Statistical data from the first five rounds of the season shows teams are making more changes throughout each match than in the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball season and are also using more of their squad than they did in 2017.
Super Netball clubs have made 222 player moves and substitutions during the first five rounds of the 2018 season, compared with 198 at the same stage last year – an increase of 24 player movements.
Teams are also using their full squad more often, with all 10 players used on 11 occasions this season, compared with nine times in 2017.
Meanwhile, of the 40 times individual teams have taken the court this year, only eight times has a team not made a change. In 2017, that had occurred 11 times after five rounds.
The new Super Netball points system was introduced to promote winning quarters as well as winning games, with four points awarded for a victory, and a bonus point awarded for each quarter a team wins throughout the season.
Champion Data’s Christian Eshman said that through the early rounds it appeared the bonus point system had actually encouraged teams to make changes in a bid to turn the game in their favour and grab valuable bonus points.
“When Netball Australia and their working group were looking into introducing the bonus point for quarter wins, one of the concerns tabled and discussed in depth was whether teams will play less of their fringe players and utilise only their best seven or eight players,” Eshman said.
“After five rounds I can expel that concern as the numbers are definitely telling us otherwise. Teams are definitely pushing for that valuable bonus point and using the entire squad – or close to it – to best serve that purpose, as fresh legs and minds can provide a much-needed boost for that all important push towards the bonus point.”
Concerns that the world’s premier netball competition was also becoming an import-focused league also appear unfounded.
Champion Data stats show that teams have used the same number of players (81) during the first five rounds of both seasons, with the exact same number of homegrown players (64) taking the court during those games in both years.
PLAYERS USED
2018 – Players used – 81
- Born in Australia – 64
- Born overseas – 17
2017 – Players used – 81
- Born in Australia – 64
- Born overseas – 17
Result
- Same number of players used
- Same number of players born in Australia and overseas
CHANGES MADE
2018 – Eight times teams have made no changes in a match
- Fever – 1 (R3)
- Firebirds – 1 (R3)
- Giants – 1 (R3)
- Lightning – 2 (R3, R4)
- Magpies – 2 (R1, R3)
- Vixens – 1 (R1)
2017 – 11 times teams have made no changes in a match
- Fever – 1 (R5)
- Firebirds – 2 (R2, R3)
- Giants – 1 (R3)
- Magpies – 1 (R2)
- Swifts – 3 (R1, R2, R4)
- Vixens – 3 (R1, R3, R5)
Result – Out of 40 (20 games x two teams) there has been three less occasions in 2018 where no changes were made. Only 20% of the time a team makes no changes.
FULL SQUAD USED
2018 – All 10 players have been used nine times
- Giants – 1 (R2)
- Magpies – 2 (R4, R5)
- Swifts – 3 (R1, R3, R4)
- Thunderbirds – 3 (R1, R2, R3)
2017 – All 10 players have been used seven times
- Firebirds – 1 (R5)
- Giants – 2 (R2, R5)
- Lightning – 1 (R4)
- Magpies – 1 (R4)
- Thunderbirds – 2 (R3, R4)
Result – All 10 players have been used by a team in a game twice more in 2018.
PLAYER MOVES – TOTAL
2018 – 222 player moves
2017 – 198 player moves
Result – 24 more player moves this season
