Dalton Myers | Netball and Import Policy

Australia's one-point loss to England in the netball final at the Commonwealth Games 2018, and Jamaica's win over New Zealand's Silver Ferns, have left the netball world in a tailspin. Both Australia and New Zealand have never been in this position before in the same major competition. Usually, both make the final, while the bronze medal is contested between the Sunshine Girls and England.

Following the match, Australia Diamonds' coach Lisa Alexander was quoted as saying "That's our high performance system working for another country" in reference to England's buzzer-beater that came from a penalty. Alexander, who was a successful domestic coach, became the first coach in over 20 years to be elevated to the top post without ever playing for the national team.

Her comment suggesting that the now popular Australian Super League was instrumental in England's victory on Australian soil is interesting, and calls for greater examination. The comment has drawn criticism from many across the netball fraternity, while some argue that she is indeed correct. But is this a matter of sour grapes or something for Australia to really examine?

To be honest, her comment is not new rhetoric regarding a major domestic competition. In fact, there is the argument that England's football programme is struggling because of the influx of imports to its premier domestic competition. There is the feeling that the English Premier League (EPL) is not creating a medium to develop young players. Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also had to make adjustments to its overseas players' policy as the English team had struggled, and it was felt that the domestic league was being used by other international teams to develop their players, who then used said players to beat the English.

Therefore such pronouncements are not new. What is new, however, is that it is coming from a coach,who just recently argued that this import policy was something good for the well-commercialised Netball Super League.

Debate reignited

What she has successfully done though, is reignite a debate on imported players and the commercialisation of sport. Netball Australia would have kept this open type of import policy, so as to get the best players from across the world playing in Australia.

This means greater revenue from sponsorship and TV rights, hence boosting the country's economy, and injecting money into the coffers of the organisers, which also funds their High Performance Programme.

What does all of this means for Jamaica? Should we be concerned? At the moment, no, because the commercial element of the Super League is greater than a loss at the Commonwealth Games. In fact, more fans will be turning up to see those top players including Jamaicans, who are now bigger superstars. However in the long run, I am sure once the League becomes more financially viable, and there is a further threat to Australia's high performance programme, measures will be put in place to curb the number of imports each team can have. Lisa Alexander may want to look at the fact that while the Super League has assisted England, it has also assisted Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, and to a lesser extent Uganda and South Africa.

Locally, we need to try to benefit as much as possible from the League as it stands now. I have longed called for a well-structured Netball Players' Association to help capitalise on the sport's potential local and global earnings. Additionally, our Elite League will need some improvement to keep churning out top players for the overseas market. In any sport you want your best players playing at a high level at all times. Players also want to be able to earn as a professional from their talents. Jamaica currently has approximately 4-5 players in Australia, and I am sure the aim is to have more playing there and elsewhere overseas. Dr. Paula Daley-Morris' pleas for more financial help for the sport locally also show that our girls need more support from corporate Jamaica, so when the time comes we will not feel any heavy fallout from changes to import policies.

Dalton Myers is a Sports Consultant and administrator. Send feedback to daltonsmyers@gmail.com or twitter @daltonsmyers