EXCLUSIVE: Netball Rejected Diamonds Legend Liz Ellis – But She Wouldn’t Be Held Back

When former Australian Diamonds captain Liz Ellis faced a setback during her bid to join the Netball Australia board last June, she responded with the same determination she exhibited throughout her playing career.

Fast forward ten months, and on Monday, Ellis was introduced as the latest director on the board, as the organisation works to move forward from its recent tumultuous pay dispute with athletes.

Reflecting on her initial rejection, Ellis observed that joining the board was merely a question of timing rather than possibility.

“Throughout my playing career, I’ve learnt to handle obstacles, and I viewed my rejection as just that — an obstacle,” she stated during her conversation with Wide World of Sports.

“Being told ‘no’ isn’t the final word; it’s simply a call to step back and seek another route to securing a ‘yes’.

“I was confident that an opportunity would present itself again and that I needed to be prepared.

“I initiated discussions with [board] chair Wendy Archer, and we shared numerous insightful conversations over the past year — ones that remained off the record — unbeknownst to anyone else.

“I was determined that when the right moment arrived, she would realise my commitment.”

With her children now settled in school and having taken a step back from commentary, Ellis believes the timing is spot on for her to join Netball Australia.

“I expressed my interest in joining the board last year, but there weren’t any openings,” she highlighted.

“I was informed that the existing board members were satisfactory, and I needed to hold on until a position became available.”

“So, when nominations reopened this year and a application process was established, I deliberated intensely. The sport has endured a challenging period, and I questioned whether I wanted to enter that arena and allow it to consume my focus.

“However, I deemed this was the right time, with the opportunity arising. I genuinely wish to give back to the sport.

“I have a daughter who is passionate about netball, and I aspire to ensure I can look her in the eye, knowing I did all I could to elevate this sport — not only for her but for women and girls throughout Australia.”

With her appointment, Ellis acknowledges that netball has an uphill battle ahead—particularly in mending the damaged relationship between Netball Australia and the players.

In December, the governing body and the Australian Netball Players’ Association finally established a new collective agreement following a tumultuous period during which players were left unpaid for over ten weeks after their previous contract had lapsed.

“What’s resonated with me since the announcement is the sheer happiness from people regarding my appointment,” Ellis remarked.

“But I’ve emphasised that this does not signify closure or a solution to netball’s challenges. This is about bringing someone on board who can tackle core issues and start proposing solutions.”

The pay dispute escalated in November when the 51-year-old was inadvertently overlooked for presenting the award named after her during the Netball Australia Awards, leading her to publicly address the organisation’s “callous disregard” for its athletes.

Following the establishment of a hybrid revenue and profit-sharing model and a true partnership between players and administrators, Ellis has noticed positive changes at the national level in recent months.

“Significant shifts have occurred within the governing body since I raised my criticisms,” she stated.

“The CEO (Kelly Ryan) has departed during that time; Wendy Archer is slated to resign as chair in May, and there have been two additional appointments on the board, signalling a significant crisis that catalysed a rebirth within the sport.

“I can’t claim credit for those changes; the players remained steadfast and achieved the reforms they desired.”

Previously, Ellis has served on the boards of various organisations, including the Australian Sports Commission, the NSW Institute of Sport, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, and Players Voice.

Now, she believes that elevating netball to the forefront of Australian sport is achievable with just a few “tweaks” at the executive level.

Ellis spearheaded the independent State of the Game Review in 2020, aimed at evaluating Australia’s netball framework and charting a future course amidst the COVID-19 pandemic’s challenges.

The resulting report included eight strategic recommendations designed to foster the sport’s growth.

Although it was completed years ago, Ellis believes that the review remains an effective foundation for netball’s revitalisation.

“The State of the Game Review still serves as a valuable starting point, containing recommendations that retain their relevance even four years later,” she asserted.

“I can’t predict what I’ll discover when I delve deeper because I’m uncertain of their applicability or if the landscape has shifted, but instinctively, I think they provide a solid base to begin with.

“A considerable amount of effort was put into that report, offering guidance for the sport moving forward. It also serves as a crucial reference point for the sport.”

When asked what she wishes to contribute to Netball Australia, Ellis’s passion for the sport shines through.

“I aim to be part of a board that energises Super Netball and ensures it maintains a position as a premier sport in Australia,” she expressed.

“Moreover, I envision netball reclaiming its title as the No.1 participation sport in Australia — at present, we rank No.2, holding the top spot among women and girls, but I believe we can close the gap with football.

“This is my goal; I want to establish challenges for the sport, and together we can determine how to achieve these aims. This initiative must come from all levels, not solely from Netball Australia, and I think we have a superb opportunity to make this happen now.”