Netball has long been pigeon-holed into being a sport for little girls.
“It’s a safe sport for nice girls in dresses,” they said.
We’ve allowed the sport to step back, as others forged ahead.
We’ve adopted slogans synonymous with netball and its perceived niceness.
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard the phrase “here if you need” and immediately linked it back to netball. It is part of our DNA.
But we’re tired of being too nice.
For Season 2023, Suncorp Super Netball has launched a new campaign intended to challenge netball’s perceived ‘niceness’ while celebrating the world’s best netball league and solidifying its place in the Australian sporting landscape.
Titled ‘We Are Here’, the campaign aims to turn the passive phrase ‘here if you need’ on its head.
The purpose is to challenge the stereotype that netball is an overly traditional, apologetic and submissive sport.
As part of the campaign we have released a hero brand film which is designed to highlight Suncorp Super Netball as a progressive league and cohort of athletes.
LGBTQI+ rights, First Nations initiatives, inclusive uniform policies and parental leave supporting athletes returning to the game following the birth of children, all feature as initiatives that represent the progression of the game.
The campaign also features a series of creative assets which will go live on billboards and out of home across the country.
Those activations will feature in-match photography accompanied by assertive taglines, aimed to showcase the raw emotion, dedication and power of netball athletes.
“This campaign recognises the place Suncorp Super Netball holds as the original elite women’s game in Australia,” Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said.
“When people come to a Suncorp Super Netball match they’re blown away by the athleticism, skill and passion of our athletes.
“’We Are Here’ is designed to encapsulate the power of our athletes and assert why Suncorp Super Netball is here – to entertain, to unite, to inspire and to empower.”
The campaign will go live across billboards and out of home from March 13 ahead of round one on March 18.
