Glasgow: The Diamonds have pushed aside a pay dispute with Netball Australia to clinch a clinical and ruthless 61-goal win over Tonga in their opening match of the Commonwealth Games.
The Diamonds’ win on Saturday was the first step in the defence of their 2022 gold medal from Birmingham, but once again they will have a campaign overshadowed by a battle with Netball Australia over pay.
The current Super Netball collective player agreement expires on September 30, meaning all 88 players, including the Diamonds squad, will be off contract. The dispute between Netball Australia and the players’ union centres on the distribution of netball’s revenue and player frustration over pregnancy and parenting policies.
It is a similar situation to the messy and extended pay negotiations that dominated headlines during the Diamonds’ World Cup campaign in 2023, as players battled for a revenue-sharing partnership and more financial transparency.
