Show Notes
England’s head coach has resigned just four months out from the Commonwealth Games and the news has sent the netball world into a bit of a tizzy. Will the Roses still have a chance to win gold? Who is the right person to replace Jess Thirlby in the top job? We dive into all of that in this week’s episode and hear from those within the inner sanctum about how lonely it can be to be a woman in such a high-profile position.
Plus there’s all our usual game analysis of the Super Netball league after round two. Are the Thunderbirds superhuman? They are sure living up to their favourites tag for 2026.
Coming up on this episode of The Netty Life we talk about the shock resignation of England head coach Jess Thirlby four months out from the Commonwealth Games.
More from The Netty Life
As we continue our series of Super Netball coaching interviews, we speak with West Coast Fever head coach Dan Ryan about how his team is taking shape for the 2027 season. Topics include the club’s decision to sign six imports (more than anyone else), the tough conversations had with players that were let go, how Shanice Beckford fought her way back to the world's best league and how their newest recruits Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Maddy Gordon will add value to the existing roster.
The Giants are no more after a wooden spoon season. Instead, they've been rebranded as the Sydney Sirens for 2027. Head coach Nerida Stewart joins the podcast to discuss the transition between owners, how the uncertainty impacted staff and players this year, why they've decided to keep six of their 10 existing athletes when they only won one game, and how they managed to land the big fish (or rather, mermaid) that is New Zealand goal shooter Grace Nweke.
When Australian players Kate Eddy and Lucy Austin found themselves lost without 2027 Super Netball contracts, the Melbourne Mavericks threw them a lifeline and signed them as training partners for the greater good of the game. Head coach Gerard Murphy is entering his second season in charge and shares the thinking behind some of the decisions made during the recent signing period. Gez speaks about privatisation and how it can help players generate more money, publicity and profile. As well as his plans for the shooting, midcourt and defensive areas of the court.
The final player of the 2027 Super Netball signing period has been locked in and all eight teams are finalised. We share our thoughts on the Giants licence being acquired by SEN and their rebrand to the Sydney Sirens. On the unfortunate events that led to multiple Aussie players missing out on playing contracts, like Vixens fan favourite Kate Eddy. And the increase in imports next season with New Zealand’s competition collapsing.
Former Aussie Kelpies captain Dylan Nexhip will be the new head coach of the NSW Swifts next season and now he's finalised his 2027 line-up we thought it would be a great time to catch up and hear more about his vision. Although Dylan was already an assistant coach at the club over the past two years and well known among the fan base, he faced backlash online when his appointment was announced in July. We dive into the criticism he's faced after beating out his predecessor for the position, becoming the third male head coach in an eight-team Super Netball competition, and how he plans to improve a defence end that hasn't been firing. We also discuss their decisions to recruit new faces that will bolster the Swifts roster and help them plan for the future.