The 2027 Super Netball season will begin with a Melbourne derby between the Vixens and Mavericks on April 10, as Australia’s leading competition prepares for a year of major changes on and off the court.
Jo Weston and Sophie Dwyer have been at the centre of the off-season storylines, from the Diamonds’ controversial Commonwealth Games dresses to a historic semi-final defeat and a dramatic reshaping of the domestic league.
Weston, who remains with the Melbourne Vixens, helped Asics design the Diamonds’ new uniform alongside Jamie-Lee Price after the team’s Glasgow dresses attracted widespread attention for appearing to ride up during matches.
“It was such a fun collaboration, especially with Jamie who’s such a fashionista,” Weston said.
She said players had been reluctant to criticise the previous uniform while representing their country, adding: “But, if people are talking about netball, then I’m not opposed to that.”
Price later posted a playful video testing the new dress, seeking to avoid what she called “Dressgate 2.0”. Dwyer, who is sponsored by Asics, said the players had largely treated the controversy with humour.
“We didn’t buy into the [dress] stuff too much, and I think the girls made all the TikToks and funny dances to get some more eyeballs on netball,” Dwyer said. “The Asics dress is amazing and I know Jamie has done a little tester and jumped around and all that.”
Vixens face a major rebuild
The Vixens will look markedly different when they begin their campaign. Half of last season’s roster has changed, with New Zealand internationals Carys Stythe, Amelia Walmsley and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan among the new arrivals.
Weston said the scale of the turnover had surprised some people, but believed it could give the team an extra dimension as it seeks to return to the grand final after losing last year’s decider to the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
“It’s an interesting position for me and Kate Moloney, our captain, who have been in the team for a long time, as there is a bit of the unknown until we start training together,” Weston said. “Hopefully, it puts us back in the grand final in 2027.”
The changes follow a period in which leading New Zealand players moved to Australian clubs amid uncertainty around the ANZ Premiership. Weston said international recruits had long contributed to Super Netball, but argued that the competition needed the right balance.
“I’m always going to advocate for Australian athletes who are ready to take the step up,” she said. “I think international athletes make our competition so much more dynamic and offer us an international audience too – it’s about finding the right balance.”
Weston will also face the unusual prospect of lining up against former Vixens team-mates Emily Mannix, who has retired, Rudi Ellis, now with NSW Swifts, and Kate Eddy, who has joined the Melbourne Mavericks.
“There is always going to be change, but some of it was disappointing for me as I’ve played with these girls for a long period of time,” Weston said. “It’s going to be weird seeing them in opposition colours next year. Big changes for us.”
Dwyer prepares for a new Sydney rivalry
Dwyer’s former club, the Giants, will enter the new season as the Sydney Sirens after a change of ownership and a rebranding. The Sirens will meet the NSW Swifts for the first time in round six on May 16 at Ken Rosewall Arena.
The Sydney-raised shooter spent seven years with the Giants and expects the rivalry to be intense from the outset despite the club’s new colours and identity.
The opening-round match between the Vixens and Mavericks will be shown live on Nine’s main channel, with every Super Netball game to be streamed live and free on 9Now under a new five-year broadcasting agreement.
Dwyer is also trying to put the disappointment of Glasgow into perspective after missing a shot after the siren in the Commonwealth Games semi-final that could have sent the match into extra time.
“For me, it did come down to remembering that the Commonwealth Games experience wasn’t just one shot – there was a lot of games and good moments throughout,” she said.
“I have high expectations of myself, and it was really disappointing that shot didn’t go in, but I had to remember there was more to my game and my experience than just that shot.”
