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Netball fans' touching act moves Collingwood coach to tears: 'It's been tough'

Collingwood left the Super Netball world in shock after abruptly announcing they were pulling out of the league at the end of this season.

Collingwood netball coach Nicole Richardson thanked fans of the rival Sunshine Coast Lightning, after they gave the Magpies a standing ovation in the wake of news the team will withdraw from the competition. Pictures: Getty Images
Collingwood netball coach Nicole Richardson thanked fans of the rival Sunshine Coast Lightning, after they gave the Magpies a standing ovation in the wake of news the team will withdraw from the competition. Pictures: Getty Images

Collingwood netball coach Nicole Richardson was moved to tears prior to Saturday night's Super Netball clash against the Sunshine Coast Lightning, after rivals fans gave the Magpies a standing ovation prior to the game starting. Collingwood announced they were withdrawing support for their Super Netball team last week, plunging the league and its players into uncertainty.

After a review of their netball program, the Collingwood Football Club announced it would no longer compete in the league - leaving not only their own players in the lurch but the entire Super Netball league. Super Netball players from all eight teams do not, at the time of writing, have any contractual arrangements beyond September this year with the collective players' agreement set to expire.

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Further arrangements are yet to be made, with the Super Netball season to conclude in four weeks. Collingwood joined the competition in 2017, but left the netball world shocked when they announced they were withdrawing their support beyond this season.

Richardson confirmed Collingwood was backing the team for the Australian Netball Championship tournament in August, likely the last hurrah for the Magpies in netball. The decision has wide-ranging ramifications, with players uncertain if they will still have a job and a league to play in beyond September this year, while overseas players will likely have issues with visas as a result.

Netball fans were incredibly disappointed by the move, with Richardson saying it had been a 'really tough' week since the news was handed down. The ovation from Lightning fans left the Magpies coach in tears of appreciation.

"It's really tough because the girls are hurting," Richardson told Fox Sports. "I don't know what type of performance they'll put in.

"Emotionally, physically, mentally, it's been a tough week. We've got to make sure we get around each other.

"We are still here to win a game, we've still got a job to do. I think it's going to be a very tough and emotional four remaining games.

"This is the last time we get to play Sunny Coast Lightning up here in front of their fans. We just walked out onto court and got a standing ovation from them. It brings tears to your eyes."

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Collingwood captain Ash Brazill lamented the position of uncertainty the players had been thrown in. She specifically cited the example of teammate Shimona Nelson, who had joined the team from Jamaica and joined the Magpies in 2022.

"Someone like Shimona, she doesn't have any family over here. This isn't just affecting her having a playing career; it's affecting her visa to even be in Australia," Brazill said when interviewed by Fox.

"It's more than a game now; we're trying to look after people."

Collingwood were one of three teams to join the Super Netball competition when it began in 2017, but have struggled to attain consistent success. In seven seasons, Collingwood have made the finals on just two occasions.

The Collingwood Magpies team in Super Netball.
Collingwood's netball team, along with the rest of the Super Netball competition, face an uncertain future after the Magpies withdrew their support for the team. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Regardless, Brazill said it was tough to play knowing that her and her teammates' careers would be in complete limo in four weeks. "This group has been amazing," she said.

"We're all exhausted from the whole week, but we've all put our arms around each other. We just want to play and put out a good performance."

Sadly, despite a strong showing against the Lightning, the home team was able to come away with a 66-62 victory against the Magpies.

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