1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,507 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from newstalg ZB. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:16,107 Speaker 2: Haiti Strapford is the former general manager of the Tactics 4 00:00:16,147 --> 00:00:18,627 Speaker 2: and joins us on Weekend Sport. Haiti, thanks for your 5 00:00:19,147 --> 00:00:21,627 Speaker 2: view and insight. Wats your general view first of all 6 00:00:21,907 --> 00:00:24,867 Speaker 2: on the challenging situation Netbele finds itself in right now. 7 00:00:25,387 --> 00:00:27,827 Speaker 3: Yeah, a lot of different components, aren't there going on 8 00:00:27,867 --> 00:00:31,027 Speaker 3: at the moment? I think, I think that really important 9 00:00:31,067 --> 00:00:33,307 Speaker 3: thing to remember is this is not all just happened 10 00:00:33,307 --> 00:00:35,707 Speaker 3: in one year. You know, this has been I suppose 11 00:00:35,987 --> 00:00:38,387 Speaker 3: several years of a culmination of different types of things 12 00:00:38,387 --> 00:00:41,827 Speaker 3: that the sport's been suppose under challenged with. I mean, 13 00:00:41,867 --> 00:00:45,227 Speaker 3: obviously every sport had the COVID thing Netwle. Then we 14 00:00:45,347 --> 00:00:48,787 Speaker 3: managed to have like two like really early seasons due 15 00:00:48,867 --> 00:00:52,307 Speaker 3: to Conwell's games, et cetera. We had double header weekends. 16 00:00:52,307 --> 00:00:53,947 Speaker 3: All of those things that have like bit by bit 17 00:00:53,987 --> 00:00:57,267 Speaker 3: put pressure on this on the sport. And then of 18 00:00:57,267 --> 00:01:00,507 Speaker 3: course we've got three teams that are effectively underneath with 19 00:01:00,507 --> 00:01:03,027 Speaker 3: New Zealand in terms of financial management, three out of 20 00:01:03,027 --> 00:01:06,347 Speaker 3: the six fifty percent not ideal. Lots of those differ 21 00:01:06,507 --> 00:01:10,347 Speaker 3: components I think sort of add adding pressure and yeah, 22 00:01:10,387 --> 00:01:13,627 Speaker 3: we are now where the sport is needing to make 23 00:01:14,187 --> 00:01:15,507 Speaker 3: some change. 24 00:01:15,627 --> 00:01:19,827 Speaker 2: Before we look ahead. Just on the scenario you've just outlined, 25 00:01:20,107 --> 00:01:23,147 Speaker 2: could Netball New Zealand have done anything differently in the 26 00:01:23,187 --> 00:01:26,987 Speaker 2: past four or five years to avert the situation they're 27 00:01:26,987 --> 00:01:27,347 Speaker 2: in now? 28 00:01:28,507 --> 00:01:30,747 Speaker 3: Gosh, that's a tough question, isn't it. I think, like 29 00:01:30,827 --> 00:01:33,587 Speaker 3: most people, whether it's sport or business, could could sit 30 00:01:33,627 --> 00:01:36,667 Speaker 3: there with the benefit of hindsight and say that, I 31 00:01:36,667 --> 00:01:39,227 Speaker 3: mean one side of it, you could actually say, looking 32 00:01:39,227 --> 00:01:41,187 Speaker 3: on the positive side, you could say, well, net New 33 00:01:41,227 --> 00:01:44,347 Speaker 3: Zealand actually has held it together longer than maybe other 34 00:01:44,387 --> 00:01:47,627 Speaker 3: sports would have because they've actually taken on the responsibility 35 00:01:47,627 --> 00:01:51,947 Speaker 3: of these three franchises that the regions where those regions struggled. 36 00:01:52,347 --> 00:01:55,427 Speaker 3: So maybe we've managed to hold on longer than the 37 00:01:55,467 --> 00:01:58,147 Speaker 3: sport was ever sort of like meant to be able 38 00:01:58,187 --> 00:02:00,867 Speaker 3: to do. And the other way of looking at is that, yeah, 39 00:02:00,987 --> 00:02:04,907 Speaker 3: maybe we needed to have innovated earlier, Maybe we needed 40 00:02:04,907 --> 00:02:11,027 Speaker 3: to have been stronger with the network sort of deals. Yeah, 41 00:02:11,027 --> 00:02:13,067 Speaker 3: maybe we need to look at the eligibility sooner. There's 42 00:02:13,067 --> 00:02:15,267 Speaker 3: certainly like I just I feel like it's really easy 43 00:02:15,267 --> 00:02:17,507 Speaker 3: to sit here and say all those different things. But 44 00:02:18,067 --> 00:02:20,027 Speaker 3: there's no doubt that the innovations that have come in 45 00:02:20,067 --> 00:02:22,507 Speaker 3: this year, like the two point shot, people that don't 46 00:02:22,507 --> 00:02:26,027 Speaker 3: normally watch netball talk to me about it and have 47 00:02:26,107 --> 00:02:29,147 Speaker 3: really enjoyed that component of us and actually have been 48 00:02:29,187 --> 00:02:31,267 Speaker 3: saying why don't why don't we have that for the 49 00:02:31,267 --> 00:02:35,027 Speaker 3: whole match? So I think that's really cool. But has 50 00:02:35,027 --> 00:02:37,107 Speaker 3: it just been has it just come a little bit late? 51 00:02:37,827 --> 00:02:40,587 Speaker 2: So yeah, as you say, hindsight, it's always twenty twenty. 52 00:02:40,627 --> 00:02:44,227 Speaker 2: There's no point, you know, relitigating what's happened in the past. 53 00:02:44,307 --> 00:02:48,187 Speaker 2: Let's look forward. What are the best steps for Netball 54 00:02:48,227 --> 00:02:49,587 Speaker 2: New Zealand to take from here? 55 00:02:51,147 --> 00:02:54,427 Speaker 3: I think the most important thing is to take a step. 56 00:02:54,907 --> 00:02:59,147 Speaker 3: You can't stand still. You've got to be brave and 57 00:02:59,227 --> 00:03:02,667 Speaker 3: move in a direction. And I think that is the 58 00:03:02,707 --> 00:03:07,187 Speaker 3: most important thing. So neither it doesn't matter what direction 59 00:03:07,307 --> 00:03:09,427 Speaker 3: they choose to go on them and the players, They've 60 00:03:09,507 --> 00:03:12,627 Speaker 3: just got to move. And I think then that gives 61 00:03:12,707 --> 00:03:15,267 Speaker 3: players clarity, which is at the moment, you know they 62 00:03:15,267 --> 00:03:17,747 Speaker 3: don't have and they are your, for want of the 63 00:03:17,747 --> 00:03:19,707 Speaker 3: better term, your assets, right, you know you need your 64 00:03:19,707 --> 00:03:21,867 Speaker 3: players to sort of get the game on the TV, 65 00:03:22,187 --> 00:03:24,747 Speaker 3: and so I think just some form of direction. You've 66 00:03:24,787 --> 00:03:26,507 Speaker 3: got to give people direction and that do you know what, 67 00:03:26,627 --> 00:03:29,187 Speaker 3: there's always things that come out of it. You know, 68 00:03:29,627 --> 00:03:32,707 Speaker 3: if the am Z Premiership were to go or was 69 00:03:32,747 --> 00:03:35,027 Speaker 3: to go on to a different window, you could see 70 00:03:35,027 --> 00:03:38,067 Speaker 3: a rebirth of sort of like an MPC format where 71 00:03:38,067 --> 00:03:40,667 Speaker 3: you've actually which has really been lost in the years 72 00:03:40,667 --> 00:03:43,187 Speaker 3: with netball. You know, there's a big jump between am 73 00:03:43,267 --> 00:03:45,987 Speaker 3: Z Premiership and Club World. You know that could be 74 00:03:46,067 --> 00:03:50,387 Speaker 3: reborn and that's actually really exciting. So I don't think 75 00:03:50,387 --> 00:03:52,027 Speaker 3: it needs to be all doom and gloom. I think 76 00:03:52,027 --> 00:03:53,547 Speaker 3: you've got to read the room. You've got to work 77 00:03:53,587 --> 00:03:55,747 Speaker 3: out what's beat for the players. And if the money's 78 00:03:55,787 --> 00:03:57,427 Speaker 3: not there, the money's not there. It doesn't mean to 79 00:03:57,427 --> 00:03:59,947 Speaker 3: say it won't come back, but you can't like I mean, 80 00:03:59,947 --> 00:04:02,467 Speaker 3: we've all been hanging on for a long time. I 81 00:04:02,467 --> 00:04:04,267 Speaker 3: mean when I was GM in the role for those 82 00:04:04,267 --> 00:04:05,987 Speaker 3: three years, you know, I don't know if you know 83 00:04:06,067 --> 00:04:09,467 Speaker 3: many general managers that are part time, like it was, 84 00:04:09,907 --> 00:04:12,507 Speaker 3: it was a part it was a contracted there's a 85 00:04:12,507 --> 00:04:15,587 Speaker 3: part time role, and all of our staff were part time, 86 00:04:15,707 --> 00:04:19,067 Speaker 3: including all of the players. So you know, NETPOL has 87 00:04:19,107 --> 00:04:21,947 Speaker 3: done amazing stuff with the resources that it has had, 88 00:04:22,587 --> 00:04:24,547 Speaker 3: which has been awesome because you look at sports like 89 00:04:24,667 --> 00:04:27,067 Speaker 3: you know, hockey, which haven't had that sort of platform. 90 00:04:27,107 --> 00:04:29,187 Speaker 3: But yeah, how can we get it back? What do 91 00:04:29,187 --> 00:04:31,427 Speaker 3: we need to do? But You've just I just think 92 00:04:31,427 --> 00:04:32,667 Speaker 3: they've got to just keep moving. 93 00:04:33,307 --> 00:04:35,827 Speaker 2: How do you think the players should be feeling in 94 00:04:35,907 --> 00:04:37,227 Speaker 2: general terms right now? 95 00:04:38,747 --> 00:04:42,147 Speaker 3: Look, I think it's the lesson for everybody. Like being 96 00:04:42,187 --> 00:04:46,267 Speaker 3: a professional athlete is a really volatile career choice. I 97 00:04:46,307 --> 00:04:48,387 Speaker 3: think all these girls are in it for all the 98 00:04:48,427 --> 00:04:50,787 Speaker 3: right reasons. They love the sports, and they're passionate about 99 00:04:50,787 --> 00:04:53,627 Speaker 3: what they do. It's their job at the moment. Are 100 00:04:53,627 --> 00:04:55,267 Speaker 3: I supposed to some of them? If I was an 101 00:04:55,307 --> 00:04:58,147 Speaker 3: agent to the top players, I'd be remiss and not 102 00:04:58,307 --> 00:05:01,947 Speaker 3: advising them to be looking off for offshore contracts. And 103 00:05:01,987 --> 00:05:04,227 Speaker 3: I've got no doubt that the top players would have 104 00:05:04,227 --> 00:05:06,587 Speaker 3: been presented them already. I'm not an aide, and by 105 00:05:06,627 --> 00:05:10,507 Speaker 3: the way, and I'm not getting anybody, but I think 106 00:05:10,787 --> 00:05:13,187 Speaker 3: I think that's a no brainer. But you've also i 107 00:05:13,187 --> 00:05:15,427 Speaker 3: think current talked on your Guys show the other day, 108 00:05:15,787 --> 00:05:17,947 Speaker 3: You've got to remember that people have lives outside of 109 00:05:17,947 --> 00:05:19,467 Speaker 3: the sport, and for some of them it's not just 110 00:05:19,507 --> 00:05:21,387 Speaker 3: a matter of jumping up and going across the ditch 111 00:05:21,387 --> 00:05:25,147 Speaker 3: and playing the sport. So yeah, I think there'll be 112 00:05:25,227 --> 00:05:29,227 Speaker 3: other considerations that players you know, have think about. But 113 00:05:29,547 --> 00:05:32,187 Speaker 3: I reckon on one of the things that's really challenging 114 00:05:32,227 --> 00:05:34,147 Speaker 3: for the girls is when they're in the season, not 115 00:05:34,347 --> 00:05:35,267 Speaker 3: just giving it everything. 116 00:05:35,427 --> 00:05:35,587 Speaker 1: Right. 117 00:05:35,667 --> 00:05:38,707 Speaker 3: So you've got four teams now out, those girls will 118 00:05:38,747 --> 00:05:42,907 Speaker 3: be in panic mode. You've got two teams still playing tomorrow. 119 00:05:43,467 --> 00:05:46,107 Speaker 3: Come one day, that's when the realization will set in 120 00:05:46,187 --> 00:05:47,907 Speaker 3: for a lot of them. And I think the next 121 00:05:47,947 --> 00:05:49,947 Speaker 3: couple of weeks, next few weeks, they're going to be 122 00:05:50,107 --> 00:05:53,747 Speaker 3: really really tough. But just not just the players though 123 00:05:53,827 --> 00:05:57,067 Speaker 3: either Jason like the supports stuff. I mean, their contracts 124 00:05:57,107 --> 00:05:59,147 Speaker 3: have already been cut down to this two round thing. 125 00:05:59,227 --> 00:06:02,907 Speaker 3: People forget about that, and so it's those guys as well. 126 00:06:04,027 --> 00:06:07,427 Speaker 2: So how optimistic do you feel, Heidi? It's a challenging 127 00:06:07,467 --> 00:06:09,467 Speaker 2: situation for netball and New Zealand, for the players, the 128 00:06:09,467 --> 00:06:12,627 Speaker 2: support stuff, everybody involved in the sport. How optimistic do 129 00:06:12,667 --> 00:06:17,267 Speaker 2: you feel that netball can can thrive again? Because we 130 00:06:17,507 --> 00:06:20,627 Speaker 2: I mean, the game's massive here, you know, participation numbers 131 00:06:20,667 --> 00:06:24,427 Speaker 2: are enormous. Historically, it's been a sport we've all loved 132 00:06:24,427 --> 00:06:26,947 Speaker 2: and got behind, even in the a Z Premiership. Now 133 00:06:26,947 --> 00:06:29,787 Speaker 2: big crowds are turning up. How optimistic do you feel 134 00:06:29,827 --> 00:06:33,187 Speaker 2: that the sport can thrive at the elite level moving forward? 135 00:06:34,027 --> 00:06:37,707 Speaker 3: Look looking at the basic facts, like the game is popular, 136 00:06:37,827 --> 00:06:40,387 Speaker 3: Like people love netball. I think about people like my 137 00:06:40,507 --> 00:06:42,987 Speaker 3: mum and who friends and man, the prospect of the 138 00:06:43,027 --> 00:06:45,867 Speaker 3: AMZI Premiership not being on TV every weekend would be 139 00:06:45,907 --> 00:06:49,147 Speaker 3: absolutely devastating for those guys, Like they get their friends 140 00:06:49,147 --> 00:06:52,187 Speaker 3: together and they watch the games, and there's so many 141 00:06:52,187 --> 00:06:54,627 Speaker 3: people who do that. I think all the girl little 142 00:06:54,667 --> 00:06:56,747 Speaker 3: young girls and boys who are coming to the stadium 143 00:06:56,787 --> 00:06:59,547 Speaker 3: and watch the heroes, Like the idea of that not 144 00:06:59,627 --> 00:07:03,707 Speaker 3: being there is devastating. I think, like I think, I 145 00:07:03,707 --> 00:07:07,947 Speaker 3: don't know. I suppose, like the eligibility piece that they've delivered, 146 00:07:07,947 --> 00:07:10,107 Speaker 3: while the timing might not have been ideal this week, 147 00:07:10,187 --> 00:07:11,907 Speaker 3: I actually am given a bit of hope with that 148 00:07:12,067 --> 00:07:15,307 Speaker 3: because that's been sort of debated for years and they've 149 00:07:15,347 --> 00:07:17,867 Speaker 3: finally made a decision on it, and I personally think 150 00:07:17,867 --> 00:07:21,027 Speaker 3: it's the right one and so that's that's been brave 151 00:07:21,307 --> 00:07:23,707 Speaker 3: of them to do that, and so I think that 152 00:07:23,747 --> 00:07:26,227 Speaker 3: gives hope. That gives me hope that they're willing to 153 00:07:26,227 --> 00:07:28,467 Speaker 3: be brave to make other decisions rather than just sort 154 00:07:28,467 --> 00:07:33,227 Speaker 3: of status quiet. I'm just really hopeful that they, you know, 155 00:07:33,467 --> 00:07:36,747 Speaker 3: they just embrace it and make take another step. 156 00:07:37,827 --> 00:07:40,827 Speaker 2: Make a decision just before you go, Hadi tomorrow. Can 157 00:07:40,867 --> 00:07:43,587 Speaker 2: your tactics or your former tactic side finally win one 158 00:07:43,627 --> 00:07:44,227 Speaker 2: of these things? 159 00:07:45,387 --> 00:07:47,747 Speaker 3: Yeah? I look, I think a lot of people have 160 00:07:47,787 --> 00:07:49,627 Speaker 3: been talking and Lisa's been talking on the radio this 161 00:07:49,667 --> 00:07:53,267 Speaker 3: morning about you know, resilience and we taf and all that. 162 00:07:53,507 --> 00:07:55,707 Speaker 3: You've got to kind of put that stuff aside for 163 00:07:55,747 --> 00:07:58,947 Speaker 3: a little minute and just look at the bare bones 164 00:07:58,987 --> 00:08:01,627 Speaker 3: of the game and just you look, if our attacking 165 00:08:01,667 --> 00:08:04,147 Speaker 3: in can bring it, if Teas is on a game, 166 00:08:04,147 --> 00:08:05,827 Speaker 3: which I've got no doubt she will be, She's had 167 00:08:05,827 --> 00:08:08,987 Speaker 3: a great seat, then if we can get the attacking 168 00:08:09,067 --> 00:08:12,347 Speaker 3: side working really well. I have full faith in the girls. 169 00:08:12,347 --> 00:08:16,067 Speaker 3: I mean, our defensive group showed some real grit last week, 170 00:08:16,067 --> 00:08:18,267 Speaker 3: and if Karen and Jane step up like they did 171 00:08:18,347 --> 00:08:20,347 Speaker 3: in the second half of last week's game, I think 172 00:08:20,387 --> 00:08:21,787 Speaker 3: it'll come down to the wire. I think of my 173 00:08:21,907 --> 00:08:25,147 Speaker 3: first year we were in the Grand Final at Stalkland 174 00:08:25,187 --> 00:08:27,867 Speaker 3: and they got us by two, so that'll be in 175 00:08:27,907 --> 00:08:30,227 Speaker 3: the back lines of these girls as well. So full 176 00:08:30,227 --> 00:08:34,227 Speaker 3: faith we definitely can do it. Just hopefully, hopefully we're 177 00:08:34,267 --> 00:08:36,627 Speaker 3: the ones that turn up and show them the way. 178 00:08:36,667 --> 00:08:38,307 Speaker 2: All right, and may there be a bright future for 179 00:08:38,347 --> 00:08:40,627 Speaker 2: the competition as well. Het you really appreciate you taking 180 00:08:40,627 --> 00:08:42,467 Speaker 2: the time to join us this afternoon. Thanks for your time, 181 00:08:42,787 --> 00:08:45,507 Speaker 2: not a problem, Thank you, no, thank you. Hadi Hati Stratford, 182 00:08:45,587 --> 00:08:47,667 Speaker 2: former general manager of the Tactics. 183 00:08:48,227 --> 00:08:51,387 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Faine, listen live 184 00:08:51,507 --> 00:08:54,787 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 185 00:08:54,827 --> 00:08:56,467 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio