffe was the only inclusion in the Firebirds squad, which again includes Diamonds midcourter Caitlyn Nevins, Gabi Simpson and Gretel Tippett and Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken.

The Firebirds have one roster spot to fill, possibly leaving the way open for former Diamonds' captain and defender Laura Geitz to return after the birth of her first child.

The Swifts, who like the Firebirds missed out on the 2017 finals, have eight players re-committing to the club for next year.

That list includes Diamonds midcourter Paige Hadley and import shooters Helen Housby and Sam Wallace.

It's a massive change to last year for the Swifts, who lost most of their stars to the three new clubs.

The payment pool for the 2018 season will remain unchanged frrom 2017, under the two-year collective bargaining agreement announced prior to the competition's inaugural season.

Each club will have up to $500,000 in total player payments, plus up to $150,000 for bona fide employment, education and/or ambassador roles.


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Source: AAP


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