ONE door closes, another one needs to open.
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Netball Victoria earlier this week announced it would renew the licences of nine of its 10 clubs to play in the elite Victorian Netball League between 2015 and 2017. The 10th club, Ballarat Pride, has effectively been axed.
The Pride gave a number of south-west netballers a chance to play at a higher level at 19 and under and open grades.
So what happens now to our brightest and best talents? They either have to win a spot on a Melbourne-based side's list or with the Geelong Cougars.
Effectively, the demise of the Pride means there is no clearly defined pathway for players from this region to reach higher levels.
Netball Victoria will argue its regional academies help develop players with a greater emphasis on talent identification. That's a good start but what netball needs is a true state league competition.
Netball is the biggest female participation sport in Victoria and with the Trans-Tasman competition at the elite level thriving and attracting new audiences, young girls need a defined pathway: club level, association level, state league, state teams and then the big time.
The current system effectively rules out participation by regional and rural athletes.
The AFL's TAC Cup competition is a model netball powers should consider. It has teams from regions across the state playing. It is not perfect but at least players from all corners of the state are given an opportunity to showcase their skills.
Nine years ago the region had a state league side South West Spirit. Back then, players had to travel to Melbourne every week, with virtually no home games wearing down players and administrators. Put a home-and-away-type draw in place and the time is right for a true state league competition with a south-west side.