Netball - Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women's Sport

Netball

MODERN TIMES

The average potential salary will rise to $89,221 and minimum salaries will rise to $46,600 over the term of the 2023 CPA.
Netball Australia and the players will enter a landmark sponsorship revenue sharing partnership where players receive 20 per cent of revenue above an agreed sponsorship forecast.
An increase in the minimum base salary of 10% in 2024, and then annual increases of 3%.
Additional commercial earning potential for players through improvements to approvals and increases to commercial caps.
Rookies: the introduction of an 11th player, whereby one nominated training partner per team is eligible for selection outside of injury or illness on a 6-month minimum salary contract.

RECORDS. MILESTONES. MOMENTS.

SA achieved a legendary consecutive championship-winning streak from 1979 to 1983. This era of national dominance was later formally recognized when the 1979–1983 South Australian state teams were inducted into the SA Sport Hall of Fame.

In 2010 and 2013 the Adelaide Thunderbirds ANZ Championship national titles in front of 10,000 spectators at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Between 1987 and 1996 Contax and Garville contested every state league grand final in what became an intense rivalry. The two clubs competed in 10 consecutive finals, plus one Mobile Super League final, with Garville winning six and Contax four.

HISTORICAL TIMELINE

1890's

Netball was a version of men’s basketball – became known as “seven-a-side basketball” in Australia. In 1892, women played in the US, and in England on grass in 1897.
The basket was closed. When a goal was scored the umpire climbed a ladder to retrieve the ball to restart the game – inefficient time wise.
It was introduced to NZ and Australia by English and religious teachers in early 1900s.
The SA Women’s Basketball Association oversaw both five-a-side basketball and seven-a-side basketball, which was called netball overseas.

1920's

In 1921 Netball South Australia formed as Adelaide Girls’ Basket Ball Association.
In 1922 the first South Australian A grade competition winners were crowned with YWCA 1st VII taking the honours.
1927 the All-Australian Women’s Basketball Association was established with the first All Australia Carnival in 1928.
In 1927 South Australia won the Prouds Challenge Cup, the second year it was contended.
Women played in stockings, box-pleat uniforms with a belt, and some wore a tie with their collared white shirts – long and short sleeved.

1930's

The first All Australian team was selected from performances in the 1934 Carnival with four SA players – Dulcie Rankin, Gwen Rankin, Mavis Richter, Mavis Denton – but didn’t play any international games.

1940's

In the 40s, the only player allowed to talk on court was the captain.
WW2 stopped international competition but in 1948 Australia went to NZ – comprising SA’s Mary White (Warner) (captain), Dawn White (Munro) and Lilian Crawford (Hewish).
They flew out of Sydney Harbour to NZ by “Flying Boat.” Australia won all three Tests.

1950's

In 1956, the first All Australian team to tour England was selected with Peggy King (Allen), Margaret Allen (Scheler), Betty Kempster (Robbie), and Lorraine Eiler (MacQuire) from SA.
Australia won 64 of 67 matches, including two tests against Sri Lanka either way to the United Kingdom and tests against Scotland and England.
In 1957 an International Rules Board meeting was held in London and attended by Australian representatives Lorna McConchie and Jean Cowan.

1960's

The first International Federation of women’s basketball and netball was formed. Delegates came from Australia, England, NZ, Ceylon, and West Indies. Mrs Gwen Benzie from SA was one of two Australian delegates.

Australia hosted New Zealand for three Tests including the first in Adelaide, winning two, with SA presented by Georgina Ramsay (Gordon) (v/c), Madeline Wiesner (Wilson), Elaine Knuckey (Cox), Pat Rowe (Townsend) and Josie Bishop.

1963 was the first World Tournament. Madeline Wilson was the only SA representative selected. Australia won the first ever World Cup beating New Zealand by one goal and winning all 10 matches. Gwen Benzie was the manager.
In 1966 an Australian team toured New Zealand as preparation for the 1967 World Cup to be held in Perth. SA was represented by Chris Burton and Lyn Davey (Morony).

In 1967, Perth hosted the second world tournament which NZ won. Lyn Davey (nee Morony) (Australian captain), Chris Burton, Carol Crawshaw (nee White) and Gwen Benzie who was part of the organising committee – were SA’s representatives.

In 1969 Australia and NZ were the only countries still stubbornly calling the sport basketball. Finally, they relented and in 1970, the All-Australian Women’s Basketball Association became the All-Australia Netball Association (AANA).

1970's

In 1971 Gwen Benzie – as delegate – was the only South Australian at the Third World Tournament in Jamaica. Australia defeated NZ for the gold medal.
In 1975, Chris Burton (v/c) and Sharon Burton (nee Hayes) represented Australia at the Fourth World Cup in NZ with 11 countries competing. Australia retained the title, having drawn with NZ in the rounds.
By the late 1970s, there were 273,000 registered netballers in Australia.
In 1978, Australia toured England with three SA reps: Lyn Fullston, Kay Partingon, Monica Lahm, and Chris Burton as umpire. Pictured below.
In 1979, the Fifth World Cup was held in Trinidad & Tobago. 19 countries (Kenya didn’t arrive to play) competed. Julie Francou (Robran) and Sharon Burton (Hayes) were selected. SA’s Chris Burton was the umpire and Jocelyn Bayly the manager.

1980's

In 1981 and 82, NZ beat Australia in various Test series with SA’s reps being Monica Lahm, Marilyn Blyth, Vicky Hastings and Kay Partington. Hastings to this day is the oldest Diamonds player to make her debut at 32.
In all, Vicky Hastings played in 11 Test matches for the Diamonds, mostly through the early 1980s.
1983 World Cup was held in Singapore with SA’s Di Eckert (nee Murphy), Julie Francou (captain) and Kay Partington. Chris Burton umpire.
On 8 October 1983, SA Netball Association opened its new HQ on Anzac Hwy at Keswick. The new offices faced onto dozens of outside, bitumen courts where thousands of women would play each week. Netball was the highest participant sport in Australia.
Australia Games and World Games held in 1985 – had SA reps – Di Eckert, Julie Francou, Kay Partington, Monica Lahm and the emerging Michelle den Dekker.
From 1926 to 1985 (excluding 1937 (epidemic) and war years of 1939-45), SA has won the national title 31 times with its nearest rival Victoria 24 times.
State players of note from 1963 include: Chris Burton (11, captain 6); Sharon Burton (12, 3v/c); Vicky Hastings (14, 6v/c, 1 captain); Julie Francou (9); Kay Partington (6); Monica Lahm (8, 2 captain).
In 1982, one of SA’s most valued and longest serving administrators and contributors, Jocelyn Bayly, was awarded the Netball Australia Service Award, alongside luminaries such as Chris Burton, Joyce Brown, Anne Sargeant and Vicki Wilson. Three years later, Ms Bayly was awarded an OAM for her services to netball.

1990's

This period was dominated by the rivalry between State League clubs Garville and Contax.
In 1988, with a team that included Michelle den Dekker and Kathryn Harby-Williams, Contax won their fourth premiership, defeating Garville in the grand final.
This marked the beginning of an intense rivalry between Contax and Garville.
Between 1987 and 1996 Contax and Garville contested every state league grand final.
The rivalry saw the two clubs compete in 10 consecutive state league grand finals, plus one Mobile Super League final, with both Garville winning six finals and Contax four.
With a team that included Harby-Williams and Julie Nykiel, a former Olympic basketballer, Contax won their fifth and sixth premierships in 1990 and 1991.
Between 1992 and 1995 Garville won four successive state league grand finals before, a Contax team featuring Jacqui Delaney won the club’s seventh premiership in 1996.
Before a record crowd of 11,000 spectators in Sydney, Australia beat NZ 53-52 in a heart-thumping final of the 1991 World Cup, the first championship to be held entirely indoors.
Led by Australian captain, Michelle den Dekker, Australia won back-to-back titles in 1995, then stole the game from NZ in the 1999 World Cup final, coming back from six goals down at three-quarter time to win 42-41. Vicki Wilson captained that side.
1997 saw the inception of the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the Adelaide Ravens in a national competition, the Commonwealth Bank Trophy.
Both teams were licensed by Netball SA but were assigned to draw players from different state league clubs to foster healthy competition and development.
The Thunderbirds were aligned with the powerhouse local clubs (Cheerio, Contax, Matrics, and Oakdale) and were coached by Marg Angove and featured a powerful starting seven including Rebecca Sanders, Kathryn Harby-Williams, and Jacqui Delaney.
The Ravens were foundation members of the league. Throughout the late 90s, the Ravens built a formidable roster – featuring greats like Michelle den Dekker, Jenny Borlase and Megan Anderson – ultimately playing in the Grand Final in 1999.
In August 2022, Netball Australia decided to cancel the Ravens’ participation in the national competition, replacing the SA team with the AIS Canberra Darters.

2000's

Netball SA Stadium was officially opened on March 14, 1998. Built on former railyards at Mile End, the stadium cost $11.1 million, funded by the State Government. A seating capacity of 3,200 while outside there are 26 netball courts.
2002 South Australia won its 31st and final Open Nationals title, a record that left South Australia as the most successful team in history.
In 2002, the Adelaide Ravens folded, leaving the Adelaide Thunderbirds as the only SA representative in the national league, the Commonwealth Bank Trophy.
In 2008, the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was replaced by the ANZ Championship. Jane Woodlands-Thompson is announced as the new Thunderbirds coach.
Between 1997 and 2010 the Thunderbirds finished in the top three of every regular season and are the first and only team with the Sydney Swifts to win a Trophy at all 3 eras – the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, the ANZ Championships, and the Suncorp Super League.
Between 2008-2010 when the Thunderbirds were sponsored by the Port Adelaide Football Club, they adopted their sponsors team colours of black, white, teal and silver.
Through the 2000s, Australia and NZ take it in turns to win the world cup – NZ in 2003 and Australia, with SA Representatives, Nat Von Bertouch, Nat Medhurst, and Lauren Nourse took the title in 2007.
2005 – the final Australian Open Netball Championships were held, following the introduction of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy series.
In 2003, Bronwyn Roberts, who was the fourth member of her family’s dynasty to represent Australia in netball, was awarded a Netball Service Award. She had joined her mother and two aunties as Australian representatives, including as manager of the Diamonds. She was also part of the SA senior State team as coach when SA won five back-to-back national championships from 1979-83.
Val Wright was President of Netball SA at the time of the announcement of the new netball stadium at Mile End. She and her Board of Directors had overseen the complex negotiations and planning with the State government to bring about an important platform for the sport. Ms Wright chose that development as one of the highlights of her long and productive tenure as President. She is a life member of Netball SA.

2010's

It was epic! The Commonwealth Games final in Delhi on Thursday, October 14 was decided after double extra time – after 84 minutes of netball, NZ beating Australia 66-64.
In club netball in 2010, the Adelaide Thunderbirds, won their first title in eleven years. Their new Jamaican goal shooter Carla Borrego starred with 40 goals as they beat the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ Championship grand final 52-42 in front of 9,300 screaming fans in Adelaide.
In 2013, Natalie Von Bertouch captain the Thunderbirds to their fourth premiership, defeating the Queensland Firebirds.
In 2017, the ANZ Championship series was renamed the Suncorp Super Netball League.
As their following, public profile and popularity increases, the Thunderbirds play some home games at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
In 2018, Jan Sutherland who had been named by The Advertiser as one of South Australia’s most influential women of 2014, and who had been Chair of Netball Australia, and CEO of Sport SA for 15 years, among a multitude of other contributions to netball and sport more widely, was awarded a Netball Australia Service Award. Ms Sutherland was also awarded an OAM in 2020 for her services to sport.
Graeme Gilbert had become Chair of the Netball SA Board in 2009, steering SA through a highly successful period, especially in regard to the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Prior to this, he had been a leading, highly regarded umpire and later would take on the mentoring of SA’s high-performance umpiring panel, and then would assume the 2026-27 Umpire Directorship for the Australian men’s team.
Ahead of the 2011 season, the Thunderbirds announce their predominant team colour to be pink.

2020's

In 2019, the Adelaide Thunderbirds announced that Tanya Obst would succeed Dan Ryan as head coach.
In 2023, Obst led a highly accomplished team of local players and internationals to win the Suncorp Super Netball League championship in Melbourne. This further adds to the media profile and standing of the Thunderbirds’ brand in SA.
After a prolonged standoff between the Australian Netball Players Association and Netball Australia, an agreement was reached on players’ salaries and conditions:
- The average potential salary will rise to $89,221 and minimum salaries will rise to $46,600 over the term of the CPA.
- Netball Australia and the players will enter a landmark sponsorship revenue sharing partnership where players receive 20 per cent of revenue above an agreed sponsorship forecast.
- An increase in the minimum base salary of 10% in 2024, and then annual increases of 3%.
- Additional commercial earning potential for players through improvements to approvals and increases to commercial caps.
In 2024 the Thunderbirds claimed back-to-back titles defeating the Melbourne Vixens at home in Adelaide to record their sixth premiership title since 1997.
In 2022, Todd Miller, became one of only six South Australians to be recognised by Netball Australia for his significant contribution to the sport. He was awarded the prestigious Netball Australia Service Award to celebrate his supportive behind-the-scenes work and statistical contributions to the sport.
In 2023 Todd Milller was also recognised with the rare honour – the World Netball Service Award – for his exceptional service to the global federation of netball at the international level.
Originally from South Australia, Miller began his netball journey as an umpire at the age of 8 before becoming one of the sport’s most highly regarded statisticians and historians.
In 2026, the Thunderbirds claim their third Suncorp Super League title in four years. Under coaches, Tanya Obst and Cathy Fellows, the T-Birds’s victory over Melbourne Vixens in Melbourne is being called a Thunderbirds’ dynasty. A victory parade is held in Rundle Mall to celebrate.

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STORIES OF OUR PIONEERS

Meet the trailblazers of SA Netball.

Chris Burton

Chris Burton is perhaps the only player in the game’s history to earn her All-Australian...

Gwen Benzie

Gwen Benzie held influential positions of the International Federation of Netball as Vice-President and Honorary...

Jane Woodlands-Thompson

Jane Woodlands-Thompson was appointed head coach of the Thunderbirds in 2008 and led them to...

Jenny Borlase

Borlase was a member of three Diamonds’ World Cup campaigns – 1991, 1995 and 1999...

Julie Francou

Julie Francou captained Australia to victory at the 1983 Netball World Cup and never lost...

Kathryn Harby-Williams

Kathryn Harby-Williams debuted for the Australian Diamonds in 1993 at age 23 and seven years...

Lena Pomeroy

Red-headed Lena Pomeroy was a popular, high-profile figure in SA netball as a player, national...

Lyn Davey

Lyn Davey captained the Australian team for the IFN 1967 Netball World Cup played in...

Marg Angove

Marg Angove was the inaugural Adelaide Thunderbirds Coach from 1997 – 2006, winning two Commonwealth...

Mary White

Mary White was Australia’s second Test captain but was the first captain to skipper the...

Michelle den Dekker

Michelle is widely considered one of the best and cleanest defenders to ever play for...

Monica Lahm (Pukallus) and Kay Partington

Together, at goalkeeper and goal defence, Kay Partington and Monica Lahm created a ferocious defensive...

Nat Von Bertouch

Nat Von Bertouch was the inaugural captain of the Adelaide Thunderbirds, winning titles in 2010...

Peta Squire (Scholz)

Peta Squire was a Diamond who helped win gold medals at the 1999 World Netball...

Sharon Burton

Renowned for her left-handed shooting style, ability to dodge opponents within tight spaces, and high...

Tania Obst

From her appointment as the Thunderbirds head coach, Obst’s influence was clear – three wins...

The Rankin Lineage

Three sisters – Dulcie, Gwen and Margaret - from the Rankin family were all named...