Netball superstar Sharni Layton ruled out striking against the scheduled Super Netball fixture at Launceston set down for this Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Australian Diamonds captain is the most prominent of 18 high-profile players to sign a letter of intent to Netball Australia threatening industrial action that could include boycotting Tests.
The united stance came about after player advocates Anne-Marie Corboy and Kathryn Harby-Williams lost their positions on the board.
The Collingwood Magpies home game against Queensland Firebirds was hastily announced at the Silverdome 85 days ago and just two weeks prior to the season.
The outspoken firebrand said players were determined to strike as a last resort.
“The game was never really in danger, but our players want to stand strong and let our voices be heard, and we definitely feel like that was the case,” Layton said. “We’ve definitely got our voice out there, which is what we wanted and Netball Australia acknowledged that.”
Netballers in all four Super Netball matches last weekend linked arms around the centre circle prior to the game in a show of solidarity.
Layton refuses to rule out similar action in Launceston.
“I think by striking, you’re taking the intention away from where we want the attention to go, which would have been about the players striking only,” Layton added.
The 188cm goalkeeper felt returning to the Silverdome court for many Magpies will give her team a decisive advantage on Sunday.
Layton, Madi Robinson, Caitlin Thwaites, Kim Ravaillion and April Brandley were a part of the Diamonds squad that travelled to Launceston last October for the Test clash against New Zealand.
She heaped praise on the Launceston public, describing their netball fans as “loud and passionate crowd”.
“It’s awesome to go down there again because I just absolutely love playing down there,” Layton said.
“When you’ve got a stadium like that where you’re so enclosed, it feels like the crowd is with you on court.
“That’s the type of crowd I personally love playing in front of because I am a massive energy player.
“But that’s not the reason we’ll get the edge – it’s because we’re now affiliated with Tasmania, and the fact that we have a home game there in front of our supporters from Tassie is epic.
“The fact we do it once a year, we’re really excited to come play in front of them.”
Layton admits the timing of the game for the only sides that can claim the last spot in the top four was a bonus.
“Lucky Tassie – Launnie gets to see us completely fight it out,” she said.
“But whether we knew it was going to be a spot-on-the-table kind of fight, it was always going to be a difficult game against the Firebirds.”