Collingwood Magpies (netball)

Australian netball team

Collingwood Magpies

Founded| 2016
Disbanded| 2023
Based in| Melbourne
Regions| Victoria
Home venue| John Cain Arena (10,500)
Silverdome (4,000)
Head coach| Nicole Richardson
Co-captains| Ash Brazill, Geva Mentor
Vice-captain| Kelsey Browne
League| Suncorp Super Netball
2023 placing| 8th (last)

Uniform

The Collingwood Magpies were an Australian professional netball team in Melbourne that competed in the premier domestic league, Suncorp Super Netball. The team was founded in 2016, during the disbanding of the ANZ Championship. The Magpies were owned by the professional Australian Football League entity, the Collingwood Football Club. The team's home games were predominantly played at John Cain Arena. In May 2023, news reports disclosed that the team was in financial distress, and later that month the Collingwood Football Club announced it would withdraw its netball team at the conclusion of the 2023 season.[1]

## History[edit]

Following the dissolution of the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship competition in 2016, Netball Australia announced the creation of a new national netball league, which would feature the five original Australian teams and three additional teams. In May 2016, Netball Australia confirmed that the Collingwood Football Club was one of three preferred license holders for the new teams.[2]

Collingwood Magpies Netball was launched in September 2016 at the headquarters of the Collingwood Football Club, the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre. The new team had a distinct logo, different from the football team, though a few years later the club elected to unify the logo with the football team.[3] Speaking at the launch, club president Eddie McGuire stated, "This team is not an add on to our [football] program by any stretch. It has its own identity, its own high performance unit in its own right and our strategy is to get the best people and best players possible."[4]

### 2017–20: Early years[edit]

The Magpies debuted in the 2017 Super Netball season. For the inaugural season, Madi Browne was appointed team captain under head coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell.[4] The Magpies entered the league with a star-studded squad of former and existing Australia national team players, thanks mainly due to significant financial weight backing the team. Consequently, the Magpies were widely tipped by pundits to win the league.[5] However, the team finished the regular season fourth (out of eight teams) on the ladder and lost their elimination final to Giants Netball by one goal.[6] In the following season the Magpies struggled for wins and consistency. Prominent defender Sharni Layton announced her retirement and the club elected not to extend the contract of coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell, replacing her with former Swifts coach Rob Wright at the end of the season.[7] Wright oversaw the signing of new players Kelsey Browne and Geva Mentor among others, and the Magpies returned to finals, though were defeated by local rivals the Vixens in the elimination final. The following year the Magpies won only one of their fourteen games in the COVID-19-impacted season. Co-captain Madi Browne departed from the club and Rob Wright's tenure as coach ended.[8] Wright was replaced by former Diamond and Magpies assistant Nicole Richardson as the new head coach.[9]

### 2023: Financial distress and notice of withdrawal[edit]

Facing just three finals appearances from seven years in the league, the club's performance both financially and on the court came under intense scrutiny during the month of May.[10] Netball Australia promptly announced it would be negotiating with interested parties for the eighth licence for a 2024–26 window.[11]

Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly said the financial difficulties faced by Netball Australia and the fact there is currently no collective player agreement and team participation agreement for the 2024 season were the reasons behind the withdrawal.[11] The club played its final match on 17 June 2023 at the Silverdome in Launceston, upsetting the league's reigning premiers West Coast Fever by three goals in a game that doubled as the final domestic appearance for club stalwart Ashleigh Brazill.[12]

## Franchise[edit]

### Venues[edit]

The Magpies' primary home court was the 10,500-capacity John Cain Arena. The club also played one or two home games a year at the Silverdome in Launceston as part of an agreement with the government of Tasmania.[13] Throughout its time in the league, the Magpies also played some home matches at Margaret Court Arena and Bendigo Stadium.

### List of captains[edit]

Collingwood's inaugural captain was Madi Browne, who led the team to a finals place in the inaugural season. The club became the first in the league's history to appoint co-captains, when English international Geva Mentor was appointed alongside Browne in 2019.[14]

* Madison Browne (2017–2020)
* Geva Mentor (2019–2023)
* Ash Brazill (2022–2023)

## Final roster[edit]

2023 Collingwood Magpies roster

Players | Coaching staff
| Nat.  | Name  | Position(s)  | DoB  | Height

|
|
|
|

| Ashleigh Brazill (cc) | C, WD  | 29 December 1989  | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
| Kelsey Browne (vc) | WA, C  | 17 January 1992  | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
| Sophie Garbin | GS, GA  | 6 April 1997  | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
| Molly Jovic | WA, C, WD  | 7 October 1995  | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
| Maddie Hinchliffe  | WD, C  | 25 May 1998  | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
| Geva Mentor (cc) | GK  | 17 September 1984  | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
| Shimona Nelson | GS  | 1 December 1998  | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
| Jacqui Newton  | GD, GK, WD  | 14 February 1997  | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
| Nyah Allen | GA, GS  | 7 March 2002  | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
| Jodi-Ann Ward | GD, WD, GK  | 1 September 1994  | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
| Kelly Singleton (TRP) | GA, GS  | 24 June 1998  | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)

Head coach

* Nicole Richardson

Assistant coach

* Kate Upton

* * *

Notes

* (c) - Captain
* (cc) - Co-captain
* (vc) - Vice-captain
* - Injury / maternity leave
* (TRP) - Temporary Replacement Player

Player profiles: Team website | Last updated: 17 March 2023

## Competitive record[edit]

Season  | Standings  | Regular season  | Finals  | Head coach

|
|
|
|

W  | D  | L
Collingwood Magpies
2017 | 4th  | 9  | 0  | 5  | Lost Elimination Final (Giants, 51–52)  | Kristy Keppich-Birrell
2018 | 7th  | 3  | 1  | 10  | DNQ
2019 | 4th  | 7  | 2  | 5  | Lost Elimination Final (Vixens, 49–62)  | Rob Wright
2020 | 8th  | 1  | 0  | 13  | DNQ
2021 | 6th  | 6  | 0  | 8  | DNQ  | Nicole Richardson
2022 | 4th  | 6  | 0  | 8  | Lost Elimination Final (Giants, 48–55)
2023 | 8th  | 4  | 0  | 10  | DNQ
Regular season  | 36  | 3  | 59  | 0 Minor Premierships
Finals  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 0 Super Netball titles

## Reserve team[edit]

Main article: Tasmanian Magpies

For the majority of the Collingwood Magpies' existence, the Tasmanian Magpies acted as its reserve team, holding an affiliation with the club from 2017 to 2020. The Tasmanian Magpies played in the Australian Netball League (ANL), the national second-tier netball competition, and were champions in 2018.[15][16] Following the collapse of the ANL due to cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Collingwood announced it would field its own reserves team, also known as the Collingwood Magpies, in the new Australian Netball Championships, which were first held in Traralgon in August 2022.[17][18]

## Honours[edit]

### Club achievements[edit]

* Premierships (0): Nil
* Minor Premierships (0): Nil
* Pre-Season Premierships (1): 2019
* Australian Netball Championships (2): 2018,[i] 2023
* Netball New Zealand Super Club Titles (1): 2019

Notes:

1. ^ Playing as the Tasmanian Magpies in 2018

### Best and fairest awards[edit]

Player  | Year(s) won  | Years active  | Ref

|
|
|

Kelsey Browne | 2022  | 2015–present  | [19]
Ash Brazill | 2018  | 2010–2023  | [20]
Geva Mentor | 2019, 2020  | 2005–present  | [21]
Caitlin Thwaites | 2017  | 2002–2020  | [22]
Jodi-Ann Ward | 2021, 2023  | 2015–present  | [23]

## See also[edit]

* Suncorp Super Netball
* Collingwood Football Club

## References[edit]

1. ^ "'Incredibly difficult': AFL giants quit Super Netball". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
2. ^ "Netball Australia confirms new eight-team division and bumper broadcasting deal". ABC News. 19 May 2016.
3. ^ "It's more than one team, one sport, or one individual. It's our club, and your club. It thrives off our passion and commitment. Through highs and lows, we are one community, where everyone belongs. New Year. New Logo". Collingwood. Twitter. 13 January 2020.
4. ^ a b "Collingwood unveil all-star contract list headed by Sharni Layton for new netball national league". Herald Sun. 21 September 2016.
5. ^ "Super Netball: Collingwood lifts bar and tipped to dominate competition". ABC News. 18 February 2017.
6. ^ "Super Netball: Giants roll Collingwood Magpies in nailbiting one-goal win". 3 June 2017.
7. ^ "Collingwood Magpies Netball appoint Rob Wright as new coach". News.com.au. 7 August 2018.
8. ^ "Collingwood Farewells Rob Wright". Collingwood Magpies. 29 September 2020.
9. ^ "Richardson named Magpies coach". Super Netball. 20 November 2020.
10. ^ "'Incredibly difficult': AFL giants quit Super Netball". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
11. ^ a b "Journalist Caroline Wilson tears 'poor' Collingwood to shreds".
12. ^ AAP (17 June 2023). "Magpies Netball stun West Coast Fever 65-62 in club's final game, Adelaide Thunderbirds beat NSW Swifts". ABC News. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
13. ^ "Magpies head to Launceston". Collingwood Magpies. 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019.
14. ^ "Co-captains Robinson and Mentor lead the Magpies in 2019". Magpies Netball. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
15. ^ "Tasmanian Magpies". tas.netball.com.au. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
16. ^ "Tassie Magpies celebrate first DUANL title". netball.com.au. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
17. ^ "Australian Netball Championships to replace Australian Netball League". Collingwood Magpies. 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
18. ^ "Australian Netball Championships". Netball Australia. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
19. ^ "Browne crowned 2022 best and fairest". Collingwood Magpies. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
20. ^ "ASH BRAZILL". Collingwood Magpies. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
21. ^ "GEVA MENTOR". Collingwood Magpies. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
22. ^ "Thwaites Returns To The Vixens". Suncorp Super Netball. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
23. ^ "Ward wins best and fairest". Collingwood Magpies. Retrieved 5 July 2022.

## External links[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Collingwood Magpies

Est. 2016 in Melbourne, Victoria

Club|

* History
* Players

Premierships (0)|

* Nil

Home courts|

* John Cain Arena (2017–2023)
* Silverdome (2017–2023)
* Others

Seasons (7)|

* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Captains|

* Madison Browne
* Geva Mentor
* Ashleigh Brazill

Coaches|

* Kristy-Keppich Birrell
* Rob Wright
* Nicole Richardson

Competition|

* Suncorp Super Netball

Affiliations|

* Collingwood Football Club
* Tasmanian Magpies

* v
* t
* e

Suncorp Super Netball

Organising body|

* Netball Australia

Teams|

| Current|

* Adelaide Thunderbirds
* Giants Netball
* Melbourne Mavericks
* Melbourne Vixens
* New South Wales Swifts
* Queensland Firebirds
* Sunshine Coast Lightning
* West Coast Fever

|

Former|

* Collingwood Magpies (2017–23)

Seasons|

* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Awards|

* Player of the Year
* Grand Final MVP
* Young Star
* Leading Goalscorer
* Team of the Year

Related Competitions|

* Australian Netball Championships

* v
* t
* e

Netball in Australia

Governing bodies|

* Australia
* Australian Capital Territory
* New South Wales
* Northern Territory
* Queensland
* South Australia
* Tasmania
* Victoria
* Western Australia

National team|

* Women
* Constellation Cup
* Captains
* Players

Competitions|

| National|

* Suncorp Super Netball
* Australian Netball Championships
* Australian National Netball Championships

|

State|

* New South Wales
* Queensland
* South Australia
* Victoria
* Western Australia

Defunct|

* ANZ Championship
* Australian State Netball League
* Commonwealth Bank Trophy
* Mobil Superleague

SSN teams|

* Adelaide Thunderbirds
* Collingwood Magpies
* Giants Netball
* Melbourne Vixens
* New South Wales Swifts
* Queensland Firebirds
* Sunshine Coast Lightning
* West Coast Fever

History|

* Australian Institute of Sport Netball Program
* Australian Netball Hall of Fame
* List of Australian netball premiers
* List of netball coaches in Australia

Other|

* Australian Netball Players' Association

* v
* t
* e

Collingwood Football Club

* Nickname: Magpies

* History
* Records
* Current squad
* Players
* Captains
* Coaches
* Awards
* Copeland Trophy
* AFL Women's best and fairest
* Leading goalkickers

* AFL coach: Craig McRae
* AFL captain: Darcy Moore

* AFLW coach: Sam Wright
* AFLW captains: Brianna Davey

VFL/AFL home grounds|

* Victoria Park (1897–1999)
* Melbourne Cricket Ground (2000–)

AFLW home grounds|

* Olympic Park Oval (2017–2018)
* Victoria Park (2019–)

VFA premierships (1)|

* 1896

VFL/AFL premierships (16)|

* 1902
* 1903
* 1910
* 1917
* 1919
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1935
* 1936
* 1953
* 1958
* 1990
* 2010
* 2023

Runner-up (27)|

* 1901
* 1905
* 1911
* 1915
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1925
* 1926
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1952
* 1955
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1966
* 1970
* 1977
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 2002
* 2003
* 2011
* 2018

Seasons (132)|

* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Related articles|

* AIA Centre
* Anzac Day match
* Carlton rivalry
* Collingwood District
* Colliwobbles
* Eddie McGuire
* Mark Korda
* Joffa Corfe
* King's Birthday match
* Netball team
* New York Magpies
* Olympic Park Oval
* Presidents
* VFL team

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template